The Taj Mahal

Location: Agra, India (Continent of Asia)
Date built: It was built in 1632 (about 390 years ago)
Built by: Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum (tomb) for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth (their 14th child!)
How long to build: In total, it took 22 years to build the whole complex where the Taj Mahal sits
Size: 240 ft (73 m) tall & the complex in total is about 42 acres (17 hectares) or 20 soccer fields
Weight: About 70,000-100,000 tons (10 million kg)
The tomb houses the bodies of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan in a secret quiet room under the main room.
The mausoleum is made of white marble with semi-precious stones (including jade, crystal, amethyst, and turquoise), forming detailed designs.
It is designed with Persian, Islamic, and Indian influences throughout the complex.
The complex and building are almost symmetrical (similar parts facing each other).
During different times of the day, the Taj Mahal will look different colors because of its materials and the sun’s position.
Over 20,000 workers and some 1,000 elephants helped build the mausoleum complex. The workers who worked on the structure were fed and treated very well.
Also, the complex has two other buildings: a mosque (a Muslim church) and a guest house.
The four towers were built slightly leaning forward, and they did this for two reasons: in case of an earthquake, they would not fall on the building, and when you first enter the complex, it makes the Taj Mahal seem bigger.