Moscow Kremlin - Photo Gallery and Information

By Kerry Kubilius, About.com Guide

The Tsar Bell is an admirable engineering attempt gone wrong. Cast in a pit in the ground in the early 18th century, the metal of the Tsar Bell was doused with water when workers extinguished a nearby fire. This caused the bell to crack, rendering it useless. The shard of metal that fractured from the main bell weighs over 11 tons alone.

The Tsar Bell is still on display just outside the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. Peek into the gap (not visible in this photo) to view the huge clappers intended for the Tsar Bell, and throw in a coin for good luck.