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Big Ben is the nickname for the bell inside the Elizabeth Tower in London. The tower was previously called the Clock Tower and Big Ben cracked in 1859 but was repositioned in 1863. It can be heard from 9 miles away.
The nickname Big Ben refers to the large bell inside the clock of the Elizabeth Tower, a British landmark built in 1859 which is located at the Palace of Westminster in London. The clock and sometimes the tower itself is also commonly referred to as Big Ben which is technically incorrect. Big Ben is a 13-ton (13,760 kg) bell that rings every hour. The tower was called the Clock Tower until 2012, when it was changed to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th reign.
More information about Big Ben:
Big Ben cracked in 1859, after its first two months of strike, and was no longer functional until 1863, when it was repositioned so the bell’s hammer would not strike the crack. As of 2013, the crack remained.
When the Palace of Westminster was bombed in 1941 during World War II, the Clock Tower remained intact and Big Ben continued to strike on the hour.
It is estimated that the Big Ben strike can be heard from 9 miles (14.48 km) away.
