Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) is the top attraction of Paris in France. More than 6 million people visit this famous attraction every year. It has become a symbol of Paris. Eiffel Tower pictures are found in postcards, travel guides, travel brochures, etc of Paris. Its popularity can be compared to renowned icons such as the Pyramids and the Statue of Liberty.
Here is some information about the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel). It was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, a World's Fair marking the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. This striking structure was designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel and named after him. The total height of the tower is about 321 metres. It took two years to build and was the world's tallest building until 1930, when the Chrysler Building in New York was constructed. This tall structure is held together with 2.5 million rivets and the estimated total weight of the structure is about 10,100 tonnes. The strong tower has not swayed more than 7.5 cm even in conditions of very strong winds. During hot days, the iron structure can expand to as much as 15cm. The tower is painted every seven years and approximately 40 tonnes of paint is used each time.
At the top of the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel), there is a weather station and navigation point, as well as an observation platform. The space at the platform can accommodate about 800 people at a time. The first and second levels are accessible by stairways and lifts, while the third level summit is only accessible by lift. The first level is 57m high and there is a small museum, Cineiffel, which shows an audio-presentation of the tower's history. The second level is 115m high and can be reached by walking up the stairs from the first level. The total number of steps to walk from the ground level to the observation platform at the top is 710 steps. There are three large lifts that operate between the ground and second level and four small lifts between the second and top level. An Eiffel Bust, created by Antoine Bourdelle, is placed beneath the tower.
Two Eiffel Tower restaurants are located here. They are the Altitude 95 on the first level and Jules Verne on the second level. Jules Verne Restaurant serves superb food and is considered as one of the best restaurants of Paris. Visitors have the privilege of enjoying spectacular views while taking their meals. You can choose to have your meal in an Eiffel Tower restaurant before proceeding to the top. At the top of the tower, the panoramic views are really stunning. During clear days, visitors can see the distant sights as far as 72 km!
At night, the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) is lighted up by thousands of flashbulbs, making the monument dazzling with lights and shining like diamond-studded jewellery. The flashbulbs start firing every hour, each time for about five minutes. It will be wonderful to take striking Eiffel Tower pictures while it is lighted up.