The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was built for the World's Fair in 1889 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the French Republic. Alexander Gustave Eiffel lead the team that developed the plans for the Eiffel Tower. The construction of the Eiffel Tower began in February 1887. 132 workers assembled 18,000 on site! The four base pilars of the Eiffel Tower are alligned like the four points of a compass. The Eiffel Tower took 2 years, 2 months and 5 days which meant it finished construction in April, 1889. The Eiffel Tower was first lit by gas-lights but today the tower is lit up by 336 spotlights. The Eiffel Tower originially stood at a hight of 1,023 feet but was later built to reach a hight of 1,063 feet which is twice as high as the great pyramid of Giza! Today, The Eiffel Tower is the most paid/visisted monument in the world and weighs 10,100 tonnes!
Facts
- You Would Have To Climb 1,665 Steps To Reach The Top Of The Eiffel Tower
- The Paint On the Eiffel Tower Weighs As Much As 10 Elephants
- The Eiffel Tower Was Actually Intended To Be In Spain, But The Project In Spain Was REJECTED
Significance
The Eiffel Tower was made to demonstrate France's technological innovations. The Eiffel Tower relayed reports on Zepplins during WWI and coded messages sent by Nazis in WWII. Today, the Eiffel Tower is a now a radio transmitter and a outstanding landmark with 120 antenna on the top. Without the radio transmitter, the Eiffel Tower may not exist today since the Eiffel Tower was supposed to be a temporary landmark, so there was discussion about it deconstruction in the early 1900's. The Eiffel Tower has two restaurants on the the first two floors of the structure. It also has multiple observation decks so that tourists can get an overview of the amazing landscape of Paris. It has had many purposes like being home to a Post Office, Theatre, Newspaper Office, and Scientific Laboratories plus every year, the first level of the tower is used as an Ice Rink!