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The Kalian minaret, built in 1127 by Arslan
Khan and is called the 'tower of death' - because criminals were thrown from
the window at the top of this tower until 1871- the tower was here at the time
of Marco Polo because Genghis Khan, when he leveled the rest of the city was
awe struck and decreed that it remain standing. It is 153 feet high and is the
tallest structure in Central Asia,. Inside the spiral staircase has 104 steps.
There are 16 openings in the gallery. The minaret also served as a watch tower
and also for a smoke signal beacon to guide caravans across the desert. on the
fright side a part of the wall of the related medressa.
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