Satellite map of Sender Bielstein
The Sender Bielstein (Transmitter Bielstein) is an FM- and TV-broadcasting facility on the 393 metre high Bielstein mountain in the Forest of Teutoburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Bielstein transmitter, which is property of WDR and used for transmitting its programmes was established in 1951. It used until 1954 a 60 metre tall mast. This mast was replaced in 1954 by a 102 metre tall antenna tower. However this mast was not able to supply the whole area with FM and TV-programmes and so a taller antenna mast was soon planned. Finally in 1968 construction work started for a 298 metre tall guyed steel tube mast. This mast, which was completed in 1970 enabled a satisfactory supply of FM- and TV-programmes in the area. On January 15, 1985 at 6.26 MST as result of too much iceload and great wind-induced stress, one of the upper guys of the mast was torn off. As result the mast bent and cracked 160 metres above ground. Afterwards the rest of the mast collapsed as the falling upper parts destroyed the guys holding its lower parts. Already on the afternoon of that day as replacement for the first FM-transmitter which used the mast went on air again, by using a communication tower of Deutsche Telekom as transmission site.
Latitude: 51° 54' 21.17" N
Longitude: 8° 49' 18.59" E