#6 at 585 Feet: The Anaconda Smelter Stack
The Anaconda Smelter Stack
Coming up at number six, largely due to how many taller stacks have since been demolished, stands the Anaconda Smelter Stack located in Anaconda, Montana USA. It stands at 178.3 meters or 585 feet tall. It is also the tallest masonry structure worldwide, made of brick. It was built in 1918 and held the word record for the tallest chimney in the world from it's completion until 1937. The terra cotta that covered the top section of bricks has been lost over the years. It even has it's own two viewing lookouts, called the Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park.
#5 at 637 Feet: INCO Copper Cliff Nickel Refinery Stack
The Vale Smelter: The INCO Cooper Cliff Nickel Refinery Stack
Just a ten minute drive from the INCO superstack (#2 on our list), is the INCO Cooper Cliff Nickel Refinery Stack, located in Sudbury, Canada. Reaching 194 meters, or 637 feet into the sky, this stack lands at the fifth tallest current standing chimney in the world. Built in 1954 it held the world record until 1962.
#4 at 820 Feet: The Kashira Power Plant Chimney
The Kashira Power Plant Chimney
Built in 1966, the Kashira Power Plant Chimney held the world record for the tallest chimney from 1966 to 1967 just before other taller chimnies were built, and later demolished. The Kashira Chimney is now fourth tallest in the world at 250 meters or 820 feet. Located in Kashira, USSR (now Russia), continues to for the coal-fired power plant. it has a capacity of 1,910 MW and a heating capacity of 533MWt. Interestingly, one of the smokestacks on the plant serves as an electricity plyon!
#3 at 1,206 Feet: The Mitchell Power Plant Chimney
The Mitchell Power Plant Chimney
Still the tallest freestanding chimney in the Southern USA, the Mitchell Power Plant Chimney is located in Moundsville, West Virginia. It was built in 1971 to serve the coal fired power plant. It held the record for the worlds tallest chimney from 1968 to 1971.
#2 at 1,250 Feet: The Inco Superstack
Inco Superstack
Located in Sudbury, Ontario, at the Vale Cooper Cliff Complex, this super stack measures 381 meters or 1,270 feet. It is the tallest chimney in Canada, and the second tallest chimney in the world. Built 1970, the chimney served The Copper Cliff smelter, dispersing sulphur gases and other pollutions. This stack freed the local eco system of pollution and damage. However, in pursuit of more energy efficient stacks, the Superstack is currently under review for demolition… So, enjoy the view while you can! It held the worlds tallest chimney record from 1971 to 1987.
#1 at 1,377 Feet: Ekibastuz GRES-2 Power Station
Ekibastuz GRES-2 Power Station
Located in Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan, this stack measures 419.7 meters or 1,377 feet high. It was built between 1987 and 1993, beating the Inco Superstack in height. Since 1987 to today, it holds the record of being the highest chimney in the world. The power plant it serves also has the highest transmission voltage in the world of 1,150 kVAC.
Thank You
Thank you for reading this article presented by Continental Chimney and Engineering. Also check out our blog on the Ohio Edison Mad River Power Plant demolished We specialize in repairing, maintaining, and demolishing industrial smokestacks and chimneys. Contact us today for a free binocular inspection.
Published January 2023