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The London Eye
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Towering 450 feet above the Thames River, the London Eye, the world’s biggest spinning structure , was built to celebrate the year 2000. Building big things at the end of a millennium, uh, I think, in a certain way, expresses the aspirations of people for bigger and better things in the future.
The London Eye was inspired by great structures of the past like the very first observation wheel built by George Ferris for the Chicago World Expo of 1893. And like its predecessor, the London Eye is keeping natives and visitors entertained and awed. One hundred feet taller than Big Ben, and weighing a whopping 1,600 tons, it’s twice the size of the wheel built by Ferris, but three times lighter, and much more comfortable. There are 32 capsules, each of which will hold up to 25 people. They are fully glazed. They’re air conditioned in summer, heated in the winter, very, very comfortable. From these capsules they will see the most spectacular views of London.
But assembling and putting a wheel this size required new technology and a lot of imagination. The parts were sent up the River Thames by barge, and the wheel was assembled in a flat position, lying on temporary platforms on the river. Lifting it into an upright position was a major challenge. The wheel stood precariously above the river for a week before being gradually winched up to its final position. The glass capsules were attached, but safety concerns prevented London’s spinning sensation from welcoming passengers on board for the millennium celebration. But as London entered the New Year, the wheel remained the center of attention, and a month later, it took its first passengers for a spin. The London Eye will last for years to come as a monument to the new millennium.
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伦敦眼
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高达四百五十英尺，屹立于泰晤士河畔的伦敦眼是世界上最大的旋转建筑物，它是为庆祝新千年建造的。在新千年到来之际兴建大型建筑，我认为这从某种程度上表达了人们对美好未来的憧憬。
伦敦眼借鉴了早年的巨型建筑物，包括世界上第一座观光轮，是乔治·佛瑞斯为1893年芝加哥世博会建造的。伦敦眼与那座老式的观光轮一样，让国内外游客大饱眼福，肃然起敬。它比大笨钟还高一百英尺，重达一千六百吨，体积是佛瑞斯观光轮的两倍，重量却只有它的三分之一，而且也更加舒适。它有三十二个舱，每个舱能容纳二十五个人。观光舱都是透明的，冬暖夏凉，非常舒适。在舱内，游客能把伦敦城尽收眼底。
但装配并且吊起这么大的轮子，必须要有全新的技术和丰富的想象力。所有部件都用驳船运到泰晤士河，河上搭建了临时平台，因为转轮需要放倒装配。把它竖起来可不容易，在绞索把转轮拉成直立之前，它在泰晤士河上摇摇晃晃了一周。后来人们安装了载客舱。出于安全考虑，尽管伦敦市民热情高涨，在千禧年庆祝活动中没有起用伦敦眼载客观光。但当伦敦进入新千年后，伦敦眼仍然是万众瞩目的焦点。一个月后，它接待了首批游客。伦敦眼将一直屹立在泰晤士河畔，它是新千年的标志性建筑。
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