CNN Editorial Research
Here is some general information about the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Facts
Nearly seven million people visit the Eiffel Tower every year.
About 300 million visitors have visited the tower since its opening.
The designer Gustave Eiffel had a small cloistered apartment in the heights of the tower. In 2016, a second (temporary) apartment was built inside the tower by vacation rental company HomeAway. The company held a competition, selecting four winners to spend one night each in the apartment, with up to five guests.
The names of 72 French scientists are inscribed on the four sides of the tower.
The premises are under video surveillance.
Security checks are carried out before entry and visitors are required to disclose the contents of their bags.
There is a police station located at the foot of the south pillar.
Chronology
Construction: 1887-1889 (2 years, 2 months and 5 days).
1889 – The tower opens during the Universal Exhibition, a fair celebrating the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. It was the tallest structure in the world until 1930, when the Chrysler Building opened in New York.
1981-1982 – Two phases of renovations have been completed, with new facilities including a conference room, post office and screening room.
1985 – A lighting system called Golden Lighting is unveiled, with 336 spotlights and yellow-orange lamps.
December 31, 1999 – A shimmering light show debuts to mark the new millennium. The lights twinkle every night for five minutes every hour until 1 a.m. Originally planned as a temporary exhibit, the light show is becoming a permanent fixture by popular demand.
October 2014 – A glass walkway opens with a view of the street 187 feet below.
September 20, 2015 – Security guards spot three people climbing the tower. The climbers escape before the police arrive, and the tower opens after being inspected by an emergency response unit.
November 2015 – The tower is closed for two days following the terrorist attacks in Paris. When it reopens, it lights up in the colors of the French flag.
January 13, 2017 – Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announces a 300 million euro ($318 million) renovation of the tower that will take 15 years and include increased security and reduced wait times for visitors.
February 9, 2017 – It is announced that two glass walls will be erected around the base of the Eiffel Tower. These walls will provide increased security and will be more visually appealing than current metal fences.
September 18, 2017 – Construction begins on the three meter high glass fence around the tower’s north-south vantage point. The glass is 65 millimeters thick, bulletproof and extra clear.
June 20, 2018 – The tower’s official website announces that the new glass wall is ready to be unveiled.
May 20, 2019 – The tower is closed and evacuated after a man was seen climbing up the side. The situation lasts a little over seven hours before the mountaineer is captured.
May 21, 2019 – The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, announces a project to transform the passage connecting the Place du Trocadéro to the tower into a “green corridor” for pedestrians by 2024. It will be the largest public green space in the city.
March 13, 2020 – The tower is closed to the public due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
June 25, 2020 – The tower reopens with pandemic restrictions.
October 30, 2020 – The tower is closing to the public due to an upsurge in Covid-19 cases.
July 16, 2021 – The tower is reopening after more than eight months with new pandemic restrictions. This is the monument’s longest closure since World War II.
Construction
Original designers: Gustave Eiffel, Maurice Koechlin, Emile Nouguier, Stephen Sauvestre.
50 engineers and designers produced 5,300 workshop plans.
The tower was built with some 18,038 individual metal parts.
Characteristics
Altitude: 330 meters (1,083 feet)
Weight of the metal frame: 7,300 tons of iron
Total weight: 10,100 tons
The Tower is repainted every seven years, with 60 tons of paint.
There are 1,665 steps to the top of the tower.
The-CNN-Wire
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