Bridges are a unique invention of mankind. They connect the banks of rivers and straits, open the way for trade, travel and communication. The most famous bridges in the world were built by the hands of talented engineers, architects and craftsmen. They are so beautiful that they have become popular attractions on our planet.
Golden Gate Bridge
Article: The Golden Gate Bridge is a symbol of San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge in the USA
The main attraction of San Francisco is built across the strait of the same name and connects the city bay with the Pacific Ocean. The structure is a suspension bridge with a suspended carriageway, and its length is 1970 m. Work on the construction of the bridge lasted from 1933 to 1937, during the Great Depression and during the formation of the city from the consequences of the 1906 earthquake. The project was developed by Joseph Strousse, the best engineer of that time for the construction of bridges. At the end of May 1937, the grand opening of the largest suspension bridge in the world at that time took place; the Golden Gate Bridge retained this status until 1964, when it was bypassed by New York's Verrazano Bridge. Unique bridge recognized as a symbol USA and is the pride of the American people.
Vasco da Gama bridge
Article: Vasco da Gama Bridge - an unusual landmark in the Portuguese capital
Vasco da Gama bridge in Portugal
One of the outstanding landmarks Portugal, striking with the infinity of length and beauty of the structure. The total length of this bridge, recognized as the longest in all of Europe, is 17.2 km. Its architecture does not have a classical form and is airy. The functional focus of the structure is to connect remote areas of the capital of Portugal. Thanks to the construction of the bridge, which gradually passes from the cable-stayed structure to the viaduct, it was possible to establish transport links in the city and provide free access to some of its facilities. And the unconventional shape of the bridge is expressed in the fact that the cable-stayed part is located perpendicular to the coastline, while the viaduct runs parallel.
The Brooklyn Bridge
Article: Brooklyn Bridge in New York - an industrial wonder of the world
Brooklyn Bridge in the USA
It is the oldest bridge in the United States, built over the East River, connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan - districts of New York. The construction of the bridge, which stretched for 1825 m, took 13 years (1869 - 1883). All work was carried out under the guidance of the engineer John Roebling, who was the first of the masters to suggest replacing cast iron with steel. To prove the reliability of the steel bridge, on the day of its opening - May 24, 1883, representatives of the city authorities walked along it with elephants. And for more than a century, the Brooklyn Bridge has been performing its functions. It consists of 3 zones, two of which are for cars and the third for cyclists and pedestrians. This zone is located in the center of the structure, and it is raised above 2 adjacent car zones, by this engineer Rebling wanted to show the superiority of people over cars.
Tower Bridge
Article: Tower Bridge is one of London's most beautiful landmarks
Tower Bridge in London
Harmoniously blended with architecture London, became one of its symbols. The name of the structure is explained by its location - it is located next to Tower Castle, standing on the north bank of the Thames. The bridge was built according to the project of Horace Jones at the end of the 19th century. The engineering work resulted in a 244-meter structure with high 65-meter towers. At a height of 44 m, they are connected by a pedestrian-only gallery. Today this gallery has become a museum and observation deck. The color scheme of the bridge is also interesting. Initially, it had a chocolate color, but on the occasion of the anniversary of Elizabeth II, it was repainted, imitating the colors of the state flag. But the bridge did not become blue-white-red, tk. there is very little red in it, and the structure looks blue and white from a distance.
Viaduct Millau
Article: Viaduct Millau - the most beautiful and highest bridge in France
Viaduct Millau in France
Cable-stayed road bridge that crosses the valley of the French Tarn River and passes near the city of Millau. It is considered the tallest in the world, because one of its pillars reaches a height of 341 m. The engineer Michel Virlojot, famous for the creation of the Normandy cable-stayed bridge, worked on the development of the project of the grandiose structure.
The unique design is part of the A75 and completes it. Thanks to the Viaduct of Millau, high-speed travel from Paris to Béziers in transit through Clermont-Ferrand became available. It is noteworthy that the passage on it is not free for motorists, since the bridge was created under a contract between the French government and the Eifage Group company. One of the points of which states that the company has the right to levy a small duty on cars passing here.
Ponte Vecchio
Article: Ponte Vecchio - the "golden" bridge of Florence
Ponte Vecchio in Florence
Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, is not just a structure designed to cross from one side of the Arno to the other. This is a whole architectural monument, erected in the XIV century. In ancient times, there was a ford at the location of the bridge, and the width of the Arno was minimal here. Therefore, even the ancient Romans erected a bridge here, erecting it on stone piles and adding wooden superstructures. In this form, he survived the fall of the Roman Empire, but could not resist the destructive power of the water element, which rebelled in 1117. The Ponte Vecchio bridge acquired its modern look back in 1345, after the development of a new project by the master Neri di Fioravanti. Changing the shape of the structure has improved its appearance and made it stronger. The new bridge consists of 3 arches up to 30 m long.
Rialto bridge
Article: Rialto Bridge - a visiting card of Venice
Rialto bridge in Venice
The oldest bridge built across Grand canal in Venice... Initially, there was a pontoon bridge in this place, erected in 1811 according to the project of Nicolo Barattieri and called Ponte della Moneta, which is explained by the proximity of the mint. But in connection with the emergence of the Rialto market in the city, it became necessary to replace the existing bridge with a more durable one. So in 1250 a new wooden bridge appeared, made in the form of an arch. For the convenience of the passage of tall ships, this arch was opened in its central part. The bridge began to be called Rialto, but it did not show itself to be highly durable - in 1310 it was significantly damaged during a fire, and in 1444 it collapsed, unable to withstand a huge crowd of townspeople. The modern 28-meter stone bridge appeared already in 1591 thanks to the efforts of the architect Antonio da Ponte.
Hangzhou bridge
Article: Rialto Bridge - a visiting card of Venice
Hangzhou Bridge in China
The 36-kilometer "brainchild" of the Chinese engineer Wang Yong, recognized as the longest bridge in the world. Made in the shape of the letter S, it crosses the Qiantang River and Hangzhou Bay. The structure is considered the most important link in the Superhighway that runs along the East Coast of China. It originates in the north of the country in Jiaxin and ends in the south, in Ningbo. Due to the construction of this large-scale structure, it was possible to reduce the distance of transport by 120 km (from Ningbo to Shanghai). Work on the construction of the longest and most beautiful bridge in the world was carried out from 2003 to 2008. Their complexity was that the structure had to be laid in an unpredictable marine environment and in a seismically hazardous area.
Palace Bridge
Article: Palace Bridge over the Neva - one of the symbols of St. Petersburg
Palace bridge in St. Petersburg
Built over the Neva from 1912 to 1916. in order to connect the Admiralteisky Island with Vasilievsky (areas St. Petersburg).Its history begins in 1882, when residents of the city and public figures began to turn to the City Council with a request to build a permanent crossing of the river. But only in 1900 did the authorities listen to these requests and decided to hold an international competition to determine the designer of the bridge. And so in February 1911, the Kolomna Plants Society began building the bridge, the construction work was completed only by the end of 1916. The building owes its name to the Winter Palace. The 250-meter metal bridge consists of 5 spans, and the central double-wing span is spread on both sides. The weight of all steel parts of the bridge is 7770 tons.
Bosphorus Bridge (15 July Martyrs Bridge)
Article: Bosphorus Bridge (15 July Martyrs Bridge) - a link between Europe and Asia
Bosphorus Bridge (15 July Martyrs Bridge) in Istanbul
The longest suspended structure in the world. It connects the Asian and European parts of Istanbul. Previously, such structures were not erected over the Bosphorus Strait, and the suspension Bosphorus bridge became the first crossing. British engineers Roberts and Brown worked on his project. According to their idea, steel cables of a zigzag shape became the holders of the bridge, "hovering" above the water at a height of 64 m. The bridge is divided into strips that ensure safety when driving. The total length of the bridge is 1560 m, width - 33 m, and more than 200,000 vehicles pass through it every day. You cannot walk across the bridge on foot, because due to suicide attempts, it is closed to pedestrians. Trucks are not allowed here either.
