The Eiffel Tower Grows 6 Inches Taller in Summer
Due to thermal expansion, the iron in the Eiffel Tower expands in heat, making the tower about 6 inches (15cm) taller in summer than in winter.
About this fact
The Eiffel Tower is made of iron, which expands when heated and contracts when cooled. During hot summer days, the metal structure can grow up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) taller due to thermal expansion. This phenomenon also causes the tower to lean slightly away from the sun, as the side facing the sun expands more than the shaded side. Gustave Eiffel accounted for this movement when designing the tower in 1889, incorporating joints and flexible elements to accommodate the expansion and contraction. The tower can also sway up to 6-7 centimeters in strong winds. These movements are completely normal and were expected by the engineers.