BEST ENGINEERED DESIGNS OF ALL TIME

Surprisingly, the city with the largest number of bridges in Europe is not Venice at all, as many people think, but Hamburg. This city has more than 2,300 bridges, which is almost 6 times more than in St. Petersburg ...

However, the point is not so much in the number of bridges as in the uniqueness of the most unusual structures. If you think about it, each of these impressive projects, including the newest ones, is able to glorify an absolutely unknown place and, at the same time, become the most memorable architectural landmark of cities and geoparks with a long history ...

VINOGRADOVSKY BRIDGE (1985). KRASNOYARSK. RUSSIA

Vinogradovsky bridge - pedestrian across the Yenisei canal in Krasnoyarsk, a favorite walking place for the townspeople and a tourist symbol of the city. This bridge is 550 m long and 10 m wide.

Initially, the bridge was named after the founder of Krasnoyarsk, Andrey Dubensky. However, after a while, by order of the city administration, the unique design was named after the architect-builder Sergei Nikolayevich Vinogradov, the head of Bridge Construction Crew No. 7, who built this bridge.

Thanks to the Vinogradovsky Bridge, the formerly uninhabited Tatyshev Island has become one of the most popular places in Krasnoyarsk. The two-pylon cable-stayed bridge looks incredibly light and graceful, however, accurate mathematical calculations make it possible to be sure of the high reliability of its structures, despite their external weightlessness.

BEIPANJIANG (2016). ZHEJIANG AND YUNNAN PROVINCES, CHINA

Beipanjiang Is the new tallest cable-stayed bridge on the planet, a three-year construction completed in 2016 in China. The bridge is located in the Beipanjiang Valley in the southwest of the country. The new structure became part of the expressway connecting Zhejiang and Yunnan provinces. The bridge passes over the Nichzhu river at an altitude of 565 m, which is 25 m higher than the Ostankino tower. The length of the bridge is 1,341 m.

As the builders note, the maximum error in joining the two halves of the bridge, connected the other day, is only 5 mm!

More than $ 150 million was spent on the construction of the structure.

Previously, the 495 m high bridge across the Syduhe River was considered the highest in the world.

ERESUN BRIDGE (1999 - 2000). COPENHAGEN, MALMË. DENMARK, SWEDEN

Unique road-rail design Øresundsbron (a compromise between Danish Øresundsbroen and Swedish Öresundsbron ) connects Denmark (Copenhagen) and Sweden (Malmë)across the Øresund Strait. It is the longest combined bridge tunnel in Europe. The only link between continental Europe and Scandinavia.

The length of the bridge is 7845 m. Two pairs of free-standing 204-meter load-bearing pylons allow navigation in the alignment of the main span, 490 m long, 57 m high. However, most ships pass unhindered through the strait above the tunnel.

Project architect - George Rothne, structural design - Ove Arup & Partners.

PAINTING BRIDGE (2007). MOSCOW. RUSSIA

Zhivopisny bridge in Serebryany Bor - across the Moskva River in the west of the Russian capital. The opening of the bridge took place on December 27, 2007.

Competition for best project of this bridge, which was supposed to connect three banks of the Moskva River at once, was announced in the early 2000s. In the end, the idea of \u200b\u200bOmsk architects from NPO MOSTOVIK LLC won, who proposed a cable-stayed structure with an unusual arch made of tubular elements.

The Zhivopisny Bridge is 1.5 km long, 40 m wide, and the arch height is 105 m.The length of the main span is more than 400 meters, which ensures comfortable passability river vessels... The main "highlight" of the Zhivopisny Bridge is a unique observation deck and a restaurant in the form of an elliptical "flying saucer", as if frozen over the water at a height of 100 meters ...

HARBOR BRIDGE (1932). SYDNEY. AUSTRALIA

Harbor Bridge - most big bridge Sydney and one of the largest steel arched bridges in the world. The Sydney people jokingly call this bridge the "Hanger" due to its remarkable shape. The bridge opened on March 19, 1932. The length of the arch span of the bridge is 503 m. The total length of the bridge is 1 149 m. The width of the bridge is 49 m.

The Harbor Bridge connects the downtown (South Shore) with the downtown (North Shore) and crosses Port Jackson Bay.

One of the bridge's towers houses the Pylon Lookout Museum and Observation Deck, which offers magnificent views of the harbor and city center. To climb the side arch of the bridge to its top, you only need rubber-soled shoes and a special suit with insurance, which is issued on the spot, the instructor will help to cope with everything else.

RAILWAY BRIDGE THROUGH KAMU (1899, 1998). Permian. Russia

Kamsky railway bridge is one of the largest engineering structures Russia at the beginning of the XX century. The superstructure project developed by engineer E.N. Adadurov, was approved by the Office for the construction of the Siberian railway on April 30, 1896. Construction began in 1897. The grand opening took place January 27, 1899 in Perm.

In 1919, the second truss of the bridge on the left bank side was destroyed by the retreating troops of Kolchak. However, soon at the Chusovsky Metallurgical Plant, new structures were made for the destroyed farm, and on February 18, 1920, traffic on the Kamsky Bridge was restored. Until our time the bridge has reachedin a rebuilt form. In 1953, the bridge was expanded by dismantling ice cutters and erecting supports on the existing caisson foundation. In the reconstruction, not only Russian, but also German and Hungarian factories were involved (at the expense of reparations).In 1988, the spans were replaced with new ones designed by the Moscow Institute of Giprotransput and the Chelyabinsk branch of Giprostroymost.In terms of its length (840 m), the Kamsky railway bridge is the largest in the Urals. More than two hundred passenger and freight passengers pass through it every day. trains in both directions.

SKYBRIDGE / SKYBRIDGE / (2014). SOCHI. RUSSIA

Skybridge - 440-meter suspension bridge in the Akhshtyrsky gorge of the Adler region of Sochi. A wonderful new attraction of the extreme amusement park SKYPARK AJ HACKETT SOCHI in the sea Olympic capital of Russia.

Skybridge may be in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest suspension bridge in the world. A 700-meter cable car leads to it. The structure sits at a height of 218 m, reaching 290 m above certain sections of the gorge, which is especially impressive since the bridge is made of polymer mesh and appears transparent.

The bridge is only 70 centimeters wide. New Zealander A.J. Hackett designed the new landmark in Sochi. The bridge offers an impressive view of the Mzymta River. The bridge has platforms for fans of bungee jumping (jumping from a height on a zipline). The bridge is capable of withstanding a magnitude 9 earthquake.

GLASS BRIDGE (2015). GEOPARK IN THE YUNTAISHAN MOUNTAINS. CHINA

This is the longest glass bridge in the world. It is located in the Hunan Geopark in the Yuntaishan Mountains at an altitude of 180 m and is considered one of the most terrifying on the planet.

The bridge was completely redesigned in 2015. The previous structure, which connects the peaks of the Stone Buddha Mountain, was made of wood and has become dilapidated over time. However, 11 fearless engineers, who worked 12 hours a day, managed to turn it into a unique 300-meter glass "attraction", creating the illusion of walking through the air at a great height.

Not everyone dares to walk along the Glass Bridge. The base of the bridge is made of two-layer glass 24 mm thick, which is 25 times stronger than ordinary window panes. The builders claim that the bridge is capable of withstanding a load of 800 kilograms per square meter.

Why did the bridge crack?

However, as soon as it opened, the super-strong glass bridge suddenly cracked when one of the tourists dropped a metal thermos with water on it. Eyewitnesses say that they were frightened by a loud sound and felt vibrations. Panic broke out, people screamed and tried to escape from the bridge, risking passing each other - a word in some kind of blockbuster. Fortunately, things did not go further than cracks, and no one was hurt. The fall of the thermos damaged only one glass layer out of three. Experts believe that the fault of the architects is not here. It's all about the peculiarities of glass - as a material. As you know from the laws of physics, even bulletproof glass can crack if hit at a certain point. Apparently, the thermos hit just such a point. However, given the presence of several layers of glass, each of which has its own "risk points", the probability of breaking the bridge completely, even due to the strongest impact, is virtually zero.

ECOLOGICAL BRIDGE (2015). HUBEI PROVINCE. CHINA

Built in Hubei province the world's first ecological low-water bridge above a river. It is noteworthy that the four-kilometer bridge does not pass across the river, but directly along the river bed, which made it possible not to cut down trees during its construction. The bridge is part of a 10.5 km motorway. It follows the bends of the river exactly and connects the mountainous area with the central motorway. This bridge became a tourist attraction as soon as it opened. And already many travelers have set out to ride along the new ecological highway.

BRIDGE AKASHI-KAIKE (1998). HONSU AND AWADZI ISLANDS. JAPAN

Akashi-Kaike bridge - one of the main works of engineering art in Japan. The longest suspension bridge in the world, reaching almost four kilometers. The length of the steel cables stretched along the bridge is a total of 300 thousand kilometers. That's enough to wrap the Earth 7.5 times! The bridge crosses the Akashi Strait and connects Kobe City on Honshu Island with Awaji City on Awaji Island. It is part of one of three highways connecting Honshu and Shikoku.

Before the construction of the bridge across the Akashi Strait, ferries operated, which was very dangerous due to severe storms. In fact, the construction of the bridge began in 1988 and the opening took place on April 5, 1998. Initially, two concrete pylon foundations were built at the bottom of the Akashi Strait. To do this, two huge round forms for pouring concrete were placed on the shore, then they were flooded. The difficulty was to flood them with great precision, but the bridge builders coped with it, despite the strong current in the Akashi Strait. For the construction of this bridge, a special concrete was developed that does not dissolve in water when poured. The next stage in the construction of the bridge was the pulling of the cables, which was carried out using a helicopter. In 1995, when both cables were stretched and the installation of the roadbed could begin, a major 7.3 magnitude earthquake occurred. And due to the change in the relief of the bottom of the strait, one of the pylons shifted 1 m to the side, thus breaking all calculations. However, the engineers found a solution, and construction work was delayed by only a month. Due to the high cost of travel ($ 20), few car owners use the bridge, preferring to cross the strait by bus or, as before, by ferry.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE. NEPAL

There is a suspension bridge in Nepal, which was created not to decorate the landscape or attract tourists, but for the convenience of local residents. This bridge will stretch over the gorge, and every day hundreds of people and livestock cross it at their own peril and risk in the absence of any alternatives. The structure of the bridge is very mobile and not strong, so walking on it is very scary.

"MONKEY BRIDGE". TATTON PARK. UNITED KINGDOM

A virtually weightless bridge hovers over a pond suspended from three huge white balloons in Tutton Park, England. The composition is called "Monkey Bridge". The author of the bridge is the French artist Olivier Grossetete. Unfortunately, people cannot run along such a crossing, this is just a fabulous art installation.

VIADUK MIJO / MILLFU VIADUCT. FRANCE

Futuristic bridge above the clouds Millfu Viaductlocated in France. At the time of construction, the Viaduct Millau was the tallest transport bridge in the world. The height of one of its pillars reaches 341 m, i.e. she is higher Eiffel tower and just 40 meters below the Empire State Building in New York. The total length of the bridge is 2,460 m. Driving through this architectural wonder, it seems as if you are taking off.

BRIDGE "RAINBOW FOUNTAIN" BANPO BRIDGE (2009). SEOUL. KOREA

The bridge-fountain is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the bridge with the world's longest fountain (length - 1140 m). The bridge connects the two banks of the Hanshui River in the South Korean city of Seoul and only became a fountain in 2009. Water jets move to the music, illuminated by multi-colored LEDs, performing a beautiful dance.

STORSEISUNDET BRU (1989).
PROVINCE MËRE-OG-ROMSDAL. NORWAY

Storseisundet bru - one of the seven unique bridges " Atlantic road»Norway, connecting the mainland and the island of Averai in the province of Møre og Romsdal. The Storsezandet bridge is built in such a way that at the moment of approach it creates the illusion of a springboard from which you can take off with the car. Locals call this bridge "Drunk" because its shape is constantly changing depending on the angle of view.

HANGING BRIDGE KIKKI (1991). MIE PREFECTURE. JAPAN

The unique Kikki Y-shaped suspension bridge at Aoyama Kogen Golf Club in Mie Prefecture was designed in 1991. The bridge is 12 meters long. This bridge provides club members with free passage from the clubhouse to the golf course. The uniqueness of the design lies in the fact that the bridge is designed without a single support and can be folded and unrolled. The bridge is driven by hydraulic pumps in the railing. From an architectural point of view, the Kikki bridge is incredibly beautiful, its railings are made of precious wood and decorated with very fine carvings in the national style.

MOST-AQUEDUKWASSERSTRAßENKREUZ MAGDEBURG (2003). BERLIN. GERMANY

Wasserstraßenkreuz Magdeburg - the largest water bridge in Germany, connecting the inner port of Berlin with the ports on the Rhine. The length of the bridge is 918 m. The bridge is located 10 km north of the center of Magdeburg. On the right bank of the Elbe near the bridge there is locality Hohenwart.

For the first time, the idea of \u200b\u200bbuilding such a bridge was expressed back in 1919, and by 1938 the Rotensee ship lift and the bridge supports were ready. During the First and Second World Wars, construction was postponed. Also, after the division of Germany into the FRG and the GDR, the construction was postponed indefinitely by the government of the GDR. With the unification of Germany, the construction of the bridge again became a priority. Construction began in 1997 and was completed six years later. In total, 0.5 billion euros were spent on the project. Before the construction of the bridge, the ships were forced to make a twelve-kilometer detour through the Rottensee lock on the Elbe and through the Nigripp lock.

BRIDGE PYTHON / PYTHONBRUG (2001). AMSTERDAM. NETHERLANDS

Pythonbrug - a serpentine bridge in Amsterdam, connecting the Sporenburg peninsula with the island of Borneo. This is one of the most bizarre bridges in the world. It was built in 2001. West 8 was responsible for the design and construction of this post.

MOST RESTAURANT AYOLA (2003). GRATS. AUSTRIA

In 2003, New York-based architect Vito Acconci created the Iola Island Bridge, which spans the Mur River in Graz. The island part of the bridge is a small restaurant in the middle of the river with an interesting interior and an observation deck.

BRIDGE PONTE VECCHO (1345). FLORENCE. ITALY

Ponte Vecchio - the oldest bridge in Florence and the only one that has retained its original appearance. The bridge was built in 1345. A distinctive feature of the Ponte Vecchio is the houses that are crowded on both sides. In the center of the bridge, a number of buildings are interrupted by an open area from which you can admire the river and other bridges of the city.

ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE (1929).GREAT CANYON OF ARKANZAS RIVER. USA

366 meter bridge Royal gorgeDesigned by George Cole and Frank Stahl in the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River, it became the inspiration for Jurassic Park. This canyon became especially famous in the middle of the 19th century. At that time, native silver was found there, but the deposit was quickly depleted. But archaeologists found the remains of dinosaurs in these places, and Canyon City instantly became a popular tourist town, especially for which a unique suspension bridge with a boardwalk was built. True, in the 1960s, Royal Gorge became notorious as the "suicide bridge", where those who wanted to take their own lives came specially. Fortunately, at the beginning of the XXI century. they were replaced by tourists wishing to make extreme jumps from the legendary bridge.

GATESHEAD MILLENNIUM BRIDGE (2001). GATESHEAD, NEWCASTLE. UNITED KINGDOM

The 126-meter Swing Bridge over the River Tyne between Gateshead and Newcastle, built by architects Chris Wilkinson and Jim Eyre in honor of the new millennium, is a unique lift and slewing structure. At the heart of this design are two arches connected by cables, one of which serves as a footpath capable of passing small vessels underneath; and the other is raised above the water by about 50 m. When a tall ship approaches the bridge, the bridge performs a pirouette - the so-called "winking eye", when six hydraulic jacks rotate both arches 40 degrees around the axis connecting their ends and their upper points find themselves at a height of about 25 m above the water. Thus, the bridge "winks" about 2000 times a year, and every time a lot of people gather to look at it. The bridge weighing more than 800 tons is capable of withstanding a collision with a vessel with a displacement of up to 4000 tons, sailing at a speed of up to 4 knots. Gateshead Millennium Bridge - Winner of over 30 engineering, architecture and design awards. In 2007, the Royal Mint featured him on the reverse of the one pound coin.

HEAVENLY BRIDGE / LANGKAWI SKY BRIDGE (2004). LANGKAWI ISLAND. MALAYSIA

Architects: Peter Wyss, Höltschi & Schurter Dipl. Ing. ETH / SIA AG.

The mysteriously curved "Sky Bridge" seems to be hovering over an abyss at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level. Langkawi Sky Bridge is located near the summit of the Mat Chichang Mountain on the resort island of Langkawi. Once there were hiding pirates of the Andaman Sea, and now it is a UNESCO Geopark. The length of the bridge is 125 m. It rests on just one column and cables fixed in the rocks. Cable car in two steps with an intermediate stop, it lifts tourists to the observation bridge at an altitude of 712 m, from where a view of the gorges, the sea and the nearby islands of Thailand opens up. In 2005, the bridge was awarded the Footbridge International Competition Prize.

MOST-TRANSFORMER / ROLLING BRIDGE (2005). PADDINGTON. UNITED KINGDOM

Paddington's unique octahedral transforming bridge literally unfolds every Friday at noon, turning into a 12-meter walkway over the boat channel, adjacent to the canal between London and Birmingham.

The English sculptor Thomas Heatherwick, who created this miracle together with Anthony Hunt and Packman Lucas, spied the principle of this "segmented kinetic sculpture" from ... a garden caterpillar. The collapsible metal parapet of the bridge contains hydraulic pistons that synchronously deploy and fold the bridge, which won the prestigious British Structural Steel Design Award in 2005.

HENDERSON WAVES (2008). SINGAPORE

This 36-meter footbridge is the tallest in Singapore. It links Mount Faber Park and Telok Blanga Hill Park.

The length of the bridge is 274m. The design of the bridge is quite unusual. Seven ribbed steel bulges above and below the deck of the bridge form a system of side niches containing seating areas with benches and tables. The inner decoration of the bridge is made of yellow balau wood, the outside is made of ribbed plate metal structures, in which lighting devices are hidden for beautiful night illumination.

GESHER HA-MEITARIM (2008).ISRAEL

The 360-meter bridge at the intersection of Herzl Boulevard and Jaffa Road in Jerusalem is twice jubilee: it was created for the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel and is the fortieth bridge in the work of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. As conceived by the architect, the bridge for the high-speed tram line with pedestrian walkways, suspended on 66 cables, assembled into a single parabolic structure on one pylon 119 m high, symbolizes the harp of King David. The first two years after the opening, before the launch of the tram line, the bridge was exclusively pedestrian, contrary to forecasts and objections, it became one of the architectural attractions of the ancient city. The new bridge suddenly found itself at the center of a political scandal. It is located on the border of East Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel during the Six Day War and is still legally considered the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The intransigents in the PLO vehemently objected to the construction and threatened to sue the Israeli government.

PONT GUSTAVE-FLAUBERT (2008). ROUEN.FRANCE

Pont gustave-flaubert is located in Rouen and is considered the highest drawbridge in Europe (total height 91 m, lift height 55 m). Its length is 670 m. The bridge was designed by Emeric Zublin, Michel Virlojot and François Gillard so that not only cruise ships could pass under it, but also sailboats participating in the Rouen Armada ship parade. By the way, its opening took place before the next "Armada". The bridge bears the name of the Rouen-born French writer Gustave Flaubert, and its lifting mechanism is launched 30-40 times a year. Each roadway has its own lift section. At the same time, the opening between the bridge platforms, which overhang the river at a height of 7 m, partially retains the flow of sunlight to the water under the bridge, which supports the natural ecosystem of the river.

BRIDGE OF PEACE (2010). TBILISI. GEORGIA

The 156-meter pedestrian Peace Bridge over the Kura River, connecting Old Tbilisi with new microdistricts, is one of the most recognizable buildings in the Georgian capital.

Bridge of Peace in Tbilisi. Photo: soloway.org.ua

The bridge with a canopy of glass panels in the spirit of Norman Foster was designed by Italian architect Michele de Lucchi in collaboration with French lighting designer Philippe Martino.

An interesting illumination system is built into the construction of the Bridge of Peace: in the evening and at night, every hour, 30,000 light bulbs broadcast a message in Morse code, visible on both parapets of the bridge. This message is composed of the names of the elements of the periodic table that make up the human body. According to the architect, "this message is a hymn to life and peace between people and nations." For Tbilisi, this bridge played the same role as the Eiffel Tower for Paris, becoming a new symbol of the ancient city, being a modern technological structure.

MOSES BRIDGE (2011). FORT ROOVER. NETHERLANDS

Moses bridge - the newest of the unusual bridges in the world. It is located in Fort Roovere, built in the 17th century. as part of the Brabant line of structures, protecting Holland from invasion by the French and Spanish.

In the course of large-scale reconstruction of the fort, the designers were given a difficult task - to throw a bridge over the fortress moat for tourists, making it almost invisible. The architects coped with the task brilliantly, the bridge was designed in such a way that the pedestrian flooring is below the water level. From a distance it is invisible, but upon closer inspection it resembles a small moat cutting through a river. Hence the name in honor of the prophet Moses, before whom the waters parted. The bridge is made of specially treated and water-resistant wood. The Bridge of Moses is among the finalists of the prestigious Dutch Design Awards.

1. Golden Gate Bridge: San Francisco, USA

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is arguably the most recognizable bridge in the world. Today he is already 75 years old.
While some people are not inspired by industrial design at all, the suspension bridge in San Francisco fits perfectly into the local landscapes, it rightfully fell into the category of famous bridges of the world. Perhaps that is why it has long become the hallmark of this city.

2. Sydney Harbor Bridge (Sydney Bridge):.

The nickname "Hanger" was given by the locals of Sydney to this bridge because of the special design, which is based on the shape of the arch. The Sydney Harbor Bridge opened in 1932 and is a focal point for Australian pride and celebration.
Raising the bridge is ideal for beginner climbers.
Each year on New Year's Eve, the bridge itself is used to complement fireworks with various effects, such as smiling faces or disco balls.

Medieval bridge over the Arno River, Ponte Vecchio is mainly known for its jewelry stores, art dealer network and souvenir shops, as well as for being the oldest stone bridge in Europe, which has closed enameled segmental arches.
At the same time, the Ponte Vecchio is magnificent and has a rich history dating back to Roman times.
During World War II, the bridge was not destroyed by the Nazis due to the express decree of Adolf Hitler, unlike many other bridges in Europe.

4. Brooklyn Bridge: New York, USA

Completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States.
As a landmark in national history, the Brooklyn Bridge is an iconic feature in New York City.

5. Millennium Bridge at Gateshead: Gateshead, England

The Millennium Bridge at Gateshead is the first and so far the only inclined bridge in the world. But the most amazing thing is that when pedestrians or bikers cross the River Tyne, it seems to them as if the bridge is winking with an eye, during the raising and lowering.
Its innovative and unique design has won numerous awards since its inauguration by Queen Elizabeth in 2002.
It was the work of the largest floating cranes in Europe - the Asian Hercules II.

6. Qin Ma Bridge: Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong Qin Ma Bridge is the largest suspension bridge in a world with two decks. Both cars and rail transport can move here.
This bridge has been subjected to some severe wind tunnel testing as Hong Kong suffers from powerful typhoons every year. After spending costing HK $ 7.2 billion (US $ 920 million), the Qin Ma Bridge was opened in 1997.
There are several walkways on the bridge, which are protected and located on the lower deck. Vehicles can move here when there are very strong, dangerous winds outside, the famous bridges of the world should stand out not only for their beauty and uniqueness, but also be safe.

7. Akashi Kaikuo or Mother of Pearl Bridge: Kobe-Naruto, Japan

The mother-of-pearl bridge is currently awarded the title of "Longest Suspension Bridge in the World" with a span of 1991 meters. The second longest is the Chinese Xihoumen Bridge.
As a modern technical feat, the Mother of Pearl Bridge remains the longest in the world since 1998.
The mother-of-pearl bridge underwent a true test of strength even before its opening, when it survived the Kobe earthquake on January 17, 1995.

8. Hangzhou Bay Bridge: Zhejiang, China

The connection between the Chinese municipalities of Jiaxing and Ningbo in Zhejiang province is the longest transoceanic bridge in the world, the 35-kilometer Hangzhou Bay Bridge.
Over 600 experts have been designing the Hangzhou Bay Bridge for nine years.

9. Nanpu Bridge: Shanghai, China

Known for its fantastic, innovative spiral shape, Shanghai Nanpu Bridge was created by designers who came up with a new idea to save space.

10. Tower Bridge: London, England

The Tower Bridge in London, spanning the River Thames, was inaugurated on June 30, 1894 by the Prince of Wales. This bridge is one of the city's main iconic landmarks.
One of the final scenes in the culmination of the Hollywood blockbuster "Sherlock Holmes" is played out on the bridge.

11. Royal Gorge Bridge: Kenon City, Colorado, USA

The Royal Gorge Bridge is the tallest suspension bridge in the world, 359 meters above the Arkansas River.
Not surprisingly, it attracts a large number of jumping enthusiasts.

12. Sri Vavasan Bridge: Putrajaya, Malaysia

The absolutely magnificent design of the bridge has made it one of the top three most beautiful bridges in the world.

13. Lupu Bridge: Shanghai, China

Shanghai Lupu Bridge gets a spot on this list because at 3,900 meters, it is the longest steel arch bridge in the world and also provides an amazing panorama overlooking the old Shanghai World Expo site2010.

14. Viaduct Millau: Chan Valley, France

The tallest road bridge in the world, runs above the ground, but during fog, crossing Millau, you can easily feel like crossing the sky.
During the construction of this bridge, three world records were set.

15. Vasco da Gama Bridge: Lisbon, Portugal

Vasco da Gama spans the Tagus River near Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, and was built to reduce congestion and facilitate access to the World's Fair along the Tagus River in 1998.
It's not the longest, it's not the tallest, but it's definitely the most beautiful bridge.

16.Khai Bridge: Isfahan, Iran

This bridge offers wonderful views, beautiful designs, and regulates the flow of the river - all since 1650.
Any fanatic or just a traveler should definitely see this bridge.

17 Wind and Rain Bridge: Xanyang State, China

The Wind and Rain Bridge on the Linki Sanyang State River is magnificent.
It was built in 1916 and resembles a rainbow. The builders did not use any nails or rivets, but instead tied up thousands of pieces of wood.

18. Sunny Bridge: Klosters, Switzerland

The Sunny Bridge was built in 1998 and won the first prize in architecture in 2001 for “aesthetic appearance and innovative design”.

19. Old Bridge: Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

16th century bridge in Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Sari crosses the Neretva River.
The bridge stood for 427 years until it was destroyed during the 1993 Bosnian war. It was later restored and reopened in 2004.
A tradition has formed in the city: young men must at least once jump into the water from this bridge.

20. Chain Bridge: Budapest, Hungary

The chain bridge has many symbols of reunification. Opened in 1849, it actually linked Buda and Pest, which were formerly located in two sections of the city.
In 2001, the Hungarian stunt pilot Peter Beseny jumped upside down from the bridge.

21. New Brunswick Heartland Bridge: New Brunswick, Canada

Long covered bridges can't look so majestic compared to some of the other mega bridges featured here. But covered bridges have their own unique charm.
Some covered bridges only have one lane, such as this Heartland Bridge in New Brunswick, Canada.

22. Confederation Bridge: Prince Edward Island, Canada

This bridge links Prince Edward Island across the Northumberland Strait to the mainland of New Brunswick, Canada, and is the longest bridge that crosses ice in the world.
This bridge is the embodiment of strength, imposingness and masculinity. Since its opening in 1997, potato production on Prince Edward Island has skyrocketed.

23. Helix Bridge: Marina Bay, Singapore

The bridge in Singapore, which consists of a double helix, is 280 meters long, made of special stainless steel. It was carefully collected over two years.
Despite being only two years old, it is already touted as an architectural marvel and engineering feat.

Nowadays bridges are not something amazing and supernatural. They have long become a convenient tool for movement, and allow you to achieve your goal in the shortest possible time. Once bridges were trees, planks and ropes. Today, these are amazing designs that now and then compete in perfection and strength.

After everyone appreciated the convenience of these structures, bridges began to be perceived as a certain kind of art, they actually look impressively beautiful and represent a great creation of mankind. Many specially go on a journey in order to see and visit the most beautiful bridges in the world.

In this article, we will introduce you to the longest bridges in the world and we will tell you about the construction process, history and many interesting cases that are inextricably linked with them.

1.Danyan-Kunishan viaduct. China... it the longest bridge in the world, 164.8 kilometers long. It was built as part of the Beijing High Altitude Railway. Its construction took only 2 years. It is located in Jiangsu province, between Shanghai and the city of Nanki. The largest body of water that crosses the bridge - yangcheng Lake... The lake, in turn, is known for the habitat of shaggy-handed crabs, the meat of which is a great delicacy.

2.Tianjin Viaduct. China. The second longest bridge, also located in China and also took 2 years to build. Its length reaches 113,700 meters, which spread from the Beijing South railway station to Tianjin city.

It is not surprising that both the third longest bridge in the world located in China. Its total length is 79,732 meters and connects the cities of Zhengzhou and Xi'an. The bridge got this name because it crosses the Wei River twice.

4 Bang Na Highway Thailand... To be a bridge in the city Bangkok, and its total length is 54 kilometers. The construction of this overground structure took 5 years, and the cost of the entire project is more than 1 billion US dollars. Movement across the bridge paid, this is due to the fact that there is a free land road. The bridge was created in order to relieve traffic jams on highways.

And again, China is the country that holds the record for the longest bridges. Its length is 42.5 kilometers and stretches the city of Qingdao with the Huangdao region, and also crosses the northern part of the Jiaozhou Bay.

The construction of the bridge took 4 years and cost China 60 billion RMB, the same as nearly US $ 10 billion. Every day 30,000 cars pass through the bridge, saving only 20-30 minutes, which is clearly not worth such a waste of the state budget.

6. Bridge (dam) over Lake Pontchartrain. USA.It has another name, which is better known to Americans - bridge between Mandeville and Metairiebecause the lake connects these two cities. It is located in the state of Louisiana, and the length is 38.42 kilometers.

If we compare it with other similar buildings, the bridge is distinguished by its particular stability and resistance to different elements. True, during its existence (since 1948), one or several barges periodically crash into the bridge.

7 Hangzhou Bay Bridge... Despite the fact that this bridge is the seventh on our list, it is actually the first longest transoceanic bridge in the world.

In turn, it crosses the ocean and connects the cities of Shanghai and Ningbo. The bridge is 36 kilometers long and has an estimated lifespan of 100 years, even though it was built in China.

8 Louisiana Paratroopers Bridge USA. From the name, it is obvious that the bridge is located in Louisiana, namely between the cities of Baton Rouge and Lafayette... The bridge crosses the Atchafalaya Basin and has a length of 29.29 kilometers, which makes it second longest bridge in the USA... There is a memorial to the soldiers of the US 82nd Airborne Division near the Guest Center at Mile 12177 Highway.

9.King Fahd Bridge. Saudi Arabia... It is rather a whole complex of bridges, the total length of which is more than 25 kilometers. The task of the complex is to connect the city of El-Khubao to Saudi Arabia and the island state of Bahrain... Construction began in 1982 when the head of state, King Fahd and Isa laid the foundation stone.

10. Bridge - a tunnel across the Chesapeake Bay. USA.Have you ever seen how a bridge turns into an underwater tunnel? No? Then you have a great opportunity to ride under water. It is located in the state of Virginia, and was built back in 1964.

The bridge, if you can call it that at all, consists of two underwater tunnels (1600 meters each), 4 artificial islands, 2 bridges, more than 3 kilometers of dam roads and 9 kilometers of access roads. And all this was done so that the ships of the US Navy could safely go to the open sea. The total length of all these structures is 24.14 kilometers.

That's how inventive people can be. After you see it, it will be difficult to call one of these hulks. just a bridge, in fact, it is a real work of art, resourcefulness and talent.

In fact, this is not the limit of human capabilities and, given how quickly our planet is populated by more and more people, soon it will all be covered with many layers of bridges, highways and tunnels.

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A drawbridge is a special type of bridge that has dynamic moving parts used to change its shape, usually for ships to pass under it. There are many types of drawbridges, and they all differ in the way they are converted. Below is a video list of the ten most amazing drawbridges in the world.

Palace Bridge

Opens the rating of the most amazing drawbridges in the world "Palace Bridge". This is one of 22 drawbridges across the Neva River in St. Petersburg. It connects the central part of the city (Admiralteisky Island) and Vasilievsky Island. Its length is 250 meters, width is 27.7 meters. It is considered one of the symbols of the city.

Hörn Bridge

The Hörn Bridge is a drawbridge located in Kiel, the capital of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It was built in 1997. It consists of three spans, the main one of which is 25.5 meters in length and can be folded in the shape of the letter "N". The bridge belongs to the architectural and technical attractions of the city, and is also an important route for pedestrians and cyclists. It offers one of the best panoramic views of the city of Kiel. Usually the Hörn Bridge folds up once an hour.

Scale lane footbridge

The Scale Lane footbridge, a pedestrian drawbridge located on the Hull River in downtown Kingston upon Hull, UK, is ranked eighth in the list of ten amazing drawbridges in the world. The total length of the bridge is 57 meters, weight is 1000 tons.

The dragon bridge

In seventh place on the list of the most amazing drawbridges in the world is The Dragon Bridge - a drawbridge located in resort town Rhyl on the northeast coast of Wales. It was opened in 2013.

Viscay bridge

Bridge of Biscay is a ferry flying across the Nervion River, connecting the cities of Portugalete and Las Arenas in Spain. It was built in 1893 by the famous Basque architect Alberto Palacio, a student of Gustave Eiffel. The bridge is 164 meters long and has a gondola that transports 6 cars and several dozen passengers every 8 minutes from one bank to another in one and a half minutes. Considered to be the perfect blend of beauty and functionality, and one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 19th century.

Bridge Women

The Woman's Bridge is a beautiful pedestrian revolving bridge in new Puerto Madero, a commercial area of \u200b\u200bBuenos Aires, Argentina. It was built by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava in December 2001. About $ 6 million was spent on its construction. The Woman's Bridge with a total length of 170 meters and a width of 6.2 meters weighs 800 tons and is considered one of the main attractions of the city.

Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas

Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas is a vertical drawbridge over the Garon River in Bordeaux, France. It is located about 3 km from the city center and connects the Bacalan and Bastide districts. It was named after Jacques Chaban-Delmas, the former prime minister of France and the former mayor of Bordeaux. The bridge with a total length of 433 meters and a width of 45 meters was opened in 2013. It is the longest vertical drawbridge in Europe. Its main (movable) span weighs 2,600 tons and is 110 meters long.

Millennium bridge

The Millennium Bridge is the world's first tiltable footbridge across the River Tyne in Northern England. Connects the cities of Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne. Sometimes it is also called "Winking Eye". It was put into operation in September 2001. $ 40 million was spent on its construction. The Millennium Bridge with a total length of 126 meters and weighing 850 tons "turns" about 200 times a year, each time gathering a huge crowd of spectators. The turn takes about 4.5 minutes.

Slauerhoffbrug

Slauerhoffbrug is a fully automatic lift bridge located in Leeuwarden, Friesland, Netherlands. It was named after the writer and poet Jan Jakob Slauerhof. A special feature of this bridge is a 15 × 15 meter movable platform that rotates 45 ° when opened.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is the most amazing drawbridge on the River Thames, located in the center of London, near the Tower of London. The bridge is 244 meters long and 65 meters high and consists of two towers connected by two horizontal walkways. Its construction began on June 21, 1886 and lasted eight years. The construction of Tower Bridge involved 432 workers and spent £ 1,184,000. On June 30, 1894, the bridge was inaugurated by Prince Edward of Wales. Today, this one of the most beautiful bridges in the world is raised 4-5 times a week on average.

Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. He is also popular tourist destination thanks to its beautiful landscapes, unique neighborhood of historical monuments and modern pubs and nightclubs, including the world famous red-light district Reeperbahn.

Hamburg is considered large port citydespite its location about 100 kilometers from the North Sea, on both sides of the Elbe River. Hamburg is home to the country's largest port, the second busiest port in Europe, and the third largest in the world, after London and New York. Therefore, everyone who loves water, ships and harbors must visit it.

Hamburg is practically surrounded by water on all sides. The Alster River is split into two lakes Binnen and Aussenalster (meaning "inward" and "outward"), located on both sides of the city, while the Elbe River flows directly through the city and empties into the North Sea. This abundance of water means there are many canals, rivers and bridges. In fact, few people know that Hamburg has more bridges than any other city in the world, and more canals than Amsterdam and Venice combined. It is estimated that their number ranges from 2,300 to 2,500 - much more than the total number of canals in London, Amsterdam and Venice. Below are the most famous bridges of this wonderful city:

Köhlbrand Bridge (Köhlbrandbrücke)

The Köhlbrand Bridge opened in 1974 and has since become one of Hamburg's most famous landmarks. Its length is 3940 meters, and the span of the central cable-stayed part is 325 meters. From 1974 to 1991, this bridge was considered the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It is now considered the second longest bridge in Germany.

Hamburg Elb Bridge Network (Hamburg Elbbrücken)

New Elb Bridge (Neue Elbbrücke), Billhorner Bridge, and Freeport Elbe Bridge.

Railroad bridge

New bridge over the Elbe

Bridge over the free port of the Elbe
Hamburg Bridge Network On the Elbe, there are several independent bridges that cross the Elbe River through Hamburg. This Hamburg shipping lane is divided into two main branches, the North Elbe and the South Elbe, which merge after they pass the Elbe Islands network, which is the largest island on the river.

Hamburg Bridge over the Elbe (Harburger Elbbrücke)

The old Hamburg bridge over the Elbe was opened in 1899. The 474-meter steel arch bridge, originally built for motor vehicles, was the first road bridge across the South Elbe arm. Now it serves only for crossing pedestrians and cyclists. Between 1980 and 1995, the bridge was radically rebuilt. Cantilever walkways were built on both sides of the bridge.

Bridge "Kattwyk"

The "Kattwyk" bridge, which crosses the South Elbe arm, is a 290 m vertical drawbridge with two 70 m rail and road transport... This bridge, opened on March 21, 1973, connects the Wilhelmsburg quarter with the Moorburg quarter. Both quarters are located on the Elbe island network. The Kattwyk can rise to a height of 46 meters and is the largest vertical drawbridge in the world.

The peculiarity of the bridge is that the rails located on it are located in the center of the roadway. Because Kattwyk is both a rail and road bridge, road traffic is blocked when a freight train passes through the bridge. These stops usually last from eight to ten minutes. On weekdays, the bridge rises every two hours to allow ships to pass. During the lifting of the bridge, traffic stops for 15-20 minutes.

Bridge "Brooks"

The Brooks bridge, which leads to the town of Speicherstadt, was opened in 1887. The bridge is decorated with four statues, one at each of its corners. The original sculptures were destroyed during the Second World War. The sculptures that stand on the bridge today were installed in 2001.

Lombard Bridge (Lombardsbruecke) and Kennedy Bridge (Kennedybrücke)

Lombard Bridge in Hamburg is a railway and road bridge over the Alster river. It was named after a pawnshop located there in 1651. The original wooden bridge was replaced in 1865 with a new 69-meter, three-arch bridge that crosses the Alster River.

The Kennedy Bridge is located next to the Lombard Bridge. The second bridge was built in 1953 because the old Lombard Bridge could not cope with the increased traffic. The bridge was originally called the New Lombard Bridge. It was renamed Kennedy Bridge in 1963 in honor of John F. Kennedy after his assassination.

Lombard Bridge and Kennedy Bridge separate the Inner and Outer Alster Lakes.

Toll Bridge (Zollenbrücke)

The Toll Bridge is the oldest bridge in the city, built in 1663. The 25-meter bridge, with three differently sized arches, is built of sandstone blocks. Railings and lanterns were added in the 19th century when the bridge was widened.

Ellerntors Bridge

The Ellerntors Bridge is a stone arched bridge that crosses the Tomb of the Lord's Fleet. For many centuries it served as a direct route from Hamburg to Altona. Built in 1668, this bridge is the second oldest surviving stone bridge in Hamburg.

Pleasant Bridge (Trostbrücke)

Otradny Most is a small historic bridge that crosses the Nikolaifleet, which is one of the many narrow bays connecting the city's docks with the Elbe River. Located southwest of the city center, it once stood on the border between the old and new towns of Hamburg. It was built in 1881. This stone structure is famous for the presence of statues of Count Adolf III and Bishop Ansgar, the founder of the very first cathedral in Hamburg. In translation, the bridge is called "Otradny". It got its name because the condemned were led along it, and the beauty of the bridge was their last joy.

Bridge "Reesendamm"

The "Reesendamm" bridge crosses the Little Alster lake, the Jungfernstieg street and the mountain road. It was named after Heinrich Müller Reese, who owned a corn mill in the 13th century. The bridge was built in 1843. People love to come to this bridge to admire the beautiful view of the river with swans, which they can feed with slices of bread.

Slamatjen Bridge

One of the lesser known bridges is the Slamatjen Bridge, located in the Neustadt area on the Ludwig-Erhard street that crosses the Alster. Since its completion in 1959, it has served as a road bridge. On the bridge, there is a wonderful painting carved in stone of two women talking. The place where the bridge is located was once a popular meeting place for women water-carriers.