One of the most famous and legendary symbols of China is the Great Wall of China. It stretches for thousands of kilometers, becoming a defense against the raids of nomads. In order for the wall to fulfill its purpose, it had to be of impressive dimensions. The structure is of sufficient height to become an insurmountable obstacle for the enemy.
Instructions
Step 1
Only recently have scientists figured out the exact dimensions of the Great Wall of China. It turned out that its length is 8851 km. This majestic structure stretches from west to east, passing through 10 provinces and 156 counties in China. The researchers found that along its entire length, the wall has a heterogeneous structure and different heights. To determine the exact parameters, images were taken from space satellites and the results of aerial photography.
Step 2
Most of the fortification was made by human hands. In other places, the function of vertical walls is performed by a natural mountain range. But that's not all: for almost 400 km, the structure has no height at all. Here you can see something like a wall "in reverse", which is presented in the form of a fairly deep ditch filled with water. It was extremely difficult for the enemy to overcome such a defensive structure.
Step 3
Unfortunately, not the entire wall has been preserved today; some of its sections lie in ruins and await reconstruction. Part of the wall was destroyed by the elements, some were dismantled by local peasants who needed building material for their farms. Those preserved sections of the wall, which are now most often visited by tourists, are about six hundred years old.
Step 4
In general, the wall began to be built in the third century BC, during the reign of Qin Shi Huang. The emperor gave instructions to connect the previously erected separate sections of the fortifications, which were built by local rulers. Of course, building standards in different provinces differed from each other, and therefore the height of the structure was not the same along the entire length.
Step 5
It is impossible to accurately indicate the height of the Great Wall of China, because it fluctuates greatly throughout the entire length of the structure. It is believed that the average height is about 6.5 m, but in some places the wall extends upwards and 10 m. The width of the fortification also ranges from 5 to 6 m. There are built-in watchtowers and rooms for armed guards along the entire length of the wall. borders.
Step 6
Today it is difficult to imagine how much time and effort it took to erect such a long, wide and tall structure. Several hundred thousand slaves, peasants and prisoners of war worked at the same time on the construction of the Great Wall of China. Work did not stop day or night. Forced builders tamped the ground, laid massive stones at the base of the wall, and made brickwork. Many builders completed their lives when the wall was erected, never returning home.
