Facts About the Eiffel Tower

At 324 metres in height, the Eiffel Tower is still the tallest building in Paris. The next tallest is the Tour Maine Montparnasse at 210 metres.

From the Tower's 120 antennae 36 TV stations and 31 radio stations broadcast.

At 10,100 tonnes in weight, the tower weighs approximately the same as 1443 unladen double-decker London buses.

Of all the many towers worldwide which owe their inspiration to the Eiffel Tower, Blackpool tower is one of the biggest and was opened only five years later.

The Tower has elevators capable of carrying around 2500 visitors to the second floor each hour. From there separate elevators carry up to 1140 passengers per hour to the top of the tower.

There is a Lego model of the Eiffel Tower on the market - a distinction shared with the Statue of Liberty and Taj Mahal.

In 1986, 352 projectors each of 1000 watts power were added to the tower to contribute to Paris' reputation as the "City of Lights".

The tower comprises over 18000 pieces of steel held together by 2.5 million rivets. The tower is protected by the application of over 50 tonnes of paint every seven years.

As well as designing the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel was also responsible for the internal structure of the Statue of Liberty.

Since it's opening in 1889 the tower has received more than 250 million visitors, with another 7 million visiting each year.

There are many replicas of the Eiffel Tower around the world - the tallest being located at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel.

As recorded by the Guinness Book of Records, the tower served as the World's largest advertising sign from 1925 - 1934 when it featured the name Citroen in huge illuminated letters.