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Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tower of Pisa
The tower of Pisa is mainly famous due to the fact that it leans. The tower is about a 183 ft from the ground on the low side and a 186 ft on the high side. The construction of tower occurred in three stages over 177 years. Currently, the tower leans on a 3.99 degree angle. The design of the tower had been flawed right from the beginning causing it to sink down after construction moved to the second floor due to unstable subsoil. The tower was designed to be perfectly vertical and started to tilt due to construction.
The architecture is slightly curved to prevent it from leaning or falling over. The major question with this tower has been how long will it be able to stand up in the future without falling over. The lean currently is not that much but could be increased in the future if proper maintenance and construction is not done. To build the tower they used fifteen thousand tonnes of marble giving it it's highest appeal. The tower has been leaning for over 300 hundred years and reducing it inclination by one inch at a time will allow it to last another 300 hundred years.
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I am hoping the Tower of Pisa won't fall over until my visit to Italy! It is probably the most renowned landmark in Italy and I know the Italian government will do whatever it takes to keep the Tower standing still!
ReplyDeleteThat is remarkable. I have always wanted to go see it.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the point of this tower? I understand that it is famous for the fact that it leans but what is the purpose of it?
ReplyDeleteIt is a landmark for the city of pisa in Italy. For example the Calgary tower is a landmark for our city but doesn't have an immediate purpose just a tourist spot.
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