The Eiffel Tower is a wrought iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Construction of the Eiffel Tower began on 28 January 1887 and was completed on 31 March 1889. It was the tallest man-made structure in the world, with a height of 300 metres (984 ft), until the Chrysler Building in New York City was built in 1930.
The tower was initially criticized by some of France's leading artists and intellectuals for its design, but it has become a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower is the most-visited paid monument in the world; 6.91 million people ascended it in 2015. The tower is owned by the City of Paris; the City of Paris and the French Government have made it a historic monument in 1964 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
The Eiffel Tower is structurally divided into three sections: the lower section is composed of four immense arched legs, each made up of four iron beams; the middle section is an open framework of lattice girders; and the upper section is an open framework of criss-crossed iron beams. The tower has two large observation decks, one at the top and one at the second level, and a smaller one at the third level. There is also a restaurant on the first level.
The Eiffel Tower has become a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It is one of the most-visited monuments in the world, with over 250 million visitors since its construction. The tower is also a popular tourist destination, with over seven million visitors annually.
