Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, New York, USA
There is a new panorama over the Statue of Liberty added to the virtual tour shot over New York in 2007. Unfortunately, the pilot couldn't go closer though before the start had promised to go 100 meters close to the statue. In this case we would see the tourists walking inside the crown on head of the Liberty.
Well, what is common between a stitching machine, boxing fights, Russia and freedom? The right answer is a statue, this particular and famous all over the world the Statue of Liberty in New York.
This gift of the French citizens was dedicated to one hundred anniversary of the American Revolution became a visit card of the city and all the country, a symbol of freedom and democracy. However, a symbol's prototype for the face and the body was... the wife of Isaac Zinger, who was a creator of the same named stitching machines.
Such huge "presents" are not given as a surprise and the generous gesture details have been discussed for ages. According to the mutual agreement, America had to build a pedestal and France had to create the statue and to mount it in the USA. However, in the end of XIX century there was lack of money on the both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Undoubtedly, sooner or later (rather later because the "present" was 10 year late for the anniversary) the funds were found. German concrete (material of a socle) and Russian copper (material of the sculpture itself) were used for the statue creation.
It is considered that the author of the statue is sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. But this monument appeared not only with his efforts but also thanks to well known Gustave Eiffel, the author of the famous Eiffel Tower. Exactly he designed the internal structure which gives durability to the sculpture.
Rather long time the U.S. Lighthouse Service has been in charge to maintain the main symbol of freedom in good conditions. But then it was enunciated the national monument and became an area of responsibility of the National Park Service.
The height of the Statue of Liberty from the top part of the socle until the torch is 46.05 m. If we measure the sculpture together with its pedestal, then the height from the ground until the top of the torch is 92.99 m. Even the small parts of the Statue of Liberty are far from the tiny forms: only its nose is longer than one meter.
There are 7 rays in the crown of the statue. They are symbols of 7 seas and 7 continents. To climb the Statue of Liberty it's necessary to overcome 192 footsteps. From the ground to the crown there are 354 footsteps, but the torch is closed for the tourists to be seen.
To secure such a treasure isn't easy business and the statue has been damaged many times. For instance, the percussion of the explosion on the neighboring isle in 1916 injured the Liberty and particularly its torch. But after the restoration in 1982 the statue has got a laser illumination which allows it to glow in the dark.
In the 80's the monument became an object of a trick of famous illusionist David Copperfield. He could realize that the statue disappeared for a short while with the help of a portable radio transmitter, radars and illumination.
At present time the monument is opened for the excursions, though, from time to time, the ability to visit it is limited as it was after the act of terror of September 11, 2001. If you climb till the highest point (it is a crown now), you can admire the picturesque views of New York Harbor and the South End of Manhattan. But it's much more interesting to observe this giant from an outsider's viewpoint! I offer you to realize this fascinating trip.
28 July 2010
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