15 ФАКТОВ НА АНГЛИСКОМ ЯЗЫКЕ ПРО БИГ БЕН

Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell, the huge bell inside the clock tower, not the clock itself.

The tower’s official name today is the Elizabeth Tower. It was renamed in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

The tower was long known as the Clock Tower before the 2012 renaming.

It stands at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, right beside the River Thames.

The clock is famous for its accuracy and for the distinctive “Westminster chimes,” which many people recognize instantly.

The Great Bell weighs over 13 tons, making it one of the most famous and massive bells in the world.

The current Great Bell is not the first one made for the tower. An earlier bell cracked during testing and had to be replaced.

Big Ben has had a crack for much of its life, and it still rings. The sound is slightly different because of the crack, but it remains iconic.

Each of the four clock faces is enormous, and the minute hands are exceptionally long, designed to be seen from far away.

The clock mechanism is powered by weights, a traditional engineering approach that requires careful maintenance.

Small adjustments to the clock’s timing have historically been made using coins, placed on the pendulum to subtly change its speed.

The tower is slightly leaning, due to ground conditions, but it is monitored and considered stable.

Big Ben has become a symbol of the United Kingdom, often used in films, news broadcasts, and New Year’s celebrations.

The clock chimes are closely associated with important national moments, including commemorations and major public events.

You generally can’t just walk in and tour the tower freely. Access has typically been restricted and often requires special arrangements (and rules can change over time).