Monday, 10 February 2014

The London Eye

The London Eye is the most popular tourist attraction in the United Kingdom.  Each year over 3.5 million people visit it and we are going to be 3 of those people!



It is the biggest ferris wheel in Europe.  It is 135m tall and  has a diameter of 120m.  Building began in 1998 and it was officially opened in March 2000.  It was built on the River Thames, sections were floated up the Thames on barges and then assembled lying flat on piled platforms in the river. Once the wheel was complete, it was lifted into an upright position by a strand jack system.  First it was raised at 2 degrees per hour until it reached 65 degrees.  It was then left in that position for a week while engineers prepared for the second phase of the lift!


There are 32 capsules that can fit up to 25 people.  Each capsule rotates at 26cm per second.  It takes half an hour for the wheel to make a complete rotation!


We are going to be up very very high and will get to see the whole of London. I can't wait!



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