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Why does the Leaning Tower Lean?
Why does the Leaning Tower Lean?
The architects of the tower did not have experience with the soil of Pisa and how the mixture of clay, sand, and shells would settle as they built. By the time they finished the third of eight stories the soil had settled unevenly and the tower was leaning to the south. Over the centuries the tilt progressed despite multiple attempts to correct it. By 1990 the tower was leaning 5.5 degrees and needed to be closed to stabilize the foundation. The tower reopened in 2001 with the tilt corrected to 4 degrees no further progression of the lean. Visitors can now climb the tower but the bells remain silent out of concern the vibrations could further destabilize the foundation.