Facts about London eye

Answer 1

The "London Eye" began life as an idea in 1993.

The "Sunday Times" started a competition in collaboration with the "Architecture Foundation" to create a new landmark in London for the Millennium.

Husband and Wife Architects, David Marks and Julia Barfield decided to design something with a viewpoint, which was lacking in London. They submitted plans for a viewing wheel in the form of a bicycle wheel. Although there was no winner of the competition they continued to push on with their design. Eventually they founded the "Millennium Wheel Company" and received financial backing from "British Airways" to develop the structure.

Parts for the "Eye" were manufacture in many Countries including France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Czech Republic and of course the UK.

Once the foundations were built on the banks of the River Thames the structure was shipped in in many thousands of pieces and resembled a giant jigsaw puzzle. Some parts were literally shipped up the Thames on barges.

In June 1999 the building began. The sections were put together lying horizontal across the river on temporary floating and fixed pontoons. Work to lift it upright began on 9th October, and eventually by 17th October the wheel was lifted up vertically for the first time using a huge floating crane. This was a mammoth operation in itself.

Although it is designed for permanent fixture it is possible to disassemble and move it to another site if necessary.

The "Eye" was officially opened on 31st December 1999 by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair. However because of technical problems it did not open to the public until March 2000 after many tests and trials.

The "London Eye" is located in Jubilee Gardens on the south bank of the River Thames, next to Westminster Bridge and opposite Big Ben.

The height of the "Eye" is 135 metres and it's circumference is 424 metres. At the time of building it was the tallest observation wheel in the world. It weighs 2100 metric tonnes. It moves at 0.26 metres a second, a quarter of the average walking speed.

There are 32 capsules weighing 10 tonnes each, of which each one can carry 25 people (800 in all). From the top of the "Eye" viewing distance is 40 kilometres on a clear day. Each capsule has a full 360 degree viewing angle. Each rotation takes about 30 minutes.

The A-frame supports the wheel in it's vertical position at a 65 degree angle from one side only, allowing it to be positioned over the river from the bank. It's legs are 58 metres long, the hub is 10 metres long and has a diameter of 4.5 metres. There are 64 spoke cables and 16 rim rotation cables.

It took 16 months to build and cost £75 million but it has made all that money back. Since opening it has taken over 3.5 million visitors a year. In 2010 it celebrated it's 10th birthday.

The "Eye" lets able-bodied visitor step on and off as it's moving but stops to let disabled people board, contrary to the belief it doesn't stop. It also stops at the end of the day.

The "Eye" is managed by the "Merlin Entertainments Group".

See the Related Links below.
the London Eye, the observation wheel overlooking the River Thames in London, England

Answer 2

The London Eye was opened to the public in 2000. When it was built it was the largest Ferris Wheel in the world. It has 32 'pods', each holding 25 people - 800 in total. One complete revolution of the wheel takes 30 minutes.

Answer 3

it´s 1centimetre high and 1900000metres fat. looser!