KVLY-TV mast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids KVLY-TV mast |
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KVLY-TV mast in 2018
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| General information | |
| Type | TV transmission tower (effective radiated power = 316 kW) |
| Location | Blanchard, Traill County, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 47°20′32″N 97°17′21″W / 47.34222°N 97.28917°W |
| Completed | August 13, 1963 |
| Owner | Gray Television |
| Height | 628.8 m (2,063 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Hamilton Directors |
| Main contractor | Kline Iron and Steel |
The KVLY-TV mast (also known as the KTHI-TV mast in the past) is a super tall television-transmitting mast located in Blanchard, North Dakota. It helps send TV signals for station KVLY-TV channel 11, which serves the Fargo area.
This amazing structure was finished in 1963. For a while, it was the tallest structure in the world! It held this record until 1974 when the Warsaw radio mast was built. However, the Warsaw mast fell down in 1991, making the KVLY-TV mast the tallest again. It kept that title until the Burj Khalifa was built in 2008. Today, it is still one of the tallest structures on Earth. It is the fourth-tallest overall and the tallest in the Western Hemisphere. It is also the second tallest broadcasting mast in the world.
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Where is the KVLY-TV Mast Located?
The mast stands about 3 miles (5 km) west of Blanchard, North Dakota. This spot is roughly halfway between the cities of Fargo and Grand Forks. When it was finished on August 13, 1963, it became the first man-made structure ever to be taller than 2,000 feet (610 meters).
How Was the KVLY-TV Mast Built?
The KVLY-TV mast was built by two companies: Hamilton Erection Company and Kline Iron and Steel. It took only 30 days to complete this giant structure! The cost was around US$500,000 back in 1963. That would be a lot more money today.
Who Owns the KVLY-TV Mast?
The tower is owned by Gray Television, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia. It broadcasts TV signals for station KVLY-TV (channel 11). This station is an NBC and CBS affiliate, meaning it shows programs from both networks.
The tower sends out signals that cover a huge area, about 9,700 square miles (25,000 square kilometers). This means it can reach homes within a radius of about 55.6 miles (89.5 km). When the mast was first built, the TV station's call letters were changed to KTHI. The "HI" part was a nod to the mast's incredible height!
To reach the very top of the mast, there is a special elevator that can carry two people. There's also a ladder, but the elevator is much easier!
What Are the KVLY-TV Mast's Features?
This tower is made of two main parts. The bottom part is a lattice tower, which is like a giant metal framework, and it's 1,950 feet (594 meters) tall. On top of that is the transmitting antenna array, which is 113 feet (34 meters) tall. Together, they reach a total height of 2,063 feet (629 meters).
The antenna itself weighs about 9,000 pounds (4,082 kg). The lattice tower is much heavier, weighing around 855,500 pounds (388,050 kg). So, the total weight of the mast is about 864,500 pounds (392,130 kg)!
To keep this massive tower standing, it uses guy anchors. These are strong cables that stretch out from the tower and are anchored to the ground. The area needed for these anchors is about 160 acres (0.65 square kilometers). The very top of the tower is 3,038 feet (926 meters) above sea level.
Other Tall Structures
- KRDK-TV mast (2,060 feet or 628 meters)
- KXTV/KOVR tower (2,049 feet or 625 meters)
Images for kids
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The KVLY tower seen from about one mile (1.6 km) away.
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A guy-wire anchor, which helps hold the tower steady.
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A close-up of the tower, showing its many guy-wires.
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Some of the guy-wires that support the tower. Notice the round objects called Stockbridge dampers, which help stop the wires from vibrating in the wind.
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Looking up at the KVLY-TV mast from its base.
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The building at the base of the KVLY-TV tower.
