Elizabeth Tower, commonly known as Big Ben, is a famous clock tower in London, England. It is known that in 2012 the tower was renamed Elizabeth to honor Queen Elizabeth II.
The tower is 12m wide, 96m high, overlooking the Parliament building along the Thames River. For more than a century, the tower has become a symbol culture of England is recognized around the world. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
In terms of Big Ben is the name of the largest bell inside the clock tower weighing 13 7 tons. This is a bell cast in northern England. It was nearly sunk in a sea storm while being transported by ship to London.
The tower was started Built in 1840, it took more than 10 years to complete. In June 1846, a leading British astronomer proposed the conditions for creating a watch that required the manufacturer to create a watch. can run accurately to every second.
The Big Ben clock is made with an accuracy of plus or minus 2 seconds/week. To achieve the above accuracy is really difficult because of the Big Ben clock’s hands More than 4 meters long, it is completely exposed to the outside weather. After 8 years of debate, the clock system was finally completed.
The clock system is famous for its accuracy. every second for the past hundred years, but in fact this clock tower has been running at the wrong time. In 2015, British officials admitted that the clock was running 6 seconds late after BBC staff discovered it. However, this was immediately fixed by the engineering team so that the pendulums could operate more accurately.
There has never been a clock tower like Big Ben before. For more than 150 years, it operated almost non-stop, even surviving World Wars I and II. By the time the tower was built, it became one of the largest clock towers in the world world.
To get inside the tower and see the Big Ben bell is not easy. Security measures are always tight, meaning that very few people can enter the tower There is no elevator installed, so those who have the honor of entering must climb the 334-step staircase.
Follow the spiral staircase to reach the Belfry room, where the clock bells are located. Big Ben has a total of 5 bells with the largest one in the center coinciding with the tower’s name. The 4 outside bells are called Quarters of different sizes.
When the hammer hits the bell, it will produce a musical note. In Then each bell plays a different note. After 15 minutes, the Quarter bell plays a part of the Westminster Chimes song. Then every hour the hammer strikes the central bell of Big Ben.
< figure class="video" contenteditable="false"> Hear the bells ringing of the Big Ben clock tower
It is known that the number of knocks will tell the listener “what time it is. For example, if the time is 3 o’clock, the clock will be wound 3 times a week This was done manually but is now replaced by electric motors.
In 2017 the Big Ben clock tower underwent a major renovation. This major restoration replaced stone and metalwork to ensure the tower’s future. In addition, the building is also being restored to its original color, with the clock face being a brilliant blue color. Renovations on the tower are completed in the summer of 2022.
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