The CHIEF May 2026

Fact FUN

: HOW TALL IS THE EIFFEL TOWER?

BY CAITLIN FUHR

PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY KNOWN STRUCTURES IN THE WORLD IS THE EIFFEL TOWER, LOCATED IN PARIS, FRANCE. DURING THE SUMMER, THIS TOWERING MONUMENT, 1,803 FEET TALL, EXPANDS TO EVEN GREATER ALTITUDES. AS THE SUN HEATS, THE IRON OF THE TOWER EXPANDS, GIVING THE EIFFEL TOWER AN EXTRA SIX TO SEVEN INCHES IN LENGTH. WHEN TEMPERATURES PLUMMET THE STRUCTURE RETURNS BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL STATURE. EVEN THOUGH THE EIFFEL TOWER ADJUSTS TO THE WEATHER AROUND IT, THESE CHANGES ARE NOT VISIBLE TO ANY TOURISTS. THIS IS ALL THANKS TO THE ENGINEERS BEHIND THE STRUCTURE, WHO PLANNED FOR THERMAL EXPANSION. OVERALL, THE EIFFEL TOWER HAS MANY QUIRKS THAT GO UNSEEN! IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, A REPLICA OF THE EIFFEL TOWER UNDERGOES VERTICAL EXPANSION AS WELL DUE TO THE SCORCHING SUN. STANDING AT 540 FEET TALL, LESS THAN HALF THE ORIGINAL TOWER’S HEIGHT, THE VEGAS MONUMENT ALSO DEVELOPS A SLIGHT TILT AWAY FROM THE SUN AND SWAYS IN THE WIND BY UP TO SEVEN CENTIMETERS.

SOURCES: HTTPS://WWW.TOUREIFFEL.PARIS/EN/NEWS/HISTORY-AND-CULTURE/WHY-DOES-EIFFEL-TOWER-CHANGE-SIZE HTTPS://LOCKANDENJOY.COM/EN/CURIOSITIES-ABOUT-THE-EIFFEL-TOWER-THAT-YOU-DIDNT-KNOW/ HTTPS://WWW.EIFFELTOWERRESTAURANT.COM/BLOGS/CREATION-LAS-VEGAS-LANDMARK/