!!!Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, New York, USA

By
members of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

28 July 2010

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

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.

\\ \\
[2010 2 Panoramas_of_Statue_of_Liberty|Geography/America/United_States/Pictures/Panoramas_of_Statue_of_Liberty]

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