World's tallest building just got taller

[snopes]

The world's tallest building just got taller -- the Burj Dubai tower in the booming Gulf emirate of Dubai has now reached a height of 688 metres (2,257 feet) and is still growing.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080902...structiondubai

[Troodon]

The view from the top must be amazing. What's the air like that far above the ground?

[LizzyBean]

You couldn't pay me enough money to go up into that thing.

I don't understand what the fascination with the "tallest building" is. The logistics of keeping this thing from falling down must be insane.

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by LizzyBean

I don't understand what the fascination with the "tallest building" is.

I suppose every nation of any note desires, perhaps needs, some object or structure of national pride. This is one way of doing that.

[Mycroft]

Originally Posted by Troodon

The view from the top must be amazing. What's the air like that far above the ground?

Still quite breathable, as it's less than half the altitude of Denver (and doesn't count as a mountain)

I live in the Rockies. Every summer we drive up in them and one road gets to 12,000 feet -- and the air is thin but still breathable.

[Furienna]

Yes, the air should be almost the same at 688 meters as down on the ground. Many mountains are that high, and you can still climb them without problems. Sweden's highest mountain is Kebnekaise at over 2000 meters, and though I'm not sure, I don't think you need to bring extra oxygene to breath on its top. I think you need to get up to 4000 meters before you have to worry about the air.

[jw]

This simulated picture of the burj was the projected one for 2008/9, with still more to go in 2010.
Or this one, showing it in the completed Dubai waterfront, which incidently looks a bit like crane city, right now.