driver education dashboard assignment (basic car control)

Take the first step toward obtaining your California Provisional Driver License (DL) by completing our online drivers education course. California DMV approved.

Helpful links:.

• Teen Driver Guide
• How to get your California Driver's License as a Teen
• DMV Practice Test California
• Drivers Ed Resources

All about Automobiles

• Vehicle's Instrument Panel / Car Dashboard
• Car Dashboard Warning Lights / Vehicle Warning Indicators
• Car's Main Controls

How to use vehicle controls

• Vehicle Gears
• How to start a vehicle
• Car's Mirrors
• Vehicle's Windshield
• Vehicle's Lights
• Vehicle's Turn Signals
• Car Maintenance Checklist
• What are the emergency kit items that you should keep in your vehicle
• How to save gas / Driving tips for saving gas
• Door Latch: Every door in your car has a latch and manual lock; make sure all doors are locked before you drive – they could fly open during a crash.
• Door and Window Controls: In most vehicles, the driver can operate all door locks and windows through controls on the driver's door. Side mirror controls are also located here.
• Steering Column: The steering column contains the steering wheel, horn, ignition switch, wiper lever, and multifunction level. Most cars allow you to adjust the wheel to a height that is safe and comfortable for the driver.
• Instrument Panel: This will tell you about your current speed and mileage. The instrument panel also displays indicator lights that warn you about open doors, low fuel, etc. You should consult your vehicle's owner's manual to find out where each indicator could appear.
• Start Button: Some newer vehicles will have a push button instead of, or along with, an ignition switch. This button can start or stop the engine. Don't rely on it during an emergency; it may take too long to respond to be helpful.
• Rearview Mirror: Always adjust your mirrors before you drive so that you can see clearly. The rearview mirror lets you see out of the rear window. Use the switch on the bottom of the mirror to reduce sun glare.
• Air Conditioning: Adjust/turn air conditioning controls/knob in order to make the temperature inside your vehicle comfortable. You can also use the temperature controls to defrost your windows, so they are clear during cold or foggy weather.
• Stereo System: At a low volume, the stereo can help you stay alert while you drive. Don't look away from the road to adjust the stereo. Never set the volume to a level that keeps you from hearing the road and other drivers.
• Hazard Light Button: Press this button during an emergency to activate your hazard lights. All four turn signal lights will flash and alert other drivers that they must exercise caution.
• Air Vents: Adjust the air vents to change the direction and level of air flow so that you and your passengers are comfortable.

• ePermitTest.com
• Drivers education
• The Vehicle

The Instrument Panel: Your Guide to Car Dashboard Lights

The portion of the dashboard which sits directly behind the steering wheel is called the instrument panel. This panel houses various gauges and lights which provide the driver with important information about the status of the vehicle. It is essential to know your way around your vehicle’s instrument panel, as misunderstanding or overlooking something could result in enormous inconvenience, for instance, if you were to run out of fuel and break down by the roadside. More importantly, ignoring lights on the vehicle’s instrument panel could put you and your passengers in danger! If there is a problem with the engine, a door is not properly secured or your tire pressure is low, the instrument panel should warn you.

Speedometer

Temperature gauge, turn signal indicators, gear display, low oil pressure, check engine light, engine temperature warning light, antilock braking warning, battery alert, low tire pressure, seat belt indicators, high beam indicator, cruise control, getting to know your instrument panel.

While driving, you will need to glance at the gauges on the instrument panel regularly. Many of these gauges – including the fuel gauge, speedometer and tachometer – provide the driver with information that will help them decide when and how to alter course, speed or otherwise change their driving behavior. Let’s check out some of the most common instrument panel gauges.

The tachometer displays the rotation of the engine’s crankshaft, in revolutions per minute (RPM). In some vehicles, the tachometer is an analog dial, while in others it is displayed digitally. Usually, the numbers on the dial range from one to seven – though this may differ on some vehicles.

The tachometer’s job is to help the driver of a manual vehicle select the right gear for current driving conditions. Though every vehicle is different, most driving experts recommend shifting up a gear when the tachometer reads around “3” (3,000 RPM) and shifting down a gear when it reads around “1” (1,000 RPM). Automatic transmission vehicles generally have tachometers too, though monitoring the car’s RPM is not important unless you have temporarily switched to a manual driving mode.

Towards the top end of the tachometer dial, you will probably notice a section marked in red; this is the “danger zone”. If the tachometer needle is in the red danger zone for too long, or too frequently, the engine could overheat or become prematurely worn out.

The speedometer has a prominent position on the vehicle’s instrument panel, to the left or right side of the tachometer. This gauge shows your car’s current speed, in miles and kilometers per hour (mph/kph). The numbers on your speedometer may go up to 140 or 160 mph but this is because most car manufacturers produce standard speedometer dials to suit both low-performance and high-performance vehicles. In reality, your car’s top speed is likely to be somewhere around the 100-mph mark.

Get in the habit of glancing at your speedometer regularly while driving. This is particularly important when upcoming changes in roadway conditions may warrant a reduction in speed. If you are traveling at 35 mph while approaching a 20-mph school zone, you must plan ahead to give yourself enough time to slow down.

The odometer can usually be found near the speedometer on the instrument panel. This gauge will tell you the total number of miles the vehicle has traveled since it has been on the road. While the main odometer cannot be reset, many modern vehicles also have a separate odometer which can be set back to zero, to measure miles traveled and fuel used during a specific trip.

The information provided by the odometer will help you to keep your car in good working order. Most vehicles need an oil change about every 3,000 miles and a service around every 10,000 miles. The vehicle owner’s manual should tell you how regularly your car will need an oil change and a service.

This gauge shows you how much gas is left in the vehicle’s fuel tank. Bear in mind that the fuel gauge only works when the engine is running. Towards the bottom end of the fuel gauge dial, you should notice a red section. Top up the gas tank immediately if the needle enters this lower end of the gauge, as it indicates that your fuel level is dangerously low.

To keep your vehicle in good condition, you should aim to keep the fuel tank at least a quarter full, topping it up before it drops below this mark. Persistently low fuel levels can cause problems with the fuel pump and fuel filter in any car, though it is a particular problem in older vehicles. If your car is more than 15 to 20 years old and has a metal fuel tank, allowing the gas to run low could cause a build-up of sediment in the bottom of the tank. This could clog fuel lines, block the fuel filter and ultimately, damage the engine.

Your vehicle may have a temperature gauge that indicates the temperature of the engine. If not, it will at least have an engine temperature warning light which will activate should the engine temperature rise to a dangerous level. Most modern vehicles do not have problems with engine overheating, so many manufacturers have chosen to scrap the temperature gauge in favor of a single warning light.

If your engine temperature warning light comes on, or the temperature gauge moves into the red “HOT” zone, do not continue to drive the car. Instead, pull over at the next safe opportunity and allow the engine to cool down. It may be that your engine coolant levels need topping up, but you should not check this until the engine has completely cooled down. Taking off the radiator cap while the engine is hot could result in you being sprayed with boiling hot coolant.

You may be able to cool an overheated engine by stopping the car, shifting into neutral and lightly pressing the gas pedal to rev the engine. Turning off the air con will also help, as this system places additional strain on the engine. If possible, switch the in-car heating on. While it may seem counter-intuitive, running the heating will ease the situation by drawing heat away from the engine and into the passenger compartment.

When one of your turn signals is active, you will see a corresponding arrow-shaped turn signal light flashing on the instrument panel. In some vehicles, the indicator signals will automatically deactivate after a turn has been completed. If this is not the case in your car, be sure to deactivate your indicator light as soon as you are done merging, turning or changing lanes. Leaving the indicator on when you are not planning to turn would confuse the road users around you and could cause a collision.

Your vehicle may have gear display lights on the instrument panel. These lights indicate which drive gear the car is currently in. It is more common for gear display lights to be present in automatic vehicles, where the driver has less hands-on interaction with the transmission. If your car has a manual transmission and gear display lights, you can glance at the instrument panel to make sure you have manually chosen the correct gear when shifting up or down.

Warning lights

Any active light on your vehicle’s instrument panel indicates that something requires your attention. It may be an easily rectifiable situation, like if your parking brake is engaged or your high-beam headlights are switched on. Warning lights can also indicate a more serious issue, like an open trunk, poorly inflated tires or a malfunction in the engine.

Quite often, the color of the warning light tells you about the severity of the situation. A yellow or amber warning light may simply indicate that something demands your attention but does not present an immediate hazard, whereas red warning lights are generally linked to dangerous problems. If a red warning light flashes up on your instrument panel, do not drive the vehicle until the situation is resolved.

Do not make the mistake of ignoring any warning light which appears on your dashboard. The vehicle’s built-in computer is designed to detect developing problems in enough time to avert emergency situations and permanent damage to the engine. A problem that could have been fixed cheaply could end up being very expensive if you do not take the car to a mechanic right away.

Check your car owner’s manual for the precise location and meaning of warning lights and indicators that appear on your dashboard. Below, we discuss some of the main warning lights you should keep a lookout for.

All modern vehicles have an engine oil pressure sensor and a corresponding warning light on the instrument panel, which will activate should the oil pressure drop below a safe level. If there is insufficient oil in the engine, friction will cause moving parts to wear and eventually grind to a halt, destroying your engine. If the oil pressure warning light comes on, check your oil level with the dipstick and top it up, if the reading indicates it is low. If the oil levels are fine or the oil pressure warning light remains active even after you have added oil, switch off the engine and contact a mechanic.

The “check engine” light is one of the most important warning indicators on the dashboard. Unfortunately, this light could indicate any number of problems with the engine, for example:

• A loose fuel tank cap (this could throw off engine pressure and cause the light to activate)
• A faulty airflow sensor
• Loose or frayed spark plug wires
• A catalytic converter malfunction

In some vehicles, a yellow “check engine” light means there is a minor problem that needs to be investigated, while a red “check engine” light means something has gone seriously wrong and you should stop driving the car immediately. Unless you are a trained mechanic yourself, you will need to get a professional mechanic to investigate the problem if the check engine light remains active.

If the coolant fluid level becomes too low, or it reaches an unsafe temperature, the engine temperature warning light will activate. If the light comes on while you’re driving, pull over and let the engine cool down before checking the coolant. Keep in mind that low coolant levels could indicate a leak in the engine, which would need to be investigated by a mechanic. You may be able to temporarily fix the problem by topping up the coolant, though this should only serve as a short time solution until you can take the vehicle to be serviced.

In most vehicles, the engine temperature warning light will come on briefly when you start up the engine. This is an automatic bulb test and is no cause for concern, providing the light only remains active for a few seconds.

Most modern vehicles have anti-lock braking systems (ABS). On the instrument panel, an ABS warning light will activate if there is a problem with the anti-lock braking electronics. The ABS warning bulb may briefly illuminate when the engine turns on; as with the engine temperature light, this is nothing to worry about. However, if the ABS warning light remains on, the vehicle’s computer has detected a problem with the system. Even if your ABS seems to be working fine, get the car checked out by a mechanic immediately. Otherwise, your anti-lock brakes may fail you next time you are forced to stop the vehicle suddenly.

The battery is easily the single most important component of your vehicle’s engine. Without the battery, none of the electronic systems will work and the engine will not start. An active battering warning light on the instrument panel could indicate your battery is coming toward the end of its lifespan and needs to be replaced. A persistent battery warning light more commonly indicates a broken or malfunctioning alternator belt. This belt allows the battery to recharge while the engine is running.

If your battery light comes on when you start the vehicle, or while you are driving, take it to a mechanic immediately. A battery that is depleted of charge due to general wear or a broken alternator will not be able to restart the vehicle once the engine is turned off.

If the air pressure in any of your car’s tires falls 25% or more below the manufacturer's recommended pressure, the low tire pressure warning bulb on the instrument panel will light-up. This may indicate you have a flat tire, a puncture, or simply that it’s time to top up the air. You can refill your tires yourself at most gas stations, or by taking the car to a mechanic.

Remember that low tire pressure affects the vehicle’s grip on the road’s surface. If the tires are not filled to the manufacturer’s guidelines, the car will not handle as well as usual. When the low tire pressure warning light comes on, pull over and check your tire pressure at the earliest opportunity.

In addition to the fuel gauge, many modern vehicles have a fuel warning light on the instrument panel which will activate if the gas in the fuel tank drops below a certain level. This light will usually come on when you have a few miles of fuel left in the tank – just enough to make it to the nearest gas station. Do not ignore the low fuel warning light. If it comes on, stop what you’re doing and head for a gas station immediately!

When the seat belt symbol on the instrument panel lights up, it means that somebody in the car has not correctly secured their seat belt. We know that seat belts save lives, and this is your warning to buckle up! Most modern vehicles have sophisticated seat belt warning systems that detect how many people are in the vehicle, so the warning light will activate if one of your passengers has not fastened their belt. This is handy if you have children in the backseat who are responsible for securing their own belts.

If the seat belt warning light comes on while you are driving, ask your passengers to check their belts, or pull over to check that any children you are transporting are properly secured. If the seat belt warning light remains active despite all necessary seat belts being fastened, you may need to take the vehicle to a mechanic. This could indicate a problem with a seat belt fastening mechanism – which would be very dangerous in the event of an accident!

Before starting the vehicle, have a quick glance at the dashboard to make sure the “open door” warning light is not active. This light indicates that one of the vehicle’s doors is not properly latched and could fly open while the car is moving, or during a collision. Check each door by opening and closing it again, until the “open door” light deactivates.

Your instrument panel probably features a “trunk open” warning light, near the seat belt and door warning lights. As you would expect, this illuminated symbol indicates that the trunk is not properly closed. Always get out and check the trunk when this warning light is active, even if it appears to be shut. It could be that the latch has not caught properly, which would mean the trunk is liable to popping open while the car is moving. This may completely obscure your view through the rear window, creating a serious hazard!

All modern vehicles have a high beam indicator light on the instrument panel, which will light up whenever your high beam lights are active. High beam headlights are powerful and can help you see for greater distances when traveling at night, or in low visibility conditions. Unfortunately, they are powerful enough to dazzle other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on the roadway ahead of you. Always switch back to low beam lights whenever passing opposing traffic or approaching another road user from behind. The high beam indicator light on the dashboard will help you remember to do this.

You may wish to activate your cruise control when traveling on a long, relatively straight highway and there are few other vehicles on the road. Switching this feature on will set your vehicle at its current speed so that you do not have to keep your foot on the gas pedal. Whenever the cruise control is engaged, a corresponding cruise control indicator light on the dashboard will be active. If the situation on the roadway changes and you need to alter the speed, pressing the cruise control button will deactivate the system and switch off the light.

The instrument panel features discussed in this guide are common among modern vehicles. However, your vehicle may have additional instrument panel lights that are not mentioned here. When familiarizing yourself with the dashboard and instrument panel, it is best to have your vehicle owner’s manual on hand. This book will be able to tell you the meaning and location of every light on the panel. You do not have to memorize all this information right away, though you do need to be able to identify common indicator lights and any warnings which would warrant immediate action.

Never ignore a dashboard warning light!

Many motorists make the mistake of ignoring warning lights on their instrument panel if there is no immediately apparent reason for the light to be active. If the car is running fine despite an active “check engine” light, or if the doors appear to be secured despite an “open door” light, you may be tempted to assume there is no problem besides something being wrong with the warning light itself.

Even if that is the case, a malfunctioning warning light must be fixed! If a warning light is broken, you will not be informed if something does go wrong with its corresponding vehicle feature. Plus, the likelihood is that the warning light is working just fine and the issue it is referring to is not immediately obvious. If any warning light on your dashboard remains active, get the car checked out by a qualified mechanic. It is better to be safe than sorry!

Would you pass a driving test today?

Find out with our free quiz!

Like the article? Give us 5 points!

Click a star to add your vote

The Steering Column

Vehicle controls are designed to be easily accessible to the driver. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the main vehicle controls you will find around the steering column. While every make and model of car is different, these will likely include the horn, ignition switch, turn signals, windscreen wiper controls and of course, the steering wheel.

Commanding the Power

The pedals in the driver’s footwell are used to control the amount of power passed from the engine to the wheels. By managing this power, you can increase or decrease the speed of the car. When first setting yourself up in the driver’s seat of your new vehicle, make sure you can reach the pedals well enough to press them all the way down to the floor of the car.

Maintaining Your Vehicle

Well-maintained vehicles are safer vehicles. This module will cover the basics of vehicle operating systems and general automobile maintenance. Keep in mind that the information we include here should not be considered a substitute for the maintenance information in your vehicle owner’s manual. That handbook will always be the ultimate resource when it comes to understanding and maintaining your car.

Safety Engineering

While visual appeal is a key driving force behind a car’s design, modern vehicle manufacturers place far more emphasis on engineering for safety to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities. Looking at your average modern car, it is difficult to grasp just how much thought, time and money has been spent making it as safe as possible for the driver and passengers that will occupy it.

Driver Assistance Systems

In an effort to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and serious injuries caused by driver-error, car manufacturers are developing and implementing computerized driver assistance systems, which take some vehicle-control and hazard-perception responsibilities away from the driver. Fewer responsibilities mean fewer opportunities for driver-error and in theory, fewer collisions.

Essential Components

Climbing into the driver’s seat for the very first time can be an exciting yet somewhat overwhelming experience. In this unfamiliar environment, you will be surrounded by controls, dials, switches, levers, lights and symbols. How are you supposed to negotiate all these gadgets, drive the car and pay attention to the road at the same time?

The External Features

Let’s begin our introduction to the controls and physical components of your vehicle by looking at the car’s external features. Next time you are parked up safely and away from other traffic, take a 360 degree walk around the outside of the vehicle to see if you can identify each of these features.

The Internal Features of Your Car

Learning about the internal features of your vehicle will help you get the most out of your driving experience. Over time, you will come to know your way around the inside of your car as effortlessly as you know your way around your own kitchen! At the start of your learning journey, getting familiar with the internal components of your vehicle will take some study. So, we have put together this guide to get you started!

Engine Compartment

Now it’s time to pop the hood and familiarize yourself with some basic features of your car’s engine compartment. Eventually, you will need to perform basic maintenance tasks like checking oil levels or topping up coolant. We will help you find your way around when the time comes.

Transfers to and from Domodedovo International Airport

Enjoy an airport transfer with SIXT ride - whether you are flying in or out of Moscow Domodedovo Airport. By booking a private transfer to or from the airport you can enjoy many benefits, such as:

• Transparent, fixed prices for all airport transfers
• Pickup inside the terminal at Domodedovo Airport
• Flight tracking and adaptable pickup time
• 24-hour availability to and from the airport in Moscow
• Up to 60 minutes free waiting time depending on car class

Pickup at Domodedovo Airport

The SIXT ride airport transfer service offers one of the more convenient ways of travelling into the city centre once you have arrived at Moscow’s second largest airport. Your driver will be waiting for you inside the terminal building as you arrive, ready to help you with your luggage and show you straight to your car. You won’t have to find a taxi at the airport or wait in any queues and can simply get your ride to your hotel in Moscow underway as soon as possible.

By entering your flight number when you book a transfer from Moscow Domodedovo, you will allow your driver to track your flight. This means that they will be able to see if there are any delays to your flight and then adjust the pickup time accordingly. So you can be sure your driver is waiting for you when you arrive in Moscow and won’t have to pay extra for delays you can’t control.

Moscow city centre to Domodedovo

Whether you are in Moscow on business or on holiday, we will be there to get you to the airport at the end of your stay. You’ll be picked up straight from your hotel or anywhere else in the city centre and dropped off at the terminal at Domodedovo.

For your ride to the airport you have a number of options to choose between which cover a range of budgets. We also have van and minibus booking classes for those travelling in a larger group or with lots of luggage. To see all of the choices and their respective prices in Moscow, simply fill in the booking form at the top of the page or on the SIXT app. The prices shown are fixed and so, unlike with a regular taxi in Moscow, you will know the exact fare of your transfer to Domodedovo before you finalise your booking.

SIXT services

Sheremetyevo

Explore Jobs

• Jobs Near Me
• Remote Jobs
• Full Time Jobs
• Part Time Jobs
• Entry Level Jobs
• Work From Home Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

• $15 Per Hour Jobs
• $20 Per Hour Jobs
• Hiring Immediately Jobs
• High School Jobs
• H1b Visa Jobs

Explore Careers

• Business And Financial
• Architecture And Engineering
• Computer And Mathematical

Explore Professions

• What They Do
• Certifications
• Demographics

Best Companies

• Health Care
• Fortune 500

Explore Companies

• CEO And Executies
• Resume Builder
• Career Advice
• Explore Majors
• Questions And Answers
• Interview Questions

Jobs in Moscow, ID

Travel physical therapy assistant - $1,129 per week.

Travel Occupational Therapist - $1,352 per week

Alois Healthcare

Travel Ultrasound Technologist - $2,499 per week

Job 22 miles from Moscow

Travel Nurse RN - ED - Emergency Department - $2,242 per week

Cdl a truck driver, radiology technologist - $33-50 per hour.

Restoracare Staffing

Travel Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant - Paying up to $1,296/week

Vivian Health

Blank Canvas Urology Position, Full or Part Time, University Community!

Job 20 miles from Moscow

Marine Interdiction Agent - Experienced

Associate personal banker (safe) - lewiston, travel respiratory therapist - $2,098 per week.

Summit Medical Staffing Nursing

Principal Engineer

Medical technologist or mls or mlt in idaho.

Ka Recruiting Inc.

Travel CT Technologist - $2,350 per week

Job 8 miles from Moscow

staff - Registered Nurse (RN) - Rehabilitation - $67K-112K per year

Healthcare Support Permanent Placement

Travel LPN / LVN - Long Term Care - $1,662 per week

Safety services consultant - lewiston.

SIF, Idaho Workers' Compensation

Commercial Pest Control Technician

Fnp/pa opportunity in the lewiston/clarkston region on idaho (job ).

Go Staffing

Learn More About Jobs In Moscow, ID

Recently added salaries for people working in moscow, id, most common jobs in moscow, id.

• Administrative Assistant
• Assistant Manager
• Assistant Store Manager
• Bartender Server
• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Coordinator
• Crew Member
• Customer Service Associate
• Delivery Driver
• Department Manager
• General Manager
• Graduate Research Assistant
• Graphic Designer
• Home Health Aid
• Housekeeper
• Laboratory Assistant
• Laboratory Technician
• Marketing Director
• Marketing Internship
• Office Assistant
• Office Manager
• Personal Assistant
• Project Manager
• Registered Nurse
• Research Assistant
• Sales Associate
• Sales Associate And Cashier
• Sales Manager
• Sales Representative
• Server And Hostess
• Shift Manager
• Store Manager
• Team Leader
• Technical Support Representative
• Web Developer

Moscow, ID Jobs By Industry

• Architecture and Engineering
• Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
• Business and Financial
• Community and Social Services
• Computer and Mathematical
• Construction and Extraction
• Education, Training, and Library
• Executive Management
• Food Preparation and Restaurant
• Healthcare Practitioner and Technical
• Healthcare Support
• Installation, Maintenance and Repair
• Life, Physical, and Social Science
• Office and Administrative
• Personal Care and Attendants
• Production and Manufacturing
• Protective Service
• Transportation

Full Time Jobs In Moscow , ID

Top employers, top 10 companies in moscow, id.

• University of Idaho
• Moscow City Public Works
• Gritman Medical Center
• McDonald's
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Rosauers Supermarkets
• Macy's
• Sodexo Management

Jobs In Nearby Cities

• Clarkston Jobs
• Lewiston Jobs
• Pullman Jobs

Common Jobs

• Research Assistant Jobs
• Sales Associate Jobs
• Internship Jobs
• Cashier Jobs
• Teaching Assistant Jobs
• Server Jobs
• Office Assistant Jobs
• Assistant Manager Jobs
• Volunteer Jobs
• Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs
• Graduate Research Assistant Jobs
• Manager Jobs
• Administrative Assistant Jobs
• Crew Member Jobs
• Store Manager Jobs
• Zippia jobs

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

Moscow-City: 7 surprising facts about the Russian capital’s business center

1. Guinness World Record in highlining

The record was set in 2019 by a team of seven athletes from Russia, Germany, France and Canada. They did it on September 8, on which the ‘Moscow-City Day’ is celebrated. The cord was stretched at the height of 350 m between the ‘OKO’ (“Eye”) and ‘Neva Towers’ skyscrapers. The distance between them is 245 m. The first of the athletes to cross was Friede Kuhne from Germany. The athletes didn't just walk, but also performed some daredevil tricks. Their record is 103 meters higher than the previous one set in Mexico City in December 2016.

2. Domination of Europe's top-10 highest skyscrapers

7 out of 10 Europe’s highest skyscrapers are located in Moscow-City. Earlier, the  ‘Federation Tower’ complex’s ‘Vostok’ (“East”) skyscraper was the considered the tallest in Europe.

Left to right: the lower of the ‘Neva Towers’ (296 m), Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt (300 m), Gorod Stolits (“City of Capitals”) Moscow tower (302 m), Eurasia tower (309 m), The Shard’ skyscraper in London (310 m), Mercury City Tower (339 m), Neva Towers (345 m).

However, in 2018, the construction of the 462 meter tall ‘Lakhta Center’ in Saint-Petersburg was completed, pushing ‘Vostok’ (374 m) into 2nd place. The 3rd place is taken by OKO’s southern tower (354 m).

3. The unrealized ‘Rossiya’ tower

If all the building plans of Moscow-City were realized, the ‘Lakhta Center’ in St. Petersburg wouldn't have a chance to be Europe's highest skyscraper. Boris Tkhor, the architect who designed the concept of Moscow-City, had planned for the ‘Rossiya’ tower to be the tallest. In his project, it was a 600 meter tall golden cylindrical skyscraper ending with a spire that was inspired by traditional Russian bell towers. Then, the project was reinvented by famous British architect Sir Norman Foster. He had designed ‘Rossiya’ as a pyramid ending with a spire. The skyscraper itself would have been 612 meters tall, and the height including the spire would have reached 744,5 meters (for comparison, the ‘Burj Khalifa’ in Dubai, UAE, would have been just 83,5 meters taller). Unfortunately, the investors faced a lot of economic problems, due to the 2008 financial crisis, so the ‘Rossiya’ skyscraper was never built. A shopping mall and the ‘Neva Towers’ complex was constructed at its place in 2019.

4. Changed appearance of ‘Federation Tower’

In its first project, the ‘Federation Tower’ was designed to resemble a ship with a mast and two sails. The mast was to be represented by a tall glass spire with passages between the towers. It was planned to make a high-speed lift in it. The top of the spire was going to be turned into an observation deck. But the ship lost its mast in the middle of its construction. Experts at the Moscow-city Museum based in the ‘Imperia’ (“Empire”) tower say, that the construction of the spire was stopped, firstly, due to fire safety reasons and secondly, because it posed a threat to helicopter flights – the flickering glass of the spire could potentially blind the pilots. So, the half-built construction was disassembled. However, an observation deck was opened in the ‘Vostok’ tower.

5. Open windows of ‘Federation Tower’

We all know that the windows of the upper floors in different buildings don’t usually open. Experts say that it’s not actually for people’s safety. Falling from a big height is likely to be fatal in any building. The actual reason is the ventilation system. In a skyscraper, it’s managed with a mechanical system, and the building has its own climate. But in the ‘Zapad’ (“West”) tower of the ‘Federation Tower’ complex, the windows can open. The 62nd and last floor of the tower are taken up by a restaurant called ‘Sixty’. There, the windows are equipped with a special hydraulic system. They open for a short period of time accompanied by classical music, so the guests can take breathtaking photos of Moscow.

6. Broken glass units of ‘Federation Tower’

The guests of the ‘Sixty’ restaurant at the top of the ‘Zapad’ tower can be surprised to see cracked glass window panes. It is particularly strange, if we take into consideration the special type of this glass. It is extremely solid and can’t be broken once installed. For example, during experiments people threw all sorts of heavy items at the windows, but the glass wouldn’t break. The broken glass units of ‘Zapad’ were already damaged during shipment . As each of them is curved in its own way to make the tower’s curvature smooth, making a new set of window panes and bringing them to Russia was deemed too expensive . Moreover, the investors had financial problems (again, due to the 2008 financial crisis), so the ‘Vostok’ tower even stood unfinished for several years. Eventually, the cracked window panes were installed in their place.

7. The highest restaurant in Europe

‘Birds’, another restaurant in Moscow-City, is remarkable for its location. It was opened at the end of 2019 on the 84th floor of the ‘OKO’ complex’s southern tower. Guests at the restaurant can enjoy an amazing panoramic view at a height of 336 meters. On January 28, the experts of ‘Kniga Recordov Rossii’ (“Russian Records Book”) declared ‘Birds’ the highest restaurant in Europe, a step toward an application for a Guinness World Record.

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

• The evolution of Russia's No. 1 news program - from the USSR to now
• The Khodynka tragedy: A coronation ruined by a stampede
• ‘Moskvitch’: the triumph and sad end of a famous Moscow car plant (PHOTOS)

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.