Modern engineering marvels
International Space Station
Year of completion: 2011
The engineering feat: The largest space station ever constructed, the International Space Station was completed in late May.
o The ISS can be seen from Earth with the naked eye
o No true owner of the station exists
o View a gallery of the universe
Year of completion: 1914
The engineering feat: A vital component in international maritime trade, the Panama Canal is a 48-mile ship canal that links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans
* Over 815,000 vessels have passed through this wonder of the world
* The ship responsible for rippling the first waves was a French crane boat
* Panamax (see photos) is the name for the size limit for ships entering the canal
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: The particle accelerator that claims the title for largest and highest-energy collider among all others, the CERN Large Hadron Collider seeks to answer several fundamental questions in physics
o The collider was temporarily shut down when this pesky problem arose
o It's one of the most expensive scientific instruments built
o Find out more about the so-called "God particle"
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: Eat a classy, cabin-side dinner and view the Malay Archipelago atop the Singapore Flyer, the tallest Ferris wheel in the world
o This Ferris wheel mimics another famous attraction, which was constructed earlier.
o See the Singapore Flyer's famous television debut
o Check out tour packages
Year of completion: 2004
The engineering feat: As the tallest bridge in the world, the Millau Viaduct has a roadway weighing 36,000 tons, a length of 8,071 feet and a whooping height of 1,125 feet.
o The viaduct broke another construction record
o The bridge was featured in this goofy film
o Find out how many runners took part in a race near the viaduct
Year of completion: on hold, at 80 percent in 2008
The engineering feat: Destined to be the largest man-made island in the world, the Palm Deira, with a total surface area the size of Paris and all the amenities of a modern luxury locale, is already an international attraction even though it's not completed yet
Year of completion: 1994
The engineering feat: Also called the Chunnel, this massive throughway connects Folkestone, England, with Coquelles, France, via 31.4 miles of undersea rail.
* The tunnel carries Eurostar passenger trains, among other massive carriers
* Immigrants and asylum seekers have used the tunnel to leave their countries
* Total cross-tunnel passenger traffic peaked in 1998
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: The world's largest-capacity hydroelectric power station, the Three Gorges Dam is projected to provide almost 10 percent of China's electrical energy.
o Beyond electricity, the dam increases shipping capacity and reduces the potential for floods
o Critics of the dam point to displaced populations and environmental degradation
o Preview the documentary film "Up the Yangtze"
Year of completion: 1999
The engineering feat: The Burj Al Arab Hotel is the fourth-tallest hotel in the world and rated the world's most luxurious.
o It was built to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel
o Find out how much it costs to book a room
o Several pieces of furniture and fittings inside the hotel are made of gold
Year of completion: 2005
The engineering feat: Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., boasts that it has "the world's tallest roller coaster," the Kingda Ka
o Until Formula Rossa opened in 2010, Kingda Ka was the world's fastest roller coaster
o Kingda Ka's layout almost mirrors the design of this thrill seekers' ride
o The ride suffered from "failure to launch" problems -- literally
Year of completion: 2010
The engineering feat: The Pan-STARRS is a series of cameras and telescopes, along with a computer facility, that continually surveys the sky as the world's largest digital camera
o This system is meant to protect Earth from asteroids, comets and other potential global catastrophes
o It's located on this island
o Beyond its role as "asteroid hunter" the system also may detect dwarf galaxies
Year of completion: 1988
The engineering feat: With the largest stadium capacity in the world, North Korea's Rungrado May Day Stadium provides a stage unmatched by any in the world.
o The name came from a combination of the Rungra Islet in Taedong River and this well-known holiday
o The stadium came up during plans to assassinate this leader
o The stadium played host to a huge event
Year of completion: 2006
The engineering feat: The Langeled Pipeline is the world's longest underwater pipe and brings natural gas from Norway to the United Kingdom.
o It has the capacity to supply 20 percent of the U.K.'s natural gas demands
o Exactly how long is the pipe?
o What was the pipeline originally named?
Year of completion: 2010
The engineering feat: Oasis and Allure of the Seas are the largest passenger ships in the world.
o One of the ships is larger than the other
o The first official voyage of the Oasis of the Seas took place in Haiti
o Both ships are so large they contain gardens, restaurants and shops
Year of completion: 2010
The engineering feat: The longest suspension bridge in the world, Akashi Kaikyo isn't just massive; it's also visually stunning.
o How many workers built it in 10 years?
o The bridge is also known as this
o Because the bridge is such a major tourist trap, additional attractions were built
Year of completion: 1998
The engineering feat: As the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers are a major marketing asset for the Petronas oil and gas company.
* How much did it cost?
* Additionally, the towers hold the record for tallest two-story bridge
* How did the architect of the bridge, Cesar Pelli, describe it?
Year of completion: 2008
The engineering feat: Built for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, Beijing National Stadium is the largest steel structure in the world
o What is the nickname for the stadium?
o The design for the stadium was based on Chinese ceramics
o How much did it cost to build?
Year of completion: 1933
The engineering feat: Lake Mead is the largest man-made reservoir and extends behind the Hoover Dam in Nevada.
o Who is it named after?
o Find out what river it is located on
o What lies beneath the lake?
Year of completion: 2006
The engineering feat: The world's largest swimming pool is located within San Alfonso Del Mar, a private resort.
o How many gallons of water does it hold?
o If rain threatens your pool time, the resort also has a massive indoor option
o The pool uses water from this body of water
Year of completion: 2005
The engineering feat: Located within Chapel Torre Girona in Spain, this supercomputer is the most powerful in Europe .
o The primary purpose of the computer is human genome research
o Find out what the name means in Latin
o Project director Mateo Valero won several awards for the project
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