The Eiffel Tower – One of the most famous landmarks in the world
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France is one of the most recognized landmarks in the world. I’ve visited several times, I love Paris, and I just don’t get tired of it.
Millions of people visit the Eiffel Tower every year and it is hard to believe how hated it was when the Eiffel Tower was first built.
Did you know, the Eiffel Tower was built to be a temporary structure? It has now been around for over 100 years, and let’s hope that it will me around for many more.
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History of the Eiffel Tower
Why was the Eiffel tower built? When was the Eiffel Tower built?
The Eiffel Tower was built as a temporary structure to celebrate the Worlds Fair that was being held in Paris in May 1889, which was also the Centennial of the French Revolution.
A competition was held and of the winning entries the design by the engineer Gustave Eiffel was chosen.
The tower was controversial from the start, considered by many to be an eyesore. In 1909 it was due to be torn down however the antenna at the top of the tower was being used for radio transmissions and the tower was saved due to it’s usefulness.
Wind resistance is the reason for the shape of the tower. Using mathematical equations, Gustav Eiffel, was able to build an extremely stable structure that only moves approximately 9 centimeters in the wind at its summit.
Eiffel Tower History from DiscoverFrance.net
How Tall is the Eiffel Tower?
Eiffel TowerOne question people always ask is “How tall is the Eiffel Tower”.
- Initial height: 312 m (1023.5 ft) to the top of the flagpole.
- 1st floor: 57.63m (189 ft)
- 2nd floor: 115.75m (379.76 ft)
- 3rd floor: 276.13m (906 ft)
- Current height (including antennas): 324 m (1,063 ft)
The Eiffel Tower is not the worlds tallest structure, but it once was. From 1889 until 1930 the Eiffel Tower was the worlds tallest man-made structure, and it is still the tallest structure in Paris.
In 1930 New York City’s Chrysler building became the tallest structure in the world.
Where is the Eiffel Tower located?
The Eiffel Tower is located at the Champs de Mars in Paris.
It is easy to get to by the Paris Metro or by water taxi.
How long did it take to build the Eiffel Tower – The Gustave Eiffel Tower
Vintage Eiffel Tower Construction on the Eiffel Tower begun on 1887 and was completed in 1889.
In just 2 years, 2 months and 5 days the tower was completed under budget and it took only one year to recover the majority of the $1.5 million in building costs for the tower through ticket sales.
“It only took five months to build the foundations and twenty-one to finish assembling the metal pieces of the Tower.”
Interesting Facts about the Eiffel Tower
Did you know that …
- Only one person died during the construction of the Eiffel Tower.
- The tower is made of puddle iron, not steel.
- Heat expands the tower and depending on which side is facing the sun, the tower leans just a fraction in that direction.
- On a clear day you can see 42 miles around Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower in each direction.
- The Eiffel tower “grows” in the heat. It can become up to 15cm taller.
The Eiffel Tower at Night
Video of the Eiffel Tower lit up at night.
Visiting the Eiffel Tower at night is very different to viewing it during the day. This video shows the lights at night. Every hour for 5 minutes minutes the light display sparkles as shown in this video. For the rest of the hour the lights are still on but they are not sparkling. When I visited the Tower looked blue, it was gorgeous. Visit Eiffel Tower Official Website.
Are you interested in visiting Paris? Please also read Top 10 Things To Do in Paris – I Love Paris.