8.1/1014 votesLoading...#1 - Alcatraz
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 3/16/2005
In 1906, an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 rocked San Francisco. An earthquake of similar or greater proportions is expected to occur in San Francisco again, and soon. The episode takes a look at the efforts that are being made to retrofit and strengthen America’s most recognized bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, before the next big earthquake happens. It also gives a brief history about the construction of the suspension bridge, and the people who were involved in its construction.
Director: Mike Slee
Writer: N/A
- 8.1/1010 votesLoading...
#2 - Ice Hotel
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 8/1/2006
10,000 tons of crystal clear ice and 30,000 tons of pure snow are needed to build the Ice Hotel in Sweden every year. The hotel accommodates over 100 guests and every bedroom is unique. It has become renowned for its ingenuity and originality but it isn't the only structure created from ice. A little further into Sweden's northern wilderness is a network of roads that are created every winter on top of the Baltic Sea. Witness the construction and disappearance of two of the world's most unique Megastructures.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.8/108 votesLoading...
#3 - Korean Superlink (Deep Sea Highway)
Season 8 Episode 4 - Aired 2/17/2011
South Korea never constructed a submerged tunnel, but now tackles the challenge of building one of the deepest immersed highways on Earth. Designed for the fickle conditions of the Pacific, the giant tunnel must be both earthquake and typhoon proof.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.7/1017 votesLoading...
#4 - Super Carrier: USS Ronald Reagan
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/1/2004
The USS Ronald Reagan is a 4.5 billion dollars Nimitz-class supercarrier. Powered by 2 nuclear reactors, the 1100ft. long vessel is equipped with all the necessary facilities to house 6000 personnel and over 80 aircraft. Viewers are given an exclusive look at how the crew of these ‘floating naval base’ is put through a series of test in order to obtain their flight deck certification. Take a glimpse at the various facilities on the ship that keep the 6000 strong crew fed, rested, and entertained.
Director: N/A
Writer: Mike Kelly
- 7.7/1013 votesLoading...
#5 - Episode 11
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 10/5/2006
No description available
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/1012 votesLoading...
#6 - Ultimate Oil Rigs
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 12/6/2005
The dwindling energy supplies have forced oil companies to set up their oil rigs in some of the harshest environments on the globe. Ultimate Oil Rigs introduces viewers to the Noble Piet, an oil rig built to withstand the fury of the natural elements of the North Sea. The episodes follows the roughnecks as they drill for natural gases deep under the ocean bed. As well as follow the crew of Keppel FELS shipyard in Singapore in the designing and building of 23 rigs within 2 years.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.6/1012 votesLoading...
#7 - Grand Canyon Skywalk
Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 12/30/2008
No description available
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.5/109 votesLoading...
#8 - Sea Launch
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 8/3/2005
Located near Lac De Gras, Canada’s Northwest Territories, lies Canada’s first diamond mine, the Ekati Diamond Mine. The episode examines 3 mega machines utilized in the extraction and transportation of diamonds deep in the frozen rock in the remote tundra: the D90 rotary blast drill, the DeMag 655 hydraulic shovel and the CAT 793C haul truck.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.5/109 votesLoading...
#9 - Berlin's Grand Central (Berlin Train Terminal)
Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 11/15/2005
Berlin’s new train terminal is designed to be constructed almost entirely out of glass and is being rushed to completion before the World Cup 2006, when millions of soccer fans will be expected to visit Berlin. Megastructures documents the historical feat when two daring teams attempt a feat never before accomplished in construction history; the tipping of two bridges over the roof of the glass station. Already costing 4 billion dollars, almost 5 years in construction delays, over budget, and with the architect suing the developers for cutting corners, will the terminal be ready before the dateline?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.4/1017 votesLoading...
#10 - Itaipú Dam
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/27/2004
In the Paraná River of South America, lies the Itaipú Dam. Costing 20 billion dollars, the Itaipú Dam is the world's largest and most powerful hydroelectric power plant. It is a representation of the efforts and accomplishment of two countries, Brazil and Paraguay. The episode examines the efforts undertaken and the sacrifices made to construct the dam, including how the largest diversion channel was constructed to divert water from the world’s 7th largest river away from the main construction site.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.4/108 votesLoading...
#11 - Indy Motor Speedway
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 9/13/2005
How engineers created the USS Virginia and commissioned the first of a new class of nuclear submarine in the 1970s, hailed during its lifetime as the world's deadliest vessel
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.4/1025 votesLoading...
#12 - Impossible Bridges: Greece
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 5/2/2006
Megastructures chronicles the design and construction of Greece's Rion-Antirion Bridge. The bridges is the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world and spans over the straits of Corinth.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.4/1011 votesLoading...
#13 - Machines of War: Guns
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 10/12/2006
It's man made and one of the strongest materials on earth. Explore the science behind steel and the innovations it has made possible -- from the Brooklyn Bridge to the tools for medical miracles.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.3/1018 votesLoading...
#14 - Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/20/2004
In 1955, two ferries sank along the Akashi Strait, Japan, killing 168 children. It led to a 30 year research on designing a bridge that would link the Awaji Island to Kobe; the bridge would also have to be able to withstand severe earthquakes and typhoons, a norm in that area. In 1988, Japan began construction of the world’s longest, highest and most expensive suspension bridge, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. The episode presents a stage by stage look at the construction of the suspension bridge, and the obstacles faced in its construction, including the Kobe earthquake in 1995.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.3/1010 votesLoading...
#15 - Super Port: Rotterdam
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 9/20/2005
Spanning 559 acres and host to over 250,000 permanent seats, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the largest seated sporting arena in the world. The Speedway opened its gates in 1909 during the horse-and-buggy era. Now, it is one of the most technologically advanced racetracks on the globe.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.3/1016 votesLoading...
#16 - Ultimate Roller Coaster
Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 10/25/2005
The episode follows the construction process of the 25 million dollar Kingda Ka Roller Coaster being built by Six Flags. Constructed under secrecy, the 139m tall roller coaster will be the fastest and tallest roller coaster in the world when completed, breaking the Dragster’s record. The documentary includes brief comments from Project Engineer, Jeff Glinter, and Chief Corporate Engineer, Larry Chickola. And explains how the Kingda Ka utilises a hydraulic launch system to launch riders to a speed of 206km/h in 3 seconds.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.2/1021 votesLoading...
#17 - Kansai International Airport
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/13/2004
Located 5 km off the coast of Osaka, Japan, is the Kansai International Airport. The airport is built entirely on a man-made island, 4 km long and 1 km wide. The only link between the island and Osaka is by the world’s longest 2-tiered bridge. Although the airport is built to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, the artificial island itself is sinking faster than anticipated. The episode looks at the various measures that are taken to keep the airport ‘afloat’, and the various facilities and services available to keep the airport running.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.2/108 votesLoading...
#18 - Mega Plane (Air Force Transport)
Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 9/20/2005
Megastructure looks at how one of Dubai's greatest engineering marvel came to be. Examining the Palm-Jumeira Island from it's design to it's method of construction, the documentary also lists the problems faced in it's construction. Like the effects from the September 11 fears to corrosions and weather.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.2/107 votesLoading...
#19 - Baikonur Cosmodrome
Season 2 Episode 24 - Aired 12/13/2005
Explore the Baikonur Cosmodrome, crown jewel of Russia's space program. Trace the glorious history of this megacomplex from the landmark launches of Sputnik and the first cosmonauts to its current status as a gateway to the International Space Station.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.2/1015 votesLoading...
#20 - North Branch Correctional Institution
Season 2 Episode 25 - Aired 12/31/2005
The North Branch Correctional Institution (NBCI) will house 2,000 violent criminals. Its security measures are much more than technological marvels they are the features that will protect the lives of prison guards and revolutionize rehabilitation programs for inmates.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.2/1018 votesLoading...
#21 - Millau Bridge
Season 2 Episode 26 - Aired 12/20/2005
It is the world’s tallest bridge, at 343 m tall at its highest pillar, the Millau Viaduct in Southern France is almost a third taller than any other bridge in the world. A freeway in the sky, the bridge crosses the river Tarn in France and can save travelers almost an hour of travel between France and the Mediterranean. It also removes the traffic congestion once faced in the town of Millau. The episode documents the difficulties that the crew had to faced, and the challenging processes that were used in its construction. The documentary contains a few words from the mayor of Millau, Jacques Godfrain, the bridge architect, Norman Foster, and designer, Michel Virlogeux.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.1/1019 votesLoading...
#23 - USS Virginia
Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 10/11/2005
It is the largest passenger plane ever built and it is a 12 billion dollar investment. The episode documents the history of the Airbus A380, from its design concept, its interior features, the precision manufacturing, the logistics, the final assembly and its final maiden flight.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.1/1012 votesLoading...
- 7.0/107 votesLoading...
#25 - Tau Tona - City Of Gold
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 5/21/2005
Megastructure takes viewers on an inside look at how the Port of Singapore is able to move a third of the world's trade through the use of shipping and high-tech mega-systems.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of MegaStructures
Every episode of MegaStructures ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of MegaStructures!
MegaStructures is a documentary television series appearing on the National Geographic Channel in the United States and the United Kingdom, Channel 5 in the United...
Genre:Documentary
Network:National Geographic
Best Episodes Summary
"Alcatraz" is the best rated episode of "MegaStructures". It scored 8.1/10 based on 14 votes. Directed by Mike Slee and written by N/A, it aired on 3/16/2005. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Ice Hotel".