The Eiffel Tower in Paris

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is the global icon of France and one of the most identifiable structures in the whole world. The Eiffel tower stands as the tallest construction in the city of Paris and the most visited paid monument ever known. Millions of people visit Paris annually just to have a glimpse of the tower.

The tower is named after its designer, Engr. Gustave Eiffel, who initialized building the tower for the 1889 World’s Fair. The tower commemorates the centenary of the French Revolution. At 324 meters (1,063ft) high, approximately the same height with an 81-story building, it was the world’s tallest building until 1930. Engraved on the tower are the 72 names of French scientist, engineers and other prominent people.

In 1889, Gustave Eiffel began to establish the peak of the tower as an observation station to calculate the speed of wind. He also inspired other scientific experiments such as Foucault’s giant pendulum, mercury barometer and the first test of radio transmission. In 1898, Eugene Ducretet discovered and received signals from the tower. Gustave’s experiment contributed to the discovery of science that would later be termed aerodynamics. He began to look at the effects of wind and air resistance which became a large part of both military and commercial aviation as well as rocket technology.

The metal structure of the Eiffel Tower weighs about 7,300 tonnes while the entire structure is around 10,000 tonnes. By the time the tower was finished, a lot were shocked by its enterprising shape. Eiffel was condemn for the design and blamed to trying to generate something artistic without regards to engineering. Eiffel and his companions understood the significance of wind forces and knew the circumstances if they were going to build the tallest structure in the world. They need to consider that it would endure the wind. The shape of the tower took into consideration some mathematical computations involving wind resistance.

The tower reaches its peak when it was almost torn down in 1909, when its 20-year permit has expired, but it was saved because of its uses for both military and other purposes. The city let it rise even after the permit expired. The tower played a significant role in captivating Mata Hari, a spy, during World War I. It convinced the French people on how important it is and there was no more thought of demolishing it. At present, it requires 50 to 60 tonnes of paint applied to it every seven years to protect it from rust.

More than 200,000,000 people had already visited the tower since its construction in 1889. The tower has three levels for tourists. The tickets can be bought to advance either on stair or lift to the first and second levels. There are more than 300 steps to walk to the first level, same as the walk from the first to the second level. The third level, which is the highest, can be access only by lift. There are featured restaurants on both levels: Altitude 95 on the first floor and the Jules Veme on the second floor. The tower has become the most prominent symbol of Both Paris and France and is often visible as a setting in films.