10 facts about the Eiffel Tower

If you ask 100 different people that they associate with Paris, it is likely to hear - the Eiffel Tower. This iron lady is the most recognizable, most visited and most photographed tourist attraction in the world.

More than 200 million people have visited the Eiffel Tower since her built in 1889. Here are some other interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower:

1. Eiffel Tower nenavideliNachnёm with the fact that the Eiffel Tower would not be. When French engineer Gustave Eiffel for the first time decided to build it in 1887, his idea was met with a fair amount of criticism. Many well-known cultural figures of the time, even signed a document in which it was said: "Over the next year we will have to look at the hideous shadow of the hateful column of iron and screw that will extend over the city like an ink blot».

One of the biggest haters of the Eiffel Tower was the writer Guy de Maupassant, who often dined at the restaurant of the tower, as it was the only place in Paris where it was impossible to see the "disgusting" construction.

2. It should not ostatsyaEyfelevu tower was originally built in 1889 as a temporary structure to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. It was the entrance arch for the Exposition in 1889 and was supposed to demonstrate the superiority of French technology and engineering.

Tower going to dismantle 20 years. However, the tallest building in the world of that time attracted a lot of attention and the Eiffel Tower remained.

3. insurmountable obstacle for GitleraVo the Second World War, before Hitler came to Paris in 1940, the French broke the elevator drive that can not be repaired because of the war. Nazi soldiers were not able to get to the top of the tower to hang their flags. People began to say that "Hitler conquered France, but could not conquer the Eiffel Tower».

4. Colorful bashnyaEyfelevu tower painted in three different shades of colors. The darkest is used at the base of the tower, and the most vivid color at the top. It covers 60 tons of paint every seven years to protect against corrosion.

5. Engraved imenaGustav Eiffel engraved the names of 72 most eminent French engineers, scientists and mathematicians of the time, who participated in the creation of the Eiffel Tower. At the beginning of the 20th century names were painted over, but again restored in 1986-1987, the company Société Nouvelle d'exploitation de la Tour Eiffel.

6. The highest place reklamyS 1925 to 1935 lit sign car company Citroën adorned three of the four sides of the tower. It was the largest advertising campaign, and the highest place for advertising in the world at that time.

7. Persistent bashnyaEta huge tower practically does not suffer from the wind. Even with the strong wind the tip of the Eiffel Tower is rejected by only 15 cm. Because of the height of this building and gusty winds chances of accidents during the construction of the Eiffel Tower was very high, but in fact suffered only one person.

8. One of the most popular destinations for samoubiystvSamoubiystva committed at the Eiffel Tower - a fairly common phenomenon. In France, one of the highest suicide rates in the world: 17, 5 suicides per 1000 people. Depriving yourself of life with 300-meter iron tower has become the third most popular method of suicide in France after the poisoning and hanging.

Many times people have tried to kill themselves and their intention was not to be realized. One of the most curious cases occurred with a woman who jumped from the Eiffel Tower, landed on the roof of the car, and then married the owner of the car.

9. Twice Sold 1925 fraudster Victor Lustig managed to sell the famous tower for scrap metal, and twice. He persuaded two different people to participate in the financing of the tower as the city could no longer support it. Lustig even insisted on a bribe client to win the prestigious competition bidding city. Once he got the money, the rogue has disappeared, and a few years later tried to repeat the same trick, but was unsuccessful.

10. Copies of the Eiffel bashniNebolshie copy of the Eiffel Tower can be seen in many parts of the world: in Las Vegas in the United States in the city of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province in China, the city of Slobozia in Romania, in Copenhagen, Denmark, in Varna in Bulgaria, the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan other cities.

via factroom.ru