The Eiffel Tower: A Must-Visit for Every Traveler

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is an iconic structure that attracts millions of tourists every year. This impressive tower has been one of France’s most recognizable landmarks since it was completed in 1889. The Eiffel Tower is an engineering marvel that has stood the test of time. But, there are certain hidden facts about this tower that most people are not aware of.

In this article, we will be unveiling some secrets and interesting aspects about the Eiffel Tower that are worth knowing. We will talk about its history, design features, fun facts, and other lesser-known aspects to help you get a better understanding and appreciation for this impressive monument.

History of Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower was built between 1887 and 1889 as the entrance arch to commemorate the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. It was named after Gustave Eiffel who was a renowned engineer and architect behind its design. Gustave initially had plans to build a temporary structure for only 20 years but he eventually decided to keep it standing following its popularity after being used as a transmission tower during World War I.

Design Features

The design features of the Eiffel Tower are quite unique and innovative even by today’s standards. For starters, it is made out of wrought iron which makes it incredibly strong and durable despite being fairly lightweight- weighing up to just over ten thousand tonnes with all installed metal infrastructure would still make up less than half its proposed weight if it was built out so solidly instead.

Another cool feature includes how well engineered each joint is – consisting mostly only two riveted elements each clamped solidly down without there being any opportunity developed over time leading them apart while steel-connected ties positioned at optimized angles around them give more stability within all directions.

Inside elevators exist that whisk visitors up into higher levels of the tower with minimal wait times possible even during peak seasons- labeled as the oldest hydraulic elevators installed in France, they have since undergone upgrades that boast remarkable speeds compared to its contemporary counterparts while also maintaining a classic atmosphere and look.

Fun Facts

There are many surprising facts about the Eiffel Tower that most people don’t know. For example:

-The tip of the Eiffel Tower can sway up to six or seven cm in strong winds.

-On exceptionally clear days, it’s possible to see up to 80 kilometers from the top level of this Parisian landmark.

-The tower used to be painted red but over time has been repainted 19 times – all in different shades of brown which becomes lighter closer towards higher heights and is now preserved in a color known as “Eiffel Tower Brown.”

-You won’t find any garbage cans up at high altitude within its structure; everything must be taken back down by staff working at locations on-site because there isn’t enough space for bringing waste down through those same slimmer tunnels tourists use ascending upwards.

-Legend has it that during World War II, Hitler ordered its destruction before withdrawing from France but fortunately his army never got around executing these operations before going back eastwards giving chance extended preservation for future travelers’ visits.

The Lighting

The lighting system on Eiffel Tower is one thing not many know about despite this popular landmark being widely celebrated for being lit-up with hundreds of thousands sparkly lights when night falls over it every day until morning around midnight throughout winter seasonal period (November-January).

It’s a beautiful sightseeing attraction and visitors get to appreciate the intricate details too as both upward & downward beams take turns lighting up showing off unique light-shows including sparkling diamantes or ethereal looking patterns/silhouettes across already stunning French capital cityscape landscapes leaving lasting impressions upon those lucky enough witnessing these illuminations.

Structural Integrity

The structural integrity of the Eiffel Tower is impressive even by today’s standards. It has been able to withstand numerous natural and man-made calamities over its long history years – including earthquakes also lighting, another notable incident was when a B-17 bomber airplane crashed into the tower in 1944 with parts of metal beams attached unto its wings fueling infernos whilst still standing resiliently against such unfortunate events due proper precautions being in place that safeguarded it.

Maintenance and Restoration

Despite surviving centuries and decades worth of wear & tear, the Eiffel Tower cannot stay up without some routine maintenance work needed every now-and-then as ensured through precautionary measures put in place to encourage longevity especially throughout winter seasonwhen strong winds usually have a greater impact than during summertime months for example.

Conclusion

Over time, much needed restorations had indeed taken precedence heating ways ere preservation heritage site can ultimately reach peak performance once again and be held high esteem among tourists visiting Paris regularly. For instance; replacing corroded parts using similar replacement materials onto affecting spots or area where rust spots were striking most notably those situated at heights featuring more expose them to corrosive weather forces whilst constantly monitoring potential threats like lightning strikes or extreme heat having potential deterioration effects.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many intriguing facts about the Eiffel Tower that you may not know until you visit this iconic structure. From its rich history and interesting design features to fun facts about its construction process and innovations used at operational levels- all contributing towards making it an essential stop-off point for anyone interested in seeing unique wonders from past times marvelously built staying relevant up-to-date even with consistent upkeep procedures performed consistently upon it over time. This French structure shall continue attracting visitors for generations to come due uniqueness featured within itself so do plan visiting when possible!