www.scribd.com/doc/8747326/Abdul-Kalam-Wings-of-Fire  

C harle chapline history

http://www.charliechaplin.com/biography/articles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin

detail of sri ranganatha temple-trichy

Sri Ranganatha Temple

The temple is much older than the town and fort having been founded in A.D. 894 by the Ganga king, Tirumalaiya; and later enlarged by a Vijayanagar viceroy in the C15th A.D. The island shrine is dedicated to Ranganatha and is a centre for the Vaishnava faith. The temple is also referred to as Paschima (western) Ranganatha Kshetra, to distinguish it from another island temple on Srirangam further down the Cauvery near Trichy and which is referred to as Purva (eastern) Ranganatha Kshetra..

Outer view of a gateway located on the south-western face of the fortress - leading down to the southern arm of the Cauvery (Kaveri) River. Photograph © Robin Walsh 1999 Ref no. 4:29

Inner view of the hidden gateway.

Rampart, North Wall

View from the fort ramparts of the north arm of the Cauvery (Kaveri) River - looking towards position occupied by the Bombay Army in 1799.

Fortified Doorway

Iron-spiked wooden doorway on the northern face of the fortress.

Jibi Gate

View of the Jibi Gate on the northern face of the fortress - narrow fortified sallyport gateway used by Mysorean troops to mount attacks against the Bombay Army encamped across the Cauvery (Kaveri) River.

Powder Magazine

Inner view of (restored) powder magazine located in Rampart Road near the north-eastern corner of the fortress.

Masjid-E-Ala Mosque [Jama Masjid Mosque]

The twin minarets of the mosque were a gift from Tipu and they dominate the eastern skyline (along with the nearby Flag-Staff Cavalier). The minarets were a favourite subject matter for many contemporary European artists in their depictions of the British campaigns against the capital of Mysore. Photograph © Robin Walsh 1999 Ref no. SRI 2:2

Close-up view of one of the minarets of the Jama Masjid Mosque at Srirangapatna.

North-Western Rampart

View of one of the outer ramparts near the north-western corner of the fortress - suffered heavy bombardment from the enfilading artillery fire of the Bombay Army in 1799. Photograph © Robin Walsh 1999 Ref no. BANG 4:34

Memorial obelisk erected on the north-west rampart wall commemorating the names of those British troops who fell during the assault on the breach on 4 May 1799. Tipu Memorial Concrete memorial purportedly marking the spot (east of the Water Gate) where Tipu's body was found after the fighting on 4 May 1799. Dovecote Restored dovecote located near the entrance to the Daria Daulat (Tipu's Summer Palace) Photograph © Robin Walsh 1999 Original dovecote located beside the roadway on the way to Ganjam, Srirangapatna island.

nformation about Trichy Tiruchirapalli, also known as Trichy, Tiruchy and Thiruchi, is only about 53 kms from Thanjavur. Trichy is situated on the banks of the Kaveri river and the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. Trichy has always been a seat of power over the centuries. It was one of the main centers around which the wars of the Carnatic were fought in the 18th century by the British and the French. Today, this city is a thriving commercial centre in Tamil Nadu. This city has given great Tamil scholars whose contributions to the Tamil literature have been very significant. This ancient city is famous for its architectural monuments and culture. The best time to visit Trichy is throughout the year, except in summers, when the days are very hot. Tamil and English are the main languages which are commonly spoken in Trichy.

History of Trichy Trichy has a long history which goes back to pre-Christian era. During the first millennium, it changed hands from the Pallavas and the Pandyas when it was taken over by the Cholas in the 10th century. After the Chola rule, it fell into the hands of Vijayanagar rulers and then the Deccan Sultans. The English and the French also tried with their full strength to control this city.

Tourist Attractions in Trichy The most important tourist attraction in Trichy is the Rock Fort Temple. This temple is a spectacular monument that is perched on a massive rock which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. The other tourist attractions in Trichy are the Srirangam Temple, Sri Jambukeshwar Temple, Thiruvanaikkaval and Narthamalai. Rock Fort Temple The Rock Fort Temple is situated right in the centre of the town and visible from all directions. This fort temple belongs to the 7th century and rises at a height of 83 metres from the plains to tower over the old city. The rock is one of the oldest in the world, approximately 3800 million years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older than the Himalayas. The main attraction here is not the fort, of which very little remains, but the temple at the summit. To reach the temple, one has to climb 437 steps. The fort played an important part during the Carnatic wars and according to an inscription, mainly contributed to lay the foundations of the British Empire in India. The Uchipillaiyar Koil, a temple dedicated to Lord Vinayaka is located on the top of the rock. This temple offers a wonderful view of the city, Kaveri river, the massive Ranganatha Temple and the Sri Jambukeswar Temple. A flight of steps leads to the Mathrubutheswarar of Thayumanaswami temple, dedicated to Lord Siva where the lingam is a projection of the rock itself. Srirangam Temple The Sri Ranganatha Swami Temple or Srirangam Temple is another important landmark of the city of Trichy. This temple is one of the largest and most interesting temple complexes in India. This temple is built on the Srirangam island in the middle of the Kaveri river and covers an area of 2.5 square kms. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Even muslims are said to have prayed here after the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire. Today, non Hindus are not allowed into the gold-topped sanctum, but they are allowed into the sixth wall. It is surrounded by seven concentric walls and has 21 magnificent gateway towers (gopurams) and a 1000-pillared hall with beautiful carvings. The 22nd gateway tower which is about 236 feet high, has been recently completed and is the tallest temple tower in Asia. Thiruvanaikkaval Thiruvanaikkaval is one of the most revered temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is one of the Panchabhoota Stalams that signifies the 5 elements like wind (Kalahasti), water (Tiruvanaikka), fire (Tiruvannamalai), earth (Kanchipuram) and space (Chidambaram). The water is represented by an undying natural spring in the sanctum. There is said to have been a forest of Jambu trees near the Chandrateertha tank (filled with the water of the Kaveri) here and Shiva is said to have appeared under one of the trees as a Shiva Lingam. According to the legend, the two devotees of Shiva were born under the influence of a curse as a white elephant and a spider. The elephant worshipped Shiva with flowers and brought water in its trunk, and hence the place was known as Tiru Aanaikka. Sri Jambukeshwar Temple The Sri Jambukeshwar Temple is built on the Srirangam island in the middle of the Kaveri river. This temple is surrounded by 5 concentric walls and has 7 gopurams. This temple has some very beautiful carvings. Narthamalai Narthamalai has some of the oldest structural stone temples, built by the Mutharaiyars. This temple has six large, skillfully carved statues of Lord Vishnu in the central hall. A 9th century Pallava cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva lies to the south, and in front of this is the Vijayalaya Choliswaran temple. Vijayalaya was the first Chola ruler and as such this Shiva temple is one of the earliest Chola temple. The artistry can be seen in the beautiful figures of the dancers in front of the vimana, the elegantly carved dwara-palakas and the figures of other Gods.

Shopping in Trichy Trichy is famous for its cigars and cheroots. Some of the other famous items of Trichy are brassware, handloom textiles, pith models of temples and the Rock Fort, wood and clay toys, jewellery, ornamental carved brass and copper plates inlaid with silver (Tanjore plates), silks, carpets and musical instruments, artificial diamonds, glass bangles.

How to reach here By Air: Trichy is an international airport and receives and operates flights to Colombo. Indian Airlines flights connect it to Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, etc. By Rail: There are direct rail services to Chennai, Madurai, Thanjavur, Rameshwaram, Tirupathi. By Road:  Excellent roads connect Trichy with all the major towns of South India like Trichy and Coimbatore (for Ooty), Madurai, Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari, Chennai. It is about 140 km. from madurai, 302 km. from Ooty and 320 km. from Madras. http://www.gettrichy.com/database/doctors/hos/1.htm  http://www.gettrichy.com/database/doctors/1.html  http://www.gettrichy.com/database/publicutilites/college.html

know your level

detail abt first human travelling space

Yuri Gagarin: First Man in Space

 

April 12 was already a huge day in space history twenty years before the launch of the first shuttle mission. On that day in 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (left, on the way to the launch pad) became the first human in space, making a 108-minute orbital flight in his Vostok 1 spacecraft. Newspapers like The Huntsville Times (right) trumpeted Gagarin's accomplishment.

Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space less than a month later.

Scientific cooperation with the Soviet Union dates back to the very beginnings of space flight. The first cooperative human space flight project between the United States and the Soviet Union took place in 1975. The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was designed to test the compatibility of rendezvous and docking systems for American and Soviet spacecraft and to open the way for future joint manned flights.

Since 1993, the U.S. and Russia have worked together on a number of other space flight projects. The Space Shuttle began visiting the Russian Mir space station in 1994, and in 1995 Norm Thagard became the first U.S. astronaut to take up residency on Mir. Seven U.S. astronauts served with their Russian counterparts aboard the orbiting Mir laboratory from 1995 to 1998. The experience gained from the Mir cooperative effort, as well as lessons learned, paved the way for the International Space Station.

In-orbit construction on the Station began in November 1998, and it has been staffed non-stop with international crews since November 2000. The first Station crew, made up of U.S. commander Bill Shepherd and cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev, was launched on board a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. The crew returned to Earth on the Space Shuttle Discovery in March 2001.

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

history of sri ranganathan temple, trichy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Ranganathaswamy_Temple,_Srirangam

Brihadeeswarar Temple

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Brihadeeswarar Temple
Name
Other names:	Peruvudaiyaar Temple
Proper name:	Brihadeeswarar Temple
Location
Country:	India
State:	Tamil Nadu
Location:	Thanjavur
Architecture and culture
Architectural styles:	Dravidian Architecture
History
Date built:	11th century AD
Creator:	Raja Raja Chola

The Peruvudaiyar Kovil or Brihadeeswarar Temple (Tamil: பெருவுடையார் கோவில், peruvuḍaiyār kōvil ^?), also known as Rajarajeswaram,^[1] at Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the world's first complete granite temple^[2] and a brilliant example of the major heights achieved by Cholas kingdom Vishwakarmas in temple architecture. It is a tribute and a reflection of the power of its patron RajaRaja Chola I. It remains as one of the greatest glories of Indian architecture.^[3] The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples".
This temple is one of India's most prized architectural sites. The temple stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The 'Vimana' - or the temple tower - is 216 ft (66 m) high ^[4][5] and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The Kalash or 'Chikharam' (apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is not carved out of a single stone as widely believed. There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock, at the entrance measuring about 16 feet long and 13 feet high.^[6] The entire temple structure is made out of hard granite stones, a material sparsely available currently in Thanjavur area where the temple is located.
Built in 1010 AD by Raja Raja Chola in Thanjavur, Brihadishwara Temple also popularly known as the ‘Big Temple’ has turned 1000 years in 2010

Contents 1 History 2 Temple complex 2.1 Main temple 2.2 Adjoining structures 2.3 Origin of idea 2.4 Other 2.5 Features 3 Travel information 4 Millennium celebrations 4.1 Bharathanatyam Yajna 4.2 Commemorative stamp and coin 5 Brihadeeswarar Temple in historic novels 6 Picture gallery 7 External links 8 Footnotes

History

The temple had its foundations laid out by the Tamil emperor Arulmozhivarman, popularly called Rajaraja Chola I,(Tamil: இராஜராஜ சோழன், Rājarāja Choļan ^?) in 1002 CE , as the first of the great Tamil Chola building projects.^[7] The temple was built by Rajaraja Chola, one of the greatest Tamil emperors to grace the throne of the Chola empire in compliance of a command given to him in his dream.^{[8] [6]} The scale and grandeur is in the Chola tradition. An axial and symmetrical geometry rules the temple layout.^[9] Temples from this period and the following two centuries are an expression of the Tamils (Chola) wealth, power and artistic expertise. The emergence of such features as the multifaceted columns with projecting square capitals signal the arrival of the new Chola style.^[10]
The Brihadeeswarar Temple was built to be the royal temple to display the emperor's vision of his power and his relationship to the universal order. The temple was the site of the major royal ceremonies such as anointed the emperor and linking him with its deity, Shiva, and the daily rituals of the deities were mirrored by those of the king. The temple maintained a staff of 600 people in various capacities^{[citation needed]}. Besides the Brahmins priest, these included record-keepers, musicians, scholars, and craftsman of every type as well as housekeeping staff.In those days the temple remained a hub of business activities for the flower merchants,milk vendors, oil merchants, ghee merchants, all of whom made a regular supply of their respective goods for the temple for its pujas and during festival seasons.Moreover as evidenced by the inscriptions that found in the compound wall of this temple, the temple had always been serving as a platform for the dancers who excelled in the traditional dance form of Bharatha Natyam. Even today, the Brihadeeswarar Temple remains India's largest.^[11]
The temple is also an architectural exemplar showcasing the pure form of the Dravida type of temple architecture and representative of the Chola Empire ideology and the Tamil civilisation in Southern India. The temples "testify to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting".^[12] Built in 1010 AD by Raja Raja Chola in Thanjavur, Brahadishwara Temple also popularly known as the ‘Big Temple’ has turned 1000 years.

Temple complex

The full view of the temple

The temple complex sits on the banks of a river that was channeled to make a moat around the complex's outer walls, the walls being built like a fortress. The complex is made up of many structures that are aligned axially. The complex can be entered either on one axis through a five-story gopuram or with a second access directly to the huge main quadrangle through a smaller free-standing gopuram. The massive size of the main sikhara (although it is hollow on the inside and not meant to be occupied), is 63 meters in height, with 16 severely articulated stories, and dominates the main quadrangle. Pilaster, piers, and attached columns are placed rhythmically covering every surface of the shikhara.^[11]

Main temple

The apex of the tower is the octagonal single stone granite piece of 81.25 tons ^[10]

Temple gateway

The main temple is in the center of the spacious quadrangle composed of a sanctuary, a Nandi, a pillared hall and an assembly hall (mandapas), and many sub-shrines. The most important part of the temple is the inner mandapa which is surrounded by massive walls that are divided into different levels by sharply cut sculptures and pilasters providing deep bays and recesses. Each side of the sanctuary has a bay emphasizing the principle cult icons.^[9] The karuvarai, a Tamil word meaning the interior of the sanctum sanctorum, is the inner most sanctum and focus of the temple where an image of the primary deity, Shiva, resides. Inside is a huge stone linga Literally the word Karuvarai means "womb chamber" from Tamil word Karu for foetus. Only priests are allowed to enter this inner most chamber.^[13] In the Dravida style, the Karuvarai takes the form of a miniature vimana with other features exclusive to southern Indian temple architecture such as the inner wall together with the outer wall creating a pradakshina around the garbhagriha for circumambulation (pradakshina). The entrance is highly decorated. The inside chamber housing the image of the god is the sanctum sanctorum, the garbhagriha.^[10] The garbhagriha is square and sits on a plinth, its location calculated to be a point of total equilibrium and harmony as it is representative of a microcosm of the universe. In the center is placed the image of the deity.^[9] The royal bathing-hall where Rajaraja the great gave gifts is located to the east of the hall of Irumudi-Soran.
The circumambulation winds around the massive lingam in the garbhagriha and is repeated in an upper story, presenting the idea that Chola Empire freely offered access to the gods.^[11]
The inner mandapa leads out to a rectangular mandapa and then to a twenty-columned porch with three staircases leading down. Sharing the same stone plinth is a small open mandapa dedicated to Nandi, Shiva's sacred bull mount.^[9]

Adjoining structures

Shrine of Ganapathy

Surrounding the main temple are two walled enclosures. The outer wall is high, defining the temple complex area. Here is the massive gopuram or gateway mentioned above. Within this a portico, a barrel vaulted gorpuram with over 400 pillars, is enclosed by a high wall interspersed with huge gopurams axially lined up to the main temple.

Origin of idea

The wish to build a mammoth temple like this is said to have occurred to Raja Raja while he stayed at Ealam (ஈழம்) (today's Sri Lanka) as a emperor.

Other

Not only the temple and the "moolavar", (prime deity, Shiva) but all other deities (Koshta Moorthigal) like Dakshinamurthy, Suriyan (Sun), Chandran (Moon) are very huge sized. Especially, Brahadeeswar temple is one of the rare temples which has statues for "Ashta dik paalakas" (Lords of all Eight Directions) [Indra, Varuna, Agni, Eesana, Vayu, Niruthi, Yama, Kubera], each of which is a life like status i.e. approximately 6 feet tall.

Features

The temple is made up of 130,000 tons of granite. The 60-metre tall vimana is still the tallest extant in South India. A European-like figure is carved on the vimana, probably a warning of the arrival of the British,but later investigations and archealogy denied it may a hoax created later.And the most important feature of the building is that its believed, at no time of the day the shadow of the gopuram will fall on the ground. ^{[14] [15][16]}

Travel information

Thanjavur can be reached easily by road, rail and air. Tamil Nadu State Government runs frequent public buses from nearby Trichy, Chennai, Kumbakonam, Pudukkottai, Pattukkottai, Tirunelveli, Karur, Nagapattinam, Coimbatore and many other cities in the state.In fact from the State capital Chennai, a National Highway (NH 45-A) linking Chennai with Chidambaram,Mayavaram,Kumbakonam, Tanjore, and Nagappatinam runs across, which is the proper route for the Foreigners, who come to visit Tanjore and the adjoining towns.There are equal number of buses operated by the private bus operators too.
Rail services are run by Indian Railways from many cities across India including the nearby Chennai, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Madurai and Nagore. "Tanjore Junction" is the name of the train station.
The nearest airport located 65 KM away is Tiruchirapalli Airport, Trichy.

Millennium celebrations

Built in the year 1010 AD by Raja Raja Chola in Thanjavur, Brahadishwara Temple also popularly known as the ‘Big Temple’ has turned 1000 years and to mark the 1000th year of existence of the grand structure, the state government and the town is all set to hold many cultural events. It was on the 275th day of his 25th regal year (1010 A.D) that Raja Raja Chola (who ruled during 985-1014 A.D) handed over a gold-plated kalasam (copper pot or finial) for the final consecration to crown the vimana (the 59.82 metre tall tower above the sanctum) of the temple.^[17][18][19]

[edit] Bharathanatyam Yajna

To mark the occasion, the state government has organised a Bharathanatyam Yajna, classical dance show under noted danseuse Padma Subramaniam. It is being jointly organised by the Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI) and the Brhan Natyanjali Trust, Thanjavur. To mark the 1000th year anniversary of the building, 1000 dancers from New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Tamilnadu, Andhrapradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Singapore, Malaysia and the U.S will dance in concert for the recorded 11 verses of divine Music Thiruvichaippa (ninth of Thirumurai) composed by Karuvur Thevar (the guru of Raja Raja Chola) called Tiruvisaippa. The small town will turn into a cultural hub for two days starting September 26, 2010 as street performers and dancers will be performing all over the town.^[20][21]

Commemorative stamp and coin

A 5 Special Commemorative coin released by Reserve Bank of India to mark the Millennium year celebrations of the famous Brihadeeswarar Temple built by the great Chola ruler Raja Raja Chola I

On 26 September 2010 (Big Temple’s fifth day of millennium Celebrations), as an dignification to Big Temple’s contribution to the country’s Cultural, Architectural, Epigraphical history, a Special 5 Postage Stamp of the 216-feet tall giant Raja Gopuram was released by India Post as well as a special commemorative 5 coin with the model of temple embossed on it was released by the Reserve Bank of India.^[22][23] A Raja, Cabinet Minister of Communications and Information Technology released the esteemed Brihadeeswarar Temple Special stamp and the first of which was received by G K Vasan, Cabinet Minister of Shipping.

1000 Currency note released by Reserve Bank of India on 01 April, 1954 to honor the historic Brahadeeswarar Temple, a UNESCO World heritage site

Already on 1 April 1954, Reserve Bank of India has released a 1000 currency note featuring a panoramic view of the Brihadeeswara Temple to mark the cultural and heritage significance of the temple. In the year 1975, the then government lead by Prime Minister Late Indira Gandhi has demonetized all the 1,000 notes to cease the Black money.^[24]
The Tamilnadu Chief Minister, M.Karunanidthi also renamed Semmai Paddy, a special type of high productivity paddy variant, as Raja Rajan-1000 to mark 1000 year celebration of the Big Temple’s Builder, Raja Raja Cholan.^[25]

Brihadeeswarar Temple in historic novels

1. Balakumaran has written the story Udaiyar based on the life of Raja Raja Chola I and the building activities around Brihadeeswarar temple

Picture gallery

Temple at sunset	Entrance to Dakshinamoorthi temple	Detail of Gopuram	Another deity in Gopuram
The Shrine of Sri Subramanya	Detail of steps of the Shrine of Sri Subramanya	One of many stone deities found in the pillared cloister surrounding the courtyard	Several of the Lingam found in the pillared cloister
Example of the many frescos found in the pillared cloister	Nandi, looking peaceful.	Raja Raja Cholan

effel tower history

http://www.tour-eiffel.fr

History

	Eiffel Tower and the Trocadéro fountains

The Eiffel {y'-ful} Tower, an immense stucture of exposed latticework supports made of puddle iron, was erected for the Paris Exposition of 1889. The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII of England) officiated at the ceremonial opening. Of the 700 proposals submitted in a design competition, one was unanimously chosen, a radical creation from the French structural engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (b. Dec. 15, 1832, d. Dec. 28, 1923), who was assisted in the design by engineers Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, and architect Stephen Sauvestre.

However, the controversial tower elicited some strong reactions, and a petition of 300 names — including those of Guy de Maupassant, Émile Zola, Charles Garnier (architect of the Opéra Garnier), and Alexandre Dumas fils — was presented to the city government, protesting its construction. The petition read, "We, the writers, painters, sculptors, architects and lovers of the beauty of Paris, do protest with all our vigour and all our indignation, in the name of French taste and endangered French art and history, against the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower."

Nature lovers thought that it would interfere with the flight of birds over Paris. But the Eiffel Tower was admired by Rousseau, Utrillo, Chagall, and Delaunay. It was almost torn down in 1909 at the expiration of its 20-year lease, but was saved because of its antenna — used for telegraphy at that time. Beginning in 1910 it became part of the International Time Service. French radio (since 1918), and French television (since 1957) have also made use of its stature. In the 1960s, it was the subject of a wonderful study by semiologist Roland Barthes.

Eiffel Tower under construction April 1888 July 1888 December 1888 completed May 1889

Built to celebrate the science and engineering achievements of its age, soaring 300m / 984 ft. (320.75m / 1,052 ft. including antenna) and weighing 7000 tons, the structure consists of two visibly distinct parts: a base composed of a platform resting on four separate supports (called pylons or bents) and, above this, a slender tower created as the bents taper upward, rising above a second platform to merge in a unified column.

This unprecedented work, the tallest structure in the world until the Empire State Building was built about 40 years later, had several antecedents. Among them were the iron-supported railway viaducts designed by Eiffel, an arch bridge over the Douro River in Portugal with a span of 160 m (525 ft), and a design for a circular, iron-frame tower proposed by the American engineers Clarke and Reeves for the Centennial Exposition of 1876. Eiffel knew and publicly acknowledged this influence; he was no stranger to the United States, having designed the wrought-iron pylon inside Frederic Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty in 1885. Later in the same year, he had also begun work on the cupola of the Nice observatory.

Eiffel was the leading European authority on the aerodynamics of high frames (he wrote "The Resistance of the Air" in 1913). In the construction of the Eiffel Tower, the curve of the base pylons was precisely calculated so that the bending and shearing forces of the wind were progressively transformed into forces of compression, which the bents could withstand more effectively. Such was Eiffel's engineering wizardry that even in the strongest winds his tower never sways more than 4-1/2 inches. The superskyscrapers erected since 1960, such as the World Trade Center, were constructed in much the same way.

However difficult its birth may have been, the Tour Eiffel is now completely accepted by French citizens, and is internationally recognized as one of the symbols of Paris itself.

Facilities and Views

In the basements of the eastern and western pillars, one can visit the gargantuan 1899 machinery which powers the elevators, an astonishing spectacle reminiscent of a Jules Verne novel. From the Tower's three platforms — especially the topmost — the view of Paris is superb. It is generally agreed that one hour before sunset, the panorama is at its best; don't forget to bring your camera, and experiment with the f-stop settings to capture a dazzling sunset on the Seine. If you can't be there in person, then check out a Live Aerial View of Paris with TF1's webcam online: from the top of the Eiffel Tower, you can see Paris in real time, 24 hours a day, whatever the weather conditions in the French capital. To get the most out of this view of Paris, we suggest you surf their web site between 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM GMT (1:00 AM and 3:00 PM Eastern Time in the U.S.), when the City of Light is at its best.

	Eiffel Tower by Susan Gillette 14" x 18" fine art print BUY THIS PRINT

First level: 57.63 meters (189 feet). Observatory from which to study the movements of the Eiffel Tower's summit. Kiosk presentation about the mythic painting of the Eiffel Tower. Space CINEIFFEL: offers an exceptional panorama of sights from the Tower. Souvenir shops (yes, every tourist MUST have a miniature replica). Restaurant "Altitude 95" (phone 01-45-55-20-04). Post office, with special stamps "Paris Eiffel Tower ". Panoramic gallery displaying the Monuments of Paris.

Second level: 115.73 meters (379 feet, 8 inches). Panorama of Paris. Telescopes, shops. Animated displays on the operation of the elevators. Jules Verne Restaurant (extremely expensive, reservations absolutely necessary; phone 01-45-55-61-44).

Third level: 276.13 meters (905 feet, 11 inches). Exceptional panoramic views, day or night, of Paris and its surroundings. Recently restored office, featuring wax reproductions of Gustave Eiffel and Thomas Edison in conversation (see photo. Panoramic guide displays to aid orientation. Dioramas presenting the history of this platform.

Probably the best approach to the tower is to take the Métro to the Trocadéro station and walk from the Palais de Chaillot to the Seine. Besides fabulous views, especially when the Trocadéro fountains are in full force, you get a free show from the dancers and acrobats who perform around the Palais de Chaillot. The vast green esplanade beneath the tower is the Parc du Champs-de-Mars, which extends all the way to the 18th-century École Militaire (Military Academy), at its southeast end. This formal lawn was once a parade ground for French troops.

The Eiffel Tower at night is one of the great sights of Paris and shouldn't be missed. The gold lighting highlights the delicacy of the steelwork in a way that is missed in daylight. Skip the tour buses and pickpockets on Trocadéro and head up to the École Militaire for a more tranquil view.

Interesting Facts

300 steel workers, and 2 years (1887-1889) to construct it. 15,000 iron pieces (excluding rivets). 2.5 million rivets. 40 tons of paint. 1671 steps to the top. Maximum sway at top caused by wind: 12 cm (4.75 inches). Maximum sway at top caused by metal dilation: 18 cm (7 inches). Total height in 1889: 300.51 meters (985 feet, 11 inches).

Total height with television antenna: 320.755 meters (1052 feet, 4 inches). Height varies up to 15 cm depending on temperature. Size of base area: 10,281.96 square meters (2.54 acres). Weight of foundations: 277,602 kg (306 tons). Weight of iron: 7.34 million kg (8092.2 tons). Weight of elevator systems: 946,000 kg (1042.8 tons). Total weight: 8.56 million kg (9441 tons).

Pressure on foundation: 4.1 to 4.5 kg per square centimeter, depending on pier (58.26 to 64 lbs. per square inch). Dates of construction: January 26, 1887 to March 31, 1889. Cost of construction: 7.8 million francs ($1.5 million). Total number of visitors during 1889 Exposition: 1,968,287. Total receipts during 1889 Exposition: 5,919,884 francs ($1.14 million). Total number of visitors during 2007: 6,822,000.

Eiffel Tower (photographer unknown) 24" x 36" fine art print © NAGR - Eurographics BUY THIS PRINT

During its lifetime, the Eiffel Tower has witnessed a few strange scenes, including being scaled by a mountaineer in 1954, and two Englishmen parachuting off it in 1984. In 1923, the journalist Pierre Labric (who was later to become mayor of Montmartre) rode a bicycle down from the first level; some accounts say he rode down the stairs, others suggest the exterior of one of the tower's four legs which slope outward.

Politics have also played a role in its life. During World War II, the Germans hung a sign on it that read: "Deutschland Siegt Auf Allen Fronten" ("Germany is victorious on all fronts"). In 1958, a few months before Fidel Castro's rise to power, Cuban revolutionaries hung their red-and-black flag from the first level, and, in 1979, an American from Greenpeace hung one that read: "Save the Seals". In 1989, the Tower celebrated its centennial with music and fireworks (the show lasted 89 minutes).

Operation

The Eiffel Tower is owned by the City of Paris, which has subcontracted its maintenance and daily operations since 2005 to SETE (Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel), a public utility.

More than 500 people bring the Eiffel Tower to life each day. About one half are employed by SETE, the others are concessionaires (souvenir boutiques, restaurants, telescope operations, ATMs, behind-the-scene tours) and civil service employees (police, fire personnel, post office, weather).