The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco
Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, it connects the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed during the year 1937, and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California.
At the time of its completion in 1937, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Subsequently, when World War II happened, many American sailors, soldiers, and marines shipped out overseas via San Francisco, which meant the last piece of the U.S. they saw was the Golden Gate and it was the first thing they saw when they came back.
The bridge is one of the architectural marvels of the 20 th Century and a testament to human strife, as it was constructed during the years of the Great Depression. For years, the Golden Gate Bridge held the title as the longest suspension bridge in the world.
Before its completion in 1937, the bridge was considered impossible to build, due to persistently foggy weather, 60-mile-per-hour winds, and strong ocean currents, which whipped through a deep canyon below. In fact, the bridge is commonly known as the "Bridge that couldn't be built." Despite these unforgiving natural elements, the bridge was constructed in a little more than 4 years. The total cost was $35 million. The total length of the bridge spans 1.2 miles. 11 men lost their lives during the construction of the bridge.
Even today, the massive spans of the bridge are often shrouded in fog. The bridge sways 27 feet to withstand winds of up to 100 miles per hour. International Orange was the color chosen for the bridge because it blended well with the bridge's natural surroundings. The 2 great cables extending from the bridge contain 80,000 miles of steel wire, which is enough to circle the equator 3 times. The concrete poured to cement the bridge into the stormy waters below could have also been used to pave a 5-foot sidewalk from New York to San Francisco.
The bridge is nothing short of a powerful force meant to combat nature. The often mighty winds from the Pacific Ocean are sustained by a mid span swing of 27 feet. The 2 towers of the bridge rise an impressive 746 feet, which is 191 feet taller than the Washington Monument. The pier of the bridge is only 1,215 feet from the shore, the distance between the 2 towers that support the cables, which in turn, support the floor of the bridge is 4,200 feet. These two cables are the largest bridge cables ever made at a little over 361 feet in diameter.
Today, pedestrians and bicyclists are still allowed to cross the bridge on pathways with breathtaking views of the city, Alcatraz, and the Marin Headlands. The bridge toll for vehicles is $3 when entering San Francisco. The first exit of the Marin side of the bridge is Visa Point, which provides a magnificent view of the San Francisco skyline. But, the best way to view the bridge is to walk across. This usually takes about an hour.
The Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world, as well as being one of the most popular for suicides. An average of 19 people per year leap from the bridge.
Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, it connects the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed during the year 1937, and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California.
At the time of its completion in 1937, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Subsequently, when World War II happened, many American sailors, soldiers, and marines shipped out overseas via San Francisco, which meant the last piece of the U.S. they saw was the Golden Gate and it was the first thing they saw when they came back.
The bridge is one of the architectural marvels of the 20 th Century and a testament to human strife, as it was constructed during the years of the Great Depression. For years, the Golden Gate Bridge held the title as the longest suspension bridge in the world.
Before its completion in 1937, the bridge was considered impossible to build, due to persistently foggy weather, 60-mile-per-hour winds, and strong ocean currents, which whipped through a deep canyon below. In fact, the bridge is commonly known as the "Bridge that couldn't be built." Despite these unforgiving natural elements, the bridge was constructed in a little more than 4 years. The total cost was $35 million. The total length of the bridge spans 1.2 miles. 11 men lost their lives during the construction of the bridge.
Even today, the massive spans of the bridge are often shrouded in fog. The bridge sways 27 feet to withstand winds of up to 100 miles per hour. International Orange was the color chosen for the bridge because it blended well with the bridge's natural surroundings. The 2 great cables extending from the bridge contain 80,000 miles of steel wire, which is enough to circle the equator 3 times. The concrete poured to cement the bridge into the stormy waters below could have also been used to pave a 5-foot sidewalk from New York to San Francisco.
The bridge is nothing short of a powerful force meant to combat nature. The often mighty winds from the Pacific Ocean are sustained by a mid span swing of 27 feet. The 2 towers of the bridge rise an impressive 746 feet, which is 191 feet taller than the Washington Monument. The pier of the bridge is only 1,215 feet from the shore, the distance between the 2 towers that support the cables, which in turn, support the floor of the bridge is 4,200 feet. These two cables are the largest bridge cables ever made at a little over 361 feet in diameter.
Today, pedestrians and bicyclists are still allowed to cross the bridge on pathways with breathtaking views of the city, Alcatraz, and the Marin Headlands. The bridge toll for vehicles is $3 when entering San Francisco. The first exit of the Marin side of the bridge is Visa Point, which provides a magnificent view of the San Francisco skyline. But, the best way to view the bridge is to walk across. This usually takes about an hour.
The Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world, as well as being one of the most popular for suicides. An average of 19 people per year leap from the bridge.