Paris: Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower or Tour Eiffel, was designed by French engineer Gustave Eiffel on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of 1889 in Paris. It was built in two years, two months and five days.

Built in controversy with the artists of the time, who saw her as an iron monster, is considered the undisputed symbol of France and the city of Paris in particular, being the world's most visited monument.

When it was built it was the tallest monument in the world, with 300 meters high (if you add the radio antenna located on the top, its height is 324 meters). When built, the tower weighed about 7,300 tons, while today its weight is estimated at over 10,000 (due to the museum, restaurants, stores and shops that houses). It was expected that the tower reached 350 feet high, but the neighbors were alarmed by the threat of such a tall building and built with little stones might fall, and demonstrated, causing a change in plans. The last 24 meters are for a radio antenna was added much later.

According to the official site of the monument, to reach the top you have to take 1665 steps.

It is considered that approximately half of those joints with regard to the structure (by rivets) are performed for security reasons, ie keep the tower standing but failed half of joints between parts.This ensured from the beginning the reliability of the Tower, since at the time of its construction many Parisians were afraid that he might fall causing a catastrophe. Between 1889 and 2004, the Eiffel Tower received over 200 million visitors from around the world. The Eiffel tower is the most visited place in the world.

In addition, at the top there is a viewing point which has a spectacular view of the city of Paris, and at the same time is detailed the distance at which they are different cities worldwide, and its location.

The structure was begun in 1887 to serve as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle, a world fair organized to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. The tower was inaugurated on March 31, 1889, and was opened to the public on May 6 of that year.

About two hundred workers joined the 18,038 pieces of wrought iron, using two and a half million rivets, following the structural design by Maurice Koechlin.

The French engineer Gustave Eiffel first presented his draft to those responsible tower of Barcelona City Council, to be built in this city on the occasion of the Universal Exposition of Barcelona (1888).But those responsible for the Barcelona City Hall seemed a strange construction, and face, which would not fit in the city. Following the refusal of the Consistory of Barcelona, ??Eiffel submitted his draft to those responsible for the Universal Exhibition in Paris, where he erected a year later, in 1889. They agreed to build the tower, although at first they thought that would be removed once the exhibition. Only the people's will prevented the demolition.

In the first decade of the twentieth century, Parisians showed their discontent with the Tower, he came to the point that the government ordered its demolition. But his great and powerful antenna was saved from destruction, and receiving radio waves Germany, in World War I, which was of great help to the Allies.

More information: www.wikipedia.org