Golden Gate Bridge, Suspension bridge in San Francisco Bay Area, United States
The Golden Gate Bridge is a steel suspension bridge that runs 8980 feet (2737 meters) through the bay between the peninsula and the northern shore. Two orange towers rise 746 feet (227 meters) above the water, held at both ends by massive anchorage blocks.
Joseph Strauss led construction from 1933 to 1937 after securing funding through 30 million dollars in bond sales. During the four-year building period, eleven workers lost their lives.
People come here to walk or cycle across, often in a slow procession that feels almost ceremonial when fog rolls in. The bridge is a place where locals jog, tourists take photos, and everyone shares the wind and the view over the bay together.
The eastern walkway opens during daylight while cyclists can use both paths according to a set schedule. Toll collection applies only to southbound traffic through electronic systems, and parking is limited at both ends.
The International Orange color was chosen to improve visibility through heavy fog while preventing corrosion from salty sea air. Paint crews maintain this protective layer continuously throughout the year.
Location: Marin County
Location: San Francisco
Inception: May 27, 1937
Architects: Joseph Strauss
Official opening: May 28, 1937
Longest Span: 1,280 m
Made from material: steel
Part of: Seven Wonders of the Modern World
Website: https://goldengate.org/bridge
GPS coordinates: 37.81972,-122.47861
Latest update: December 2, 2025 20:48
Bridges are a part of our daily lives. They have connected banks, valleys, and communities for centuries. This collection presents structures from various periods and regions. From medieval stone arches to modern steel constructions, these works demonstrate the evolution of engineering. The Rialto Bridge from the 16th century in Venice spans the Grand Canal with a single stone arch. The Golden Gate in San Francisco stretches over 1.7 miles (2.7 km), linking the city to northern California. In Singapore, the Helix Bridge forms a pedestrian link in Marina Bay with its double-helix structure. These structures serve practical purposes in urban transportation while shaping city skylines. They provide technical solutions to geographical barriers and reflect different approaches to bridge construction through the ages.
This collection presents suspension bridges recognized for their engineering solutions and their role in urban development. The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge in Japan spans 1,991 meters between its two towers, the longest distance of its kind in the world. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco demonstrates 1930s engineering with its 1,280-meter main span. In New York, the Brooklyn Bridge has connected Manhattan to Brooklyn since 1883 and serves as an early reference point in modern bridge construction. The Humber Bridge in England held the record for the longest span from 1981 to 1998. In Istanbul, the Bosphorus Bridge has linked Europe to Asia since 1973 across a span of 1,074 meters. The Tower Bridge in London has combined a bascule bridge with suspension elements since 1894. These structures document the evolution of construction techniques over more than a century and remain important transportation routes in their respective regions.
This collection gathers bridges that hold world records for span length, defined as the distance between two main pylons. While the longest bridge in the world measures 165 kilometers in China, this refers to the maximum span covered in one continuous structure. These constructions demonstrate engineering achievements in crossing maritime straits, rivers, or valleys without intermediate supports. The Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey crosses the Dardanelles Strait with a span of 2,023 meters, setting the current record for suspension bridges. In Japan, the Akashi Strait Bridge connects Kobe to Awaji Island with a central span of 1,991 meters. In China, several bridges exceed 1,600 meters in span, such as the Yangsigang Bridge over the Yangtze in Wuhan or the Xihoumen Bridge in the Zhoushan Archipelago. South Korea with the Yi Sun-sin Bridge, Denmark with the Great Belt Bridge, and Turkey with the Osman Gazi Bridge complete this list of remarkable structures. These bridges are interesting destinations for observing modern civil engineering accomplishments. They connect cities and regions, significantly reducing travel times while offering scenic views of the landscapes they cross. Visiting them allows appreciation of the scope of work involved in constructing these infrastructures under often challenging conditions.
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