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View from 1,250 feet: One World Observatory opens

June 02, 2015 08:45 IST

Thirteen-and-and-a-half years after terrorists attacked the twin towers of the World Trade Centre, public has been granted access to the observatory of the One World Trade Centre which has been built in their place.

Visitors can reach the observatory through one of five elevators called 'skypods' that take them to the observatory in 60 seconds, with the main public viewing space on the 100th floor and restaurants on the 101st floor.  Officials estimate the building will receive between three and four million visitors a year.

From above 1,250 feet, visitors will get a view of the city and its surroundings, with sight lines stretching 80 kilometres past the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty to the Atlantic Ocean.

Tickets are $32 (Rs 2038 )for adults and $26 (Rs 1656) for children ages 6 to 12 and USD 30 for seniors. Admission is free for family members of those who died on September 11, 2001, as well as those who worked in the rescue and recovery, AP reported.

Visitors to the newly opened One World Observatory in New York. Taking up parts of the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floor of the One World Trade Center building, the One World Observatory opened to the public Friday for the first time. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

A woman looks out the windows of the newly opened One World Observatory in New York. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Visitors stand in line for the public opening of the One World Observatory in the Manhattan borough of New York May 29, 2015. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Dancers perform to celebrate the public opening of the One World Observatory in the Manhattan borough of New York May 29, 2015. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Visitors go through security screening as they enter the newly opened One World Observatory in the Manhattan borough of New York. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Visitors sit down for drinks and food in a restaurant as they look out the windows of the newly opened One World Trade Observatory in New York. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Visitors to the newly opened One World Observatory in New York. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Visitors sit down at a restaurant in the newly opened One World Observatory in the Manhattan borough of New York. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Visitors to the newly opened One World Observatory in New York May 29, 2015. Taking up parts of the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floor of the One World Trade Center building, the One World Observatory opened to the public for the first time. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

A woman laughs as she raises her drink at a restaurant in the newly opened One World Observatory in the Manhattan borough of New York. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Manhattan stretches out in a view from the newly opened One World Observatory in the Manhattan borough of New York. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Visitors stand in line holding tickets for the public opening of the One World Observatory in the Manhattan borough of New York. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Visitors sit down at a restaurant in the newly opened One World Trade Observatory in the Manhattan borough of New York. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

A man stands on a balcony overlooking visitors as they look out the windows of the newly opened One World Observatory in New York. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters