The Leaning Tower of Pisa was straight like a pole when the construction began in 1173.
The
Leaning
Tower
of
Pisa
was
straight
like
a
pole
when
the
construction
began
in
1173
.
It started to shift direction soon after construction because of poor foundation in addition to the loose layer of subsoil.
It
started
to
shift
direction
soon
after
construction
because
of
poor
foundation
in
addition
to
the
loose
layer
of
subsoil
.
At the beginning, it leaned to the southeast before the shaky foundation started to shift leaning towards the southwest.
At
the
beginning
,
it
leaned
to
the
southeast
before
the
shaky
foundation
started
to
shift
leaning
towards
the
southwest
.
After the period of structural strengthening at the beginning of the 21stcentury, now the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans at an angle of 3.97 degrees.
After
the
period
of
structural
strengthening
at
the
beginning
of
the
21stcentury
,
now
the
Leaning
Tower
of
Pisa
leans
at
an
angle
of
3.97
degrees
.
In 1178, the shift in direction was observed for the first time when the construction had progressed further to the third floor.
In
1178
,
the
shift
in
direction
was
observed
for
the
first
time
when
the
construction
had
progressed
further
to
the
third
floor
.
The tower was heavy for the three-meter foundation that was built on a weak area of land.
The
tower
was
heavy
for
the
three-meter
foundation
that
was
built
on
a
weak
area
of
land
.
For compensating the leaning position, the builders started to construct the upper floors with one side higher than the other one.
For
compensating
the
leaning
position
,
the
builders
started
to
construct
the
upper
floors
with
one
side
higher
than
the
other
one
.
This caused the tower to lean in the other direction.
This
caused
the
tower
to
lean
in
the
other
direction
.
This unusual structure led to the tower being actually curved.
This
unusual
structure
led
to
the
tower
being
actually
curved
.
In spite of these efforts, the tower kept on leaning.
In
spite
of
these
efforts
,
the
tower
kept
on
leaning
.
The government of Italy started to plan prevention of the complete collapse of the tower in 1964.
The
government
of
Italy
started
to
plan
prevention
of
the
complete
collapse
of
the
tower
in
1964
.
However, a request was put forward by the authorities to keep the leaning position because of the tourism industry of the region.
However
,
a
request
was
put
forward
by
the
authorities
to
keep
the
leaning
position
because
of
the
tourism
industry
of
the
region
.
After nearly two decades of careful planning by engineers, historians and mathematicians, the stabilization efforts for the Leaning Tower of Pisa started in 1990.
After
nearly
two
decades
of
careful
planning
by
engineers
,
historians
and
mathematicians
,
the
stabilization
efforts
for
the
Leaning
Tower
of
Pisa
started
in
1990
.
The tower was closed for the general public and the people living nearby moved away.
The
tower
was
closed
for
the
general
public
and
the
people
living
nearby
moved
away
.
For reducing the total weight of the tower, its seven bells which represented the seven musical notes were removed.
For
reducing
the
total
weight
of
the
tower
,
its
seven
bells
which
represented
the
seven
musical
notes
were
removed
.
The tower was reopened for the general public on December 15, 2001.
The
tower
was
reopened
for
the
general
public
on
December
15
,
2001
.
In May 2008, after removing another 70 metric tons of earth, the engineers announced that the tower had been finally stabilized and it would remain stable for at least 200 years.
In
May
2008
,
after
removing
another
70
metric
tons
of
earth
,
the
engineers
announced
that
the
tower
had
been
finally
stabilized
and
it
would
remain
stable
for
at
least
200
years
.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa was straight like a pole when the construction began in 1173. It started to shift direction soon after construction because of poor foundation in addition to the loose layer of subsoil. At the beginning, it leaned to the southeast before the shaky foundation started to shift leaning towards the southwest. After the period of structural strengthening at the beginning of the 21stcentury, now the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans at an angle of 3.97 degrees.  In 1178, the shift in direction was observed for the first time when the construction had progressed further to the third floor. The tower was heavy for the three-meter foundation that was built on a weak area of land.  For compensating the leaning position, the builders started to construct the upper floors with one side higher than the other one. This caused the tower to lean in the other direction. This unusual structure led to the tower being actually curved. In spite of these efforts, the tower kept on leaning.  The government of Italy started to plan prevention of the complete collapse of the tower in 1964. However, a request was put forward by the authorities to keep the leaning position because of the tourism industry of the region.  After nearly two decades of careful planning by engineers, historians and mathematicians, the stabilization efforts for the Leaning Tower of Pisa started in 1990. The tower was closed for the general public and the people living nearby moved away. For reducing the total weight of the tower, its seven bells which represented the seven musical notes were removed. The tower was reopened for the general public on December 15, 2001.  In May 2008, after removing another 70 metric tons of earth, the engineers announced that the tower had been finally stabilized and it would remain stable for at least 200 years.