The final piece of the EU's tallest skyscraper was finally lifted into place yesterday.
The Shard of Glass, on the south bank of the River Thames in Southwark, south London, now stands at its full height of 1,017 feet after the topmost part of the imposing skyscraper - a steel spire weighing about 500 tonnes which was manufactured in Yorkshire, dismantled, transported to London, and then re-assembled again - was placed at the top of the building.
Not only is is the tallest building in the EU but it is the tallest inhabited building in the whole of Europe.
The spire needed the UK's largest crane to lift it in place.
The building - officially called Shard London Bridge - will offer uninterrupted 360-degree views of the capital, stretching for 40 miles in every direction, and will open in June.
Visitors will be able to enjoy the view from an observatory that will be 72 floors up.
The Shard is just one of TWELVE skyscrapers currently under construction in London, including the Bishopsgate Tower in the City which, when completed in 2013, will be the second-tallest skyscraper in the EU at 945 feet.
Another 45 buildings over 325 feet have also been approved in London.
The previous tallest building in the EU was the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt, which opened in 2011 and reaches 850 feet.
Read more and see pics:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123112/Now-Shard-Highest-point-Europes-tallest-building-lifted-place-reaching-310-metres-sky.html#ixzz1qnpMn2I1