Paris, France

Today marks the 120th anniversary of the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower, a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is still the tallest building in Paris, and has been visited by more than 200 million people since its construction (making it the most visited paid monument in the world). The metal structure of the Eiffel Tower weighs 7,300 tonnes while the entire structure including non-metal components is approximately 10,000 tonnes.

Maintenance of the tower includes applying 50 to 60 tonnes of paint every seven years to protect it from rust. In order to maintain a uniform appearance to an observer on the ground, three separate colors of paint are used on the tower, with the darkest on the bottom and the lightest at the top. On occasion the colour of the paint is changed; the tower is currently painted a shade of brownish-grey.

Lots more information and tower trivia here…