Swisscom-Sendeturm St. Chrischona

Swisscom-Sendeturm St. Chrischona is a communications tower built in 1980-1984 near Basel, Switzerland. It is located at east of St. Chrischona, on the territory of the municipality Bettingen, Basel-Stadt.It was built as replacement for a 136 metre tall lattice tower, which was erected at the site in 1962. This lattice tower was once a part of famous Beromünster transmitter.The tower is 250 m (820 ft) tall - a 98 m steel antenna on a 152 m concrete base - and not generally accessible for the public, although guided visits can be booked. Apart from television, FM Radio and DAB transmitters, and microwave relays, the tower also contains meteorological instruments, two 100 m3 drinking water reservoirs, and a meeting/conference room near the top of the concrete structure.ArchitectureThe television tower Saint Chrischona shows some architecturally specific features. It is remarkable that it is carried by a striking "3-leg-construction," in contrast to most other television towers nearby. It has an aerodynamic shape; with a round shaft, the wind from both sides splits and causes at the rear an effect that keeps the tower from swaying too strongly. The lower part is built star-like, the tower at the apex sways even with strong winds only just up to 30 cm. The “Anntennenspitze” (round construction method), can sway up to 2.5 metres. The microwave radio relay antenna are of a height between 98 m and 131 m. VHF antennas are 152 m high.