Hämeensilta, Arch bridge in Tampere, Finland.
Hämeensilta spans 68 meters across the Tammerkoski rapids, connecting the Kyttälä district to western Tampere with red granite-coated concrete arches. The structure accommodates trams, vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians across its 28.5-meter-wide deck.
The current structure was completed in 1929, replacing earlier wooden and steel bridges that had served the growing industrial city since the 16th century. This replacement marked Tampere's modernization and the bridge became a symbol of the city's industrial progress.
The bridge features four bronze statues by sculptor Wäinö Aaltonen depicting the Finnish Maiden, a tax collector, a tradesman, and a hunter. These figures represent different layers of Finnish society and remain a gathering point for locals and visitors today.
The bridge is open continuously for vehicle and tram traffic as well as pedestrians and requires no special preparation for visitors. The best views of the structure and statues come from below along the riverbanks or while crossing from east to west.
The Finnish Maiden statue from the bridge gained international recognition when it appeared on a postage stamp and at the 1939 New York World's Fair. This global exposure made the monument a symbol of Finland beyond the country's borders.
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