Throughout the history of mankind tall structures have always been a symbol of power and prosperity. Structures like gates, towers and forts were built to commemorate victories and prosperity of kingdoms. Today also, we see this in the form of superstructures and skyscrapers. Economy and technology are the new tools of power and prosperity today and skyscrapers are a perfect example that showcases these.

Here are the world’s highest structures to come up in modern times.

To top our charts and that too by a fair bit we have the Burj Dubai, built in Dubai, which is still under construction but it has already broken all records in terms of height. After completion which is expected to be somewhere in September 2009 it would attain a height of about 818 m or 2,684 ft.

On the second place we will have Pagcor Towers, Manila. When finished it would be the second tallest free standing structure of the world at a height of 665 m.

On the third place we have Shanghai Towers with a height of 632 m.

Other skyscrapers that compete in the 10 highest in the world which are already built or are under construction are:

• The Russia Tower, Moscow, height 612 m
• Chicago Spire, Chicago, height 610 m
• Port Tower, Karachi 593 m
• 1 World Trade Center, height 541.4 m
• Lotte World II, Busan S. Korea height 512 m
• Taipei 101 Towers, Taipei, height 509 m.
• Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, height 492 m.