Tallinna Teletorn
(Tallinn TV Tower)

About 6 km east of downtown Tallinn is the Tallinna Teletorn.  It is a tower that is host to television and radio broadcasting equipment and antennae.  It is constructed of reinforced concrete and the observation deck rises 170 meters (558 ft) above ground.  You may be asking, "Why are you posting about a TV tower?"  This is no ordinary tower.  There is significant history associated with it.  Let me explain.  On August 20, 1991, in the midst of a coup d'tat in  Moscow to replace Mikhail Gorbachev, Estonia declared its separation from the U.S.S.R. and reasserted its independence.  Soviet troops were sent into Tallinn to try and prevent these events from gaining any momentum.  They thought that by taking control of the TV tower they could prevent any information from reaching the people of Estonia via radio or television.  When it was known that Soviet troops were approaching the tower, it was evacuated except for a small handful of police who stayed behind to prevent entry.  They barricaded themselves on the 22nd floor and prepared for the worst.  It would be a simple matter for the Soviets to board the elevator and ride up and seize control.  However, it didn't happen that way.  Due to some quick thinking, someone at the top placed a matchbox in the door of the elevator to prevent it from closing.  As a safety feature, the elevator car could not move unless the outer doors were completely shut, so it just sat there.  

An Estonian matchbox from who-knows-when.  It reads:
 "Grandma, are your lungs healthy?"

The troops were forced to climb the nearly 1,000 steps to the top.  This bought the defenders some time.  When the troops threatened to blast open the doors, the Estonian police, who were barricaded behind the doors, threatened to activate a halon gas fire extinguishing system that completely removes all oxygen from the room.  This would, in effect, kill everyone, including themselves.  It may be debatable as to if there really was a halon system or if it was actually functional.  The Soviets bought it and did not try to enter.  Eventually the coup d'tat in Moscow was ended and the troops were sent packing.  In the midst of all this, Estonians had been notified of what was happening at the tower and hundreds of them showed up to show support for their countrymen.  Their numbers overwhelmed the Soviet troops by comparison.  

Below are some pictures of our visit

Tallinna Teletorn

View from the top

It was a bit chilly and windy outside

This hole in the floor gave me the shivers.
Yes, that's the base some 558 ft below

For 20 euros extra, you can go outside the
safety fence and face certain death strapped
to a harness

These young girls tried it.  Not me!

Soviet Era assault vehicle