Scared of Heights? Introducing Sears Tower’s 1353-Foot High Glass Balconies

Imagine being up 1,353 feet, on the 103rd floor of the Sears tower, and taking your first step onto the see-through floor of the Skydeck. With hearts beating like crazy, visitors say the first step is the hardest. "It's like walking on ice," said Margaret Kemp, of Bishop, California, "That first step you take — 'am I going down?'"

"The Ledge," as the balconies have been nicknamed, opened to the public yesterday. Visitors are treated to unobstructed views of Chicago from the building's west side and a heart-stopping vista of the street and Chicago River below.

The balconies can hold five tons, and the glass is an inch-and-a-half thick, officials said. The inspiration for the balconies came from the hundreds of forehead prints visitors left behind on Skydeck windows every week.

via ap