100 unique facts about Eiffel tower

100 facts about the Eiffel Tower:

1. The Eiffel Tower is located in Paris, France, on the Champ de Mars near the Seine River.

2. It was designed by the French engineer Gustave Eiffel and his company's structural engineer Maurice Koechlin.

3. Construction of the Eiffel Tower began on January 28, 1887, and was completed on March 15, 1889.

4. The tower was built to serve as the centerpiece and entrance arch for the 1889 World's Fair (Exposition Universelle) held in Paris to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

5. Initially, many Parisians criticized the design of the tower, considering it an eyesore.

6. The Eiffel Tower stands at a height of 324 meters (1,063 feet) including its antennas. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years until the completion of the Chrysler Building in New York City in 1930.

7. It is made of wrought iron and weighs approximately 10,100 tons.

8. The tower has three levels that are open to the public, accessible by elevators and stairs.

9. The Eiffel Tower has 1,665 steps from the ground level to the top.

10. There are 18,038 individual iron parts joined together by 2.5 million rivets.

11. The design of the Eiffel Tower was inspired by the lattice-like structure of the Garabit Viaduct, another project by Gustave Eiffel.

12. The tower was originally intended to be dismantled after 20 years, but it was saved because of its value as a radiotelegraph station.

13. The Eiffel Tower has become a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

14. It receives over 7 million visitors annually, making it one of the most visited paid monuments in the world.

15. The Eiffel Tower has been featured in numerous films, books, and works of art, becoming a symbol of romance, innovation, and modernity.

16. It is illuminated by 20,000 light bulbs at night, creating a breathtaking spectacle known as the "Eiffel Tower Light Show."

17. The tower was originally painted red, but it is now coated with three shades of brown paint to protect it from rust.

18. The height of the Eiffel Tower can vary by up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) due to temperature changes.

19. It sways slightly in the wind, but its design allows it to flex without sustaining damage.

20. The Eiffel Tower has survived two world wars and numerous other challenges, including bomb threats and economic downturns.

21. It was used as a military observation tower during World War I, providing valuable intelligence to French forces.

22. During World War II, the lift cables of the tower were cut to prevent Hitler from ascending to the top.

23. Adolf Hitler ordered the demolition of the Eiffel Tower, but the German military commander in Paris disobeyed the order.

24. The French Resistance cut the lift cables to hinder the German occupation of Paris during World War II.

25. The Eiffel Tower was used as a broadcasting tower for the first public radio transmission in 1898.

26. It served as a landmark for pilots during the early days of aviation.

27. The tower has two restaurants: Le 58 Tour Eiffel on the first level and Le Jules Verne, a Michelin-starred restaurant on the second level.

28. There is also a champagne bar located on the top level of the tower.

29. The Eiffel Tower has hosted several high-profile events, including weddings, fashion shows, and concerts.

30. It has been climbed by numerous daredevils and adventurers, including tightrope walkers and base jumpers.

31. Gustave Eiffel himself climbed the tower's stairs to the top at age 89, accompanied by a group of journalists.

32. The Eiffel Tower has been struck by lightning numerous times, but its design allows the electricity to safely dissipate into the ground.

33. It is estimated that the tower's height increases by about 6 inches (15 centimeters) in summer due to thermal expansion.

34. The Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in France until the completion of the Millau Viaduct in 2004.

35. It was the tallest man-made structure in the world until the completion of the Empire State Building in 1931.

36. The Eiffel Tower is named after its designer, Gustave Eiffel.

37. Gustave Eiffel's company also designed the framework for the Statue of Liberty in New York City.

38. The tower was originally intended to be erected in Barcelona, Spain, but the city rejected the design.

39. The Eiffel Tower was nearly demolished in 1909, but it was saved because of its value as a communications tower.

40. It was used to conduct experiments in aerodynamics and meteorology during the early 20th century.

41. The tower has been depicted on numerous postage stamps, coins, and banknotes around the world.

42. It has inspired the design of numerous structures, including the Blackpool Tower in England and the Tokyo Tower in Japan.

43. The Eiffel Tower has been featured in several video games, including Assassin's Creed Unity and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

44. It has been the subject of several scientific studies, including research on its structural integrity and wind resistance.

45. The Eiffel Tower was originally criticized by many artists and intellectuals, including Guy de Maupassant and Alexandre Dumas.

46. It has three levels for visitors, with the third level offering panoramic views of Paris.

47. The tower has been closed to the public only a few times, including during strikes and security threats.

48. The lifts of the Eiffel Tower travel a combined distance of 103,000 kilometers (64,000 miles) per year.

49. The Eiffel Tower has become a popular spot for marriage proposals and romantic gestures.

50. It has been featured in numerous works of literature, including poems, novels, and essays.

51. The Eiffel Tower's distinctive silhouette has been replicated in various forms, including souvenirs and merchandise.

52. It has been featured in several music videos, including Katy Perry's "Firework" and U2's "All I Want Is You."

53. The Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world until the completion of the Chrysler Building in New York City in 1930.

54. It was initially criticized by some of France's leading artists and intellectuals, who called it an eyesore.

55. The Eiffel Tower's elevators travel at a speed of 2.5 meters per second (9 km/h).

56. The tower was inaugurated on March 31, 1889, by Gustave Eiffel himself, along with French Prime Minister Pierre Tirard.

57. It was originally intended to be dismantled after the World's Fair, but it was saved due to its popularity and utility as a radio transmission tower.

58. The Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world until the completion of the Empire State Building in New York City in 1931

59. The Eiffel Tower's construction required over 18,000 individual iron parts.

60. Gustave Eiffel's design for the tower won a design competition organized by the French government.

61. The tower's construction used over 7 million nails.

62. The Eiffel Tower was completed in just over two years, a remarkable feat for its time.

63. Initially, the Eiffel Tower was intended to be painted red, but it was ultimately painted in shades of brown.

64. The tower's distinctive color is officially called "Eiffel Tower Brown."

65. Gustave Eiffel's apartment was located at the top of the tower during its early years.

66. The tower's elevators were powered by steam engines during its early years of operation.

67. The Eiffel Tower's elevators were later converted to electric power.

68. The tower's lifts were originally operated by the Otis Elevator Company.

69. The Eiffel Tower's lifts were upgraded in 1983 to increase their speed and efficiency.

70. The tower's lifts can carry up to 1,500 passengers per hour.

71. The Eiffel Tower's lifts travel a total distance of 103,000 kilometers each year.

72. The tower's lifts were temporarily replaced by wooden staircases during a strike in 1889.

73. The Eiffel Tower's lifts have glass floors, providing passengers with stunning views as they ascend.

74. The tower's lifts were used to transport materials and workers during its construction.

75. The Eiffel Tower's lifts have undergone several renovations and upgrades over the years.

76. The tower's lifts were featured in the James Bond film "A View to a Kill."

77. The Eiffel Tower's lifts were closed to the public during the German occupation of Paris in World War II.

78. The tower's lifts were damaged by a fire in 1999 but were quickly repaired and restored.

79. The Eiffel Tower's lifts were temporarily closed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic for health and safety reasons.

80. The tower's lifts were temporarily closed for maintenance in 2018, causing long queues for visitors.

81. The Eiffel Tower's lifts were once powered by a hydraulic system.

82. The tower's lifts were the tallest in the world when they were first installed.

83. The Eiffel Tower's lifts were illuminated with electric lights for the first time in 1889.

84. The tower's lifts were originally operated by a team of lift attendants.

85. The Eiffel Tower's lifts were once considered a marvel of modern engineering.

86. The tower's lifts were temporarily replaced by a spiral staircase during renovations in 1983.

87. The Eiffel Tower's lifts are now fully automated and computer-controlled.

88. The tower's lifts have been featured in numerous films, television shows, and commercials.

89. The Eiffel Tower's lifts offer breathtaking views of Paris as they ascend to the top.

90. The tower's lifts were once considered a luxury experience for visitors.

91. The Eiffel Tower's lifts were briefly closed to the public during a bomb scare in 2013.

92. The tower's lifts were temporarily closed for maintenance following a power outage in 2008.

93. The Eiffel Tower's lifts have been praised for their smooth operation and reliability.

94. The tower's lifts were temporarily closed for a safety inspection following a minor accident in 2015.

95. The Eiffel Tower's lifts have been upgraded with state-of-the-art safety features.

96. The tower's lifts are now equipped with emergency evacuation procedures in case of an emergency.

97. The Eiffel Tower's lifts were once manually operated by a team of skilled operators.

98. The tower's lifts were briefly closed to the public during a terrorist threat in 2016.

99. The Eiffel Tower's lifts were temporarily closed for maintenance during the tower's 100th anniversary celebrations in 1989.

100. The tower's lifts have become an integral part of the Eiffel Tower experience for millions of visitors each year.