Aprende inglés: 10 datos asombrosos en inglés sobre La Estatua de la Libertad

La revista para aprender inglés I Love English nos invita a practicar el idioma de forma divertida. Si tienes hijos o alumnos entre 12 y 15 años, puedes proponerles que lean estos 10 datos asombrosos en inglés sobre La Estatua de la Libertad (10 amazing facts about The Statue of Liberty).

Es una lectura amena y útil en inglés que les ayudará a adquirir nuevo vocabulario y expresiones, al mismo tiempo que aprenden datos curiosos sobre uno de los monumentos más emblemáticos de los Estados Unidos.

¡No dejéis de leer este texto en inglés hasta el final! Os planteamos un reto en forma de investigación.

10 amazing facts about the Statue of Liberty: 10 datos asombrosos sobre la Estatua de la Libertad

¿Cuánto sabes sobre esta colosal escultura? ¿Te encanta Nueva York? Echa un vistazo a estos 10 datos asombrosos sobre uno de los monumentos históricos más visitados de esta fascinante metrópoli: La Estatua de la Libertad.

How much do you know about this colossal sculpture?! Love New York? Check out these 10 amazing facts about one of the most visited historic landmarks in this fascinating city: the Statue of Liberty. 

1. Conception

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States as a sign of friendship, intended to commemorate 100 years of friendly relationship between the peoples of the two nations.

2. Design and assembly

The massive statue and her assembly were designed by the French sculptor Frédéric August Bartholdi and made in Paris, while the Americans built the pedestal on which it stands. Once created in France, the statue was disassembled, packed in more than 200 crates, and shipped to New York. Over the next four months, workers reassembled the statue and mounted her on the pedestal.

3. Fundraising and dedication

In order to raise funds to pay for the statue's pedestal, contests and exhibitions were held. In 1886, a French delegation arrived in New York for the inauguration of the colossal monument, the tallest in the world at that moment. Her feet alone are 7.6 metres long! October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland officially dedicated the Statue of Liberty in front of thousands of spectators.

4. Age and location

The massive creation is erected on a small island in Upper New York Bay known as Liberty Island. The statue's position was perfect for ships, entering the harbour, to see her as a welcoming symbol. The statue is now 134 years old.

5. Height and weight

Total overall height from the base of the pedestal to the top of the torch is 305 feet, 6 inches and from her heel to the top of her head is 111 feet, 6 inches (93 metres long with its granite base of 47 metres). Total weight of the Statue of Liberty is 225 tons (or 450,000 pounds). Gustave Eiffel designed the statue?s framework (or skeleton) out of iron and steel so that it could stand her weight.

6. Torch

The colossal figure represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, holding a torch in her raised right hand that symbolizes the enlightening of the world. In fact, her official name is Liberté éclairant le monde, that is to say Liberty Enlightening the World. The original torch, which was the first part of the statue to be sculpted, was removed in 1984 and is currently inside the lobby of the monument.

7. Robe and tablet

The Lady Liberty wears a flowing robe or stola. The stola was the traditional garment of Roman women corresponding to the toga that was worn by men. She holds a tablet (or a book of laws) in her left hand showing the date of America?s Independence from Great Britain: 4 July 1776. So the tablet celebrates both an event as well as a singular document ? the Declaration of Independence.

8. Crown, face and skin

The spikes radiating from her crown form a radiant halo or "aureole" and represent the world?s seven seas and seven continents, each measuring up to 9 feet in length (2.75 metres) and weighing as much as 150 pounds (almost 23 kg). The face on the Statue of Liberty measures more than 8 feet tall (2.44 metres). Bartholdi, who was said to have modelled the statue?s face after that of his mother, hammered large copper sheets to create her "skin" (using a technique called repousse).

9. Steps and visitors

You can climb the 354 steps from the bottom to the crown. Now the statue receives approximately 4 million visitors every year.

10. Broken chains

At the feet of the statue lie broken shackles representing the end of oppression, slavery and tyranny. This important symbol can only be seen from the air or from the torch. Even though the statue stands on a pedestal, she is featured as moving forward, representing the fact that Liberty is a free person. The Statue of Liberty remains today an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy, as well as one of the world?s most recognizable landmarks.

Now it is your turn to do a bit of research... Do you know WHY IT IS GREEN?