The Leaning Tower of Pisa for Kids: Famous World Landmarks for Children - FreeSchool
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The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy has stood for almost 850 years despite leaning due to a weak foundation, with construction taking nearly 200 years and multiple interruptions to stabilize its tilt. Engineers stabilized the tower in 1990 by adding lead weights, cables, and removing dirt from one side, allowing visitors to climb to the top safely for the next 200 years.
Insights
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa's tilt was counteracted by adjusting the height of each story and adding the eighth floor angled north, showcasing innovative engineering solutions to stabilize the structure over centuries.
- Modern engineering interventions in 1990, including lead weights, cables, and soil removal, successfully reduced the tower's tilt by 17 inches, ensuring its stability for the foreseeable future and enabling visitors to safely ascend to the top.
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Recent questions
How old is the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is nearly 850 years old, having been constructed in 1173.
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Summary
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The Leaning Tower of Pisa's Resilient History
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa, a famous tourist attraction in Italy, has stood for nearly 850 years despite its tilt caused by a poor foundation of sand, clay, and mud. Construction began in 1173 as a freestanding bell tower but started leaning after the second floor was added due to the soft ground.
- Construction was halted multiple times over nearly 200 years, with the tower leaning in different directions. The height of each story was tapered to counterbalance the lean, and in 1372, the tower was completed with the addition of the eighth story angled north.
- To stabilize the tower in 1990, engineers added lead weights, anchored it with cables, and slowly removed dirt from one side to reduce the tilt by over 17 inches. This method ensured the tower's stability for at least 200 years, allowing visitors to once again climb to the top.
