Topping off at about 1,062 feet, this iron structure has a weight of about 7,300 tons and is totally repainted every seven years. Five elevators can carry up to 3,400 passengers an hour. The spire bristles with 120 antennas.
The tower was built for the Paris Exposition of 1889 under the direction of structural engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. Some 300 personalities including Alexandre Dumas protested its construction. The structure remained the tallest in the world until the Empire State Building rose about 40 years later.
The landmark charges admission and is open every day of the year from about 9:30 a.m. to near midnight, with extended hours in the summer and Easter weekend. Three pricey restaurants and several souvenir shops cater to the needs of tourists.
The Eiffel Tower consumes nearly 7.8 million kilowatt hours per year, which is enough to power 100 homes. It also uses over 2.1 million cubic feet of drinking water, 2 tons of paper for tickets and nearly 50 miles of electrical cable.
In 2003 the tower welcomed its 200th million visitor and attracts over 6 million people a year. The first crowned heads to ascend were the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1889. Other famous personalities who have visited include President Eisenhower, Michael Jackson and Maurice Chevalier.
