The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as a tomb for the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu around 2560 BC. It was constructed over a 20 year period using 2.3 million limestone blocks weighing 5,500 pounds each, placed by workers at a rate of 800 blocks per day. The pyramid stood as the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. Located on the Giza plateau near Cairo, the pyramid is one of ancient Egypt's most famous structures and continues to be a major tourist attraction today, remarkably well preserved after nearly 3,500 years.