Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza is a defining symbol of Egypt and the last of the seven ancient wonders of the world. It is located on the Giza Plateau near the modern city of Cairo and was built over a period of twenty years during the reign of King Khufur of the Fourth Dynasty. The Great Pyramid is the longest hand-built structure in the world until the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris, France in 16 AD; This record was for more than 3,000 years and is unlikely to be broken. Other scholars point to the Lincoln Cathedral Spire in England, which was built in 1300 AD, the structure eventually elevating the high pyramids, yet the Egyptian monument retains the title for an impressive period of time. With a base of Y54 feet (230 meters), the pyramid rises to a height of 479 feet (146 meters) and is composed of about 20 million blocks of stone. Some of these stones are of such a large size and weight (such as the granite slabs in the King's Chamber) that it would be impossible for them to be properly raised and placed by modern materials.