Puente de Occidente, Suspension bridge in Santa Fe de Antioquia, Colombia.
Description
Puente de Occidente is a suspension bridge spanning the Cauca River with four pyramid-shaped stone towers and steel cables. The structure stretches 291 meters and connects both riverbanks with an elegant steel construction.
History
An engineer who worked on the Brooklyn Bridge designed this structure between 1887 and 1895 during a period of infrastructure expansion. The project emerged from growing transportation needs across the mountainous region.
Culture
Locals view this structure as a symbol of progress that has shaped the region for generations. It remains central to how people identify their city and its connection to the wider world.
Practical
The bridge is accessible by local bus from Medellín, with the journey taking roughly an hour to the nearby town. Visitors can walk across the structure or view it from common observation points along the riverbank.
Did you know?
When completed, this was South America's longest suspension structure and ranked among the world's largest. Its design merges local craftsmanship with international engineering expertise in an uncommon way.
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