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Showcasing some marvels to marvel at

“Megastructures”: Technological innovation

Showcasing the remarkable technological innovations behind some of the world’s most impressive structures, National Geographic Channel’s brand new weekly series “Megastructures” was premiered on Thursday.

Unravelling how some of the biggest and most awe-inspiring structures came into existence, the series would take viewers to the Milau Bridge in France and on an adrenalin-rushing ride on the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster. The 15-part series seeks to explain the engineering behind architectural marvels like World Islands, Ice Hotel and Petronas Towers. According to Rajesh Sheshadri of National Geographic Channel (India), “Megastructures” takes a look at the most amazing structures and machines that were once unthinkable engineering challenges but now stand tall as the greatest feats of human intelligence and hard work. “It takes us inside these modern marvels to uncover the cogs and screws and see how these mega-dreams became mega-structures,” he adds.

To promote the series, the channel is also showcasing India-centric interviews with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director E. Sreedharan and renowned architect Hafeez Contractor.

“Dubai’s Dream Palace” on Thursday showcased the World Island project in the wealthy Gulf state, construction of the world’s most luxurious hotel, Burj Al-Arab, and the creation of the world’s only indoor ski resort.

Creating a man-made wonder visible from space is no easy task. In “World Island Wonder” which goes on the air on August 23, a team of developers in Dubai will use over 320 million cubic metres of sand to build a 4-km-long island chain.

“Future Trains”, to be aired on August 30, will look into a futuristic magnetic levitation train that transforms the 30-km journey from the Pudong International Airport to the Longyang Road Station in Shanghai’s new financial district into an eight-minute joyride.

“Ultimate Roller Coaster”, to be aired on September 6, explores the latest in roller coaster engineering and technology. It will show designers testing their creations and state-of-the-art technology.

Focusing on a 2.5-km-long mega-structure in France is the episode “Millau Bridge” that will be shown on September 13. It tells a story of engineering derring-do. Others episodes in the series are “Petronas Towers”, “Ice Hotel”, “Colossal Churches”, “Historic Home”, “Massive Machines” and “Total Towns”.

– Madhur Tankha

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