The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall or Kotel, is located on the western side of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It is a remnant of the wall which surrounded the Jewish Temple courtyard. Most of the stones used to build the wall weigh between 2 and 8 tons each, but others weigh even more, with one incredibly large stone located in the northern section of Wilson’s Arch measuring 43 ft. and weighing approximately 570 tons.
Despite the destruction that destroyed the Second Jewish Temple in 70 AD, all four of the retaining walls around the Temple Mount remained standing. The Western Wall was the remnant closest to the site of the Temple’s Holy of Holies which was accessible to Jews. For this reason, it is the most sacred place for Jewish prayer in the world today.
Nearly 3 million people visit the Western Wall annually.
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