Eiffel tower questions?

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iloho

Their are many "truths" on why the eiffel tower was built. The official one is for the 1889 world expo in Paris where Gustav Eiffel started building the tower in 1887 (note he started to built it horizontally then pulled it up straight)

The real reason is obvious when you know Gustav Eiffel owned a metalworks company, On September 18 1884 Eiffel registered a patent "for a new configuration allowing the construction of metal supports and pylons capable of exceeding a height of 300 metres", equivalent to the symbolic figure of 1000 feet. The world expo was his marketing ploy. The tower was to be later taken apart but its sucess saved it.

On a side not Eiffel also build the twin edifices of the Porto viaduct and the Garabit viaduct in the Cantal region of France, and his company designed the structure of the statue of liberty. He also worked on the locks of the Panama canal, his biggest contract, which was badly managed by Ferdinand De Lesseps and was one of the biggest financial scandals of the time.

I could give you my theory on what it is used for today, except for a pointy christmas tree, some would tell you it represents french male ego...
I also could copy paste you details of the structure (phisical discription) but I rather give you a link to the most complete information site on the eiffel tower (in english ty)

One little note, the top of the tower moves with the winds. Inside the tower you can actually see how much it moves. The view of Paris is fabulous. It is indeed a pretty city. I was on the london eye and london does not have the same charm paris has. Sorry brits :)

Hope that helped

LoisLane18

Landmark. It's a tourist spot. At first the French were very unhappy with the structure calling it crude. A very famous French writer used to each his lunch/dinner from the cafe there. The reason being it was the only place in Paris where he could eat a meal outside without looking at it. It was constructed for the World's Fair that was taking place in Paris. It was constructed to show the engineering marvels of the time. It was only supposed to be a temporary exhibit. The large park, le Champ -de-Mars that is directly in front of the tower where was where all the pavilions were for the fair. If you look around your more than likely to find a picture of the tower at the time with a different building at the end then the one that is currently at the end of the Champ-de-Mars.

It's a great view from up there.

mary

http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/

Lawrence T

Lois lane I think it was the other tower the Tour Montparnasse that the writer ate at so he didn't have to see it. I don't mind that tower, but they charge too much to go to the top. If you have reservations at an eiffel tower restaurant you get to cut in line to get to the eiffel tower elevators. I recommend Altitude 99, but you need to call one month in advance of your visit.

MRS.torressanz

not sure about hte other questions..but on the top level there is a wax of mr gustav eiffel...pretty sweet...even the park in front of it is awesome

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