| Eiffel tower - most familiar architectural attraction of Paris with worldwide popularity as a symbol of France and named in the honor of the designer Gustave Eiffel and very being popular tourist attraction with 5.5 million visitors annually visiting the Eiffel Tower. Tower was constructed as entrance to 1889's World fair. Drawings, submitted by Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, received first prize at the competition, declared during the preparations for exhibition. With enthusiasm, Eiffel exclaimed: "France will be the unique country having a 300-meter flagstaff!"
Structure was a tremendous and immediate success. During the six months of exhibition, more than 2 million visitors visited the “Iron Lady”. By the end of year, it was possible to compensate 1/3 of expenditure, spent on the construction. It is known, that three hundred writers and artists have signed the protest, addressing to municipality, characterizing the structure as “useless and monstrous”.
The tower was erected on Champ de Mars opposite to Icaunus bridge.
Construction work was executed by 300 workers in little over 2 years - from January 1887 till March, 1889. Construction in record time was possible only due to the extremely high quality drawings, in which the exact dimensions of more than 12000 metal parts were specified. 2.5 million Rivets were used in the construction. Height of tower is 300 meters (without 22-meter television antenna at its top), which made it tallest structure in the world during 40 years. Tower is almost twice taller than the tallest buildings in the world at that time (Pyramid of Cheops 137 m, Cologne cathedral 156 m, Ulm cathedral 161 m, etc.).
Weight of metal structure - 7300 tons (full weight: 10100 tons). Basement is made from concrete body. During storms, vibrations of tower do not exceed 15 cm. Eiffel Tower was constructed as a symbol and it was used as an entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle, a World's fair in 1889.
Ground floor represents itself as a pyramid (129.2 m each side in the base), forming 4 columns, joining at a height of 57.63 m by curved arch; First platform of Eiffel Tower is situated on the arch. Platform represents a square (65 m across). Second pyramid of the tower is erected on this platform, and the tower is once again formed by 4 columns, joining the arch, on which, a second platform (square 30m across) is situated (at a height of 115.73m). Four columns, raising on second platform, in pyramid shape close in and gradually interlace and form colossal pyramidal column (190 m), bearing third platform (at height of 276.13m), also in the shape of a square (16.5 m across); Lighthouse with dome is positioned above the third platform and a platform (1.4 m across) is again prepared above the lighthouse at a height of 300 m. Staircase (1792 stairs) and lift lead to the top of Eiffel Tower.
As a result of construction, a number of halls are made on the first platform, which house restaurants; Water reservoirs for hydraulic elevating machine (lift) and restaurant in glass gallery are positioned on second platform. Third platform houses astronomical and meteorological observatories and physical cabinet. Lighthouse illuminated an area of 10 kilometers.
Nowadays, viewing platform is made on tower, up to which the lift works. View of 140 km in circumference can be seen from balconies of third platform.
Today, tower is used in the interests of television, radio broadcasting and mobile telephony.
In winters of 2004 / 2005, the bottom platform of Eiffel Tower was covered with ice skating-rink with an aim to promote Paris as candidate to host 2012 Summer Olympiad.
On June, 24, 2005 in village Parizh, Chelyabinsk region, Russia, the fivefold reduced copy of Eiffel Tower was made, which is used as cell phone tower. |
Days ago a militant plot to destroy the Eiffel Tower was intercepted. French police and intelligence are in a state of a high alert to protect the tower, which has been a historical symbol of France and the most visited tourist location in Paris.
