World's tallest, Tokyo Sky Tree opens

The world's tallest tower and Tokyo's biggest new landmark, the Tokyo Sky Tree, has opened to the public.

Nearly 8,000 visitors were expected to take high-speed elevators up to the observation decks of the 634-meter (2,080-foot) tower Tuesday to mark its opening.

It is recognized by Guinness World Records as the tallest tower, beating out the Canton Tower in China, which is 600 meters (1,968 ?feet). The world's tallest structure is Dubai's Burj Khalifa, which stands 828 meters (2,717 feet). That's in a different category because it's a skyscraper, not a tower.

The Sky Tree will serve as a broadcast tower for television and radio, along with being a tourist attraction.

(AP) / 22 May 2012