The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a free standing bell tower of the cathedral of Pisa in Italy. The tower was made to stand straight, however immediately after it was constructed, it started leaning towards the south east. This was due to a poorly laid foundation and a substrate that allows the foundation to favor one direction.

The Tower Of Pisa was built over a period spanning from 1173 to 1372 and was constructed in three different phases. It was in 1178 when the Leaning Tower of Pisa had three floors that the tower started to sink. The reason was that only a three meter foundation had been used upon unbalanced soil.

The total height of the tower is 186.27 feet from the ground towards the lower side and 186.02 feet on the higher side. Its wall width at the bottom is measured at over 13 feet and the walls are 8 feet thick at the top. The tower’s total weight is 14,500 metric tons and has 296 steps on the south side and 294 steps on the north facing side.

 

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The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is among famous icons in the world and is located in city of Paris, France. The tower got its name from the engineer who built it and it is the tallest building in the entire city.  This prominent structure is made out of iron and is built on Champ de Mars. It is one of the few places in the world that is visited by many tourists since its construction in 1889 and it generates more revenue than any other monument in the world.

The tower was constructed in just three years and its initial purpose was to broadcast radio signals. It stands 1,063 feet high with a 79-foot antenna and weighs around 7,900 tons. The tower has two restaurants located on the first floor. There is built-in lift that can take visitors to the top floor to witness the stunning view of Paris.

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Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is one of the top archeological sites in the world. The site is located on a mountain ridge above the valley of Urubamba in Peru. It also a pre-Spanish, site located almost 8,000 feet above sea level. The city is also called the “City of the Incas” where it is built in typical Inca style with dry stone polished walls and its most famous buildings are “The Temple of Sun” and “The Room of Three Windows”.

Machu Picchu was built around 1450 for the Inca emperor Pachacuti but was abandoned only 100 years later with the arrival of the Spanish. It was given global attention until 1911, when the American historian, Hiram Bingham, announced its presence to the scholar community.

Preservation of the site has become a huge concern, with UNESCO considering adding it to their list of World Heritage Sites in Danger. In an effort to reduce traffic related damage, various restrictions have been placed on the number of people admitted to the site each day.

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The Burj Al Arab

The Burj Al Arab is the luxurious hotel with the shape of a sailboat in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and it is located on an artificial island which is constructed almost 80 meters offshore. It is said to be the second tallest hotel in the world. It stands 1,053 feet tall.

This building is an icon that is defined as the symbol of Dubai and it shows the modern trends that Dubai has been moving towards. The architecture of the hotel was Tom Wright of Atkins where the hotel has 202 rooms, 18 elevators and 60 floors. The construction was completed in the year 1999.

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Jerusalem Old City

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and also the largest city in the country. Jerusalem Old City is said to be the oldest and the holiest city in the world. The old city is full of sites that are holy and thus attract countless people from all over the world. The old city of Jerusalem has a very strong combination of Jewish and Arab culture.

The main attractions found in the city are:-

 The Tower of David where King David had his final resting place,   The place where Jesus is said to have been crucified, The Wailing Wall which was once called the Solomon temple that has countless scribbled messages to God that are hidden in and around the stones and The Dome of the Rock at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, is a shrine that represents the holiest place of the Islam religion. Muslims believe that the site is where the prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven.

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