The most ancient bridges. Ancient and unusual bridges of Europe

Usually, when the conversation turns to ancient buildings that have survived to this day, people remember the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Egyptian pyramids. But in fact, there are buildings that, although they were built thousands of years ago, are still in use today. Vivid examples of such structures are bridges. Our review includes the 10 oldest of them.

1. Shekhar Bridge

Yemen
Shehar Bridge, also known as the Bridge of Sighs (not to be confused with the Venetian Bridge), is located in Yemen. Built in the 17th century, the bridge connects two mountains, or rather the villages located on them, at an altitude of 2600 meters. The bridge leads over a 200-meter abyss.

In earlier times, Shekhara Bridge was the only way to the large mountain village of Shekhara and it was built not only for ease of communication, but also for protection from Turkish invaders. They say that local residents they know how to collapse a bridge in just a minute, completely isolating a mountain village.

2. Ponte Vecchio

Italy
The Ponte Vecchio bridge was built in 1345 in Florence, Italy. As with the Fabricio Bridge, it was built to replace an old dilapidated wooden bridge. What's interesting about this bridge is that it was originally built with a bunch of shops on it, and it still remains that way.

Initially, these shops housed fish and meat traders, but in the 1400s, due to the unpleasant smell that spread throughout the area, the ruler banned trading on the bridge to everyone except jewelers and silversmiths. Today these shops house mainly souvenir shops.

3. Rialto Bridge

Italy
The Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) in Venice was built in 1591, again to replace an old destroyed wooden bridge. It was designed by the architect Antonio de Ponte, who won a competition to design the bridge against Michelangelo and Palladio. Unfortunately, after its construction, the Rialto Bridge began to be criticized by all and sundry, from residents to art connoisseurs, who stated that the bridge was too “massive and clumsy.”

However, such a bridge (with a 24-meter high arch so that galleys could pass under it, and a row of shops in the middle of the bridge) simply could not be fragile and graceful.

4. Khaju Bridge

Iran
In 1667, on the foundation of the old bridge, by order of Shah Abbas II, the 133-meter arched stone Khaju Bridge was built across the Zayandeh River. Apart from its main function, it also acts as a dam, but its most interesting aspect is the social aspect. An impressive pavilion was built right in the middle of the bridge for the recreation of Shah Abbas II and his courtiers. It had comfortable seats overlooking the river, teahouse and art gallery.

5. Fabricio Bridge

Italy
The Romans built many things that have stood the test of time. For example, in Rome you can see and visit the Fabricio Bridge (Pons Fabricius). The bridge was built by the curator Lucius Fabricius in 62 BC. to replace a burnt one wooden bridge. A 62-meter stone bridge connects the island of Tiberina with the left bank of the Tiber. After a flood in 23 BC, the two consuls Marcus Lollius and Quintus Aemilius Lepidus made adjustments to the bridge to improve it (although which ones are unknown).

6. Jendere Bridge

Türkiye
The 120-meter bridge was built in Turkey in the second century to honor the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, his wife Julia Domna and their sons Caracalla and Geta. This is one of the longest arch bridges that were built by the Romans. On each side of the bridge there are two columns that were built in honor of Emperor Septimius Severus and his wife (on one side) and their children (on the other).

Currently, the Geta Column is missing. When Caracalla came to power, he killed Geta and tried to erase any mention of them. It was then that Goeth's column was destroyed.

7. Anji Bridge

China
The 50-meter Anji Bridge (also known as the "Great Stone Bridge") is the oldest surviving bridge in China. It was built in 605 AD to become one of the finest in the world. At that time it was the most technically advanced bridge due to the presence of the largest arch. The bridge has survived 10 floods, eight wars and countless earthquakes, and has only been repaired nine times.

8. Pont Sant'Angelo

Italy
Pedestrian Ponte bridge Sant'Angelo across the Tiber River in Rome was built by order of Emperor Hadrian in 136 AD. The Ponte Sant'Angelo is one of the most famous bridges in Rome and also one of the most beautiful. It leads to the Mausoleum of Hadrian (today it is the Castle of the Holy Angel). In 1668, sculptor Lorenzo Bernini decorated the bridge by creating 10 angels along its entire length. Each angel holds one of the symbols of Jesus' crucifixion, such as the crown of thorns.

9. Tarr Steps

Britannia
Tarr Steps Bridge in the UK national park Exmoor 55-meter structure across the river Barlo consists of stone slabs. It is unknown who made such an unusual bridge and when (some scientists suggest that it could have been built around 3000 BC), but local legends say that Tarr Steps was built by the Devil himself, who swore to kill anyone who dared to cross his.

10. Arcadico Bridge

Greece
The Arkadiko Bridge in Greece is considered the oldest surviving arch bridge in the world. Scientists believe it was built during the Greek Bronze Age, around 1300-1200. BC. Arkadiko was part of the military road between the cities of Tiryns and Epidauros in the Mycenaean era. It's wider than normal pedestrian bridge(about 2.5 m wide).

Historians believe that this was done so that chariots could safely cross the bridge. What is most impressive about Arcadico is that it is made entirely of limestone boulders, without the use of cement.

For connoisseurs beautiful architecture will definitely like it too. They are worth walking through at least once in your life.

The oldest bridge in the world June 21st, 2018

The ancient Sumerian city of Girsu is located approximately halfway between modern cities Baghdad and Basra in southern Iraq. It is one of the earliest known cities in the world, with a history of at least five thousand years. Girsu was the capital of the Kingdom of Lagash, a sacred metropolis in honor of the Sumerian heroic god Ningirsu, and continued to be its religious center after political power shifted to the city of Lagash.

It was in Girsu that evidence of the existence of the Sumerian civilization was first discovered in the form of thousands of cuneiform tablets with registers of the economic, administrative and commercial matters of the city. Over fifty years of excavation at this mega-archaeological site has revealed some of the most important remains of Sumerian art and architecture, including a 4,000-year-old bridge built of brick that is the oldest bridge discovered in the world to date.

Girsu was first explored by a team of French archaeologists in 1877, before modern excavation and conservation techniques were invented. The French were also not very keen to follow protocol and paid little attention to preserving architectural monuments. Treasure hunters then looted many of the artifacts and sold them to collectors. It is estimated that between 35,000 and 40,000 artifacts were looted from Girsu and subsequently appeared on the market, as opposed to 4,000 official French finds. Without a doubt, this is one of the most unique bridges in the world.

The Girsu Bridge was first discovered in the 1920s. At the time it was interpreted as a temple, a dam and a water regulator. Only recently was the structure identified as a bridge over an ancient waterway. Since its excavation nearly a century ago, the bridge has remained open and subject to constant exposure, without any conservation efforts to preserve the landmark.

The modern Arabic name for Girsu is Tello and the site is currently being used by the British Museum with funding from the UK government to train Iraqi archaeologists in management cultural heritage and practical fieldwork skills.

Restoring the 4,000-year-old bridge will be part of the curriculum, according to a recent statement from the museum.

On March 29, 1998, the Vasco da Gama Bridge over the Tagus River was opened in Portugal. This bridge, named after the Portuguese navigator, became the longest in Europe, stretching for 17.2 km. He has not lost his title to this day.

Milvian Bridge (Ponte Milvio) is a bridge over the Tiber River connecting Rome and Rimini. The mention of a wooden bridge at this place dates back to 207 BC. e., the stone one was built a century later. From its very foundation, the bridge became an important military point. Roman legionnaires trained there, and generals gathered troops for the defense of the city or campaigns of conquest. Those who intended to conquer Rome set up camps near the bridge. Gaius Julius Caesar, who crossed the Rubicon, and Charlemagne, who went to Rome to revive the empire, once crossed the Milvian Bridge. For a long time, the bridge was part of the transport interchanges of Italy, but in 1956 it was declared an ancient monument. It is now open to pedestrians only.

Ponte Vecchio (Italian - “old bridge”) is a bridge over the Arno River and one of the symbols of Florence. On both sides of the bridge are crowded houses in which shops have settled. They have been trading in this place for several centuries. Initially there were shops selling meat and leather goods. But due to the smell and the abundance of garbage, they were soon replaced by jewelers' shops. Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in the city. The first bridge on this site was built in the ancient Roman era. Modern look he accepted in 1345. It is also the only bridge in Florence that remained undamaged during World War II.

The Kapellbrücke Bridge in the Swiss city of Lucerne is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. It was built in 1365 as a defensive corridor connecting fortifications on different banks of the Reuss River. Next to the bridge is the octagonal Wasserturm, which served as a watchtower, dungeon and torture chamber. Under the roof of the bridge, one could initially see 111 triangular paintings reflecting the most important events in the history of Switzerland. Now there are fewer paintings, and these are mostly restored images: 78 originals were destroyed by a fire in 1993.

Charles Bridge is a bridge over the Vltava River in Prague, opened in 1380 and called the Prague Bridge for five centuries. According to legend, the first stone of the bridge was laid by Charles IV himself on July 9, 1357 at 5:31 am. Astrologers advised him to choose the time and date: the combination of year-day-month-hours-minutes is a palindrome 1357-9-7531. In the Middle Ages they believed that a bridge laid at such a moment would last for centuries. Indeed, the Charles Bridge withstood all the floods and disasters. Another legend says that it was from this bridge that St. John of Nepomuk, who did not want to reveal the queen’s secret confession, was thrown in a sack. At the same time, eyewitnesses claimed that they saw a glow in the form of five stars above the place where the body was immersed in the water. Since then, the saint has been depicted with five stars above his head. There is also a belief that if you touch one of the 30 bridge sculptures and make a wish, it will definitely come true.

The Blue Bridge over the Moika River in St. Petersburg connects St. Isaac's Square with Antonenko Lane and Voznesensky Prospekt. Due to its record width (97.3 m), this bridge is often perceived as part of the square, and in the literature you can even find the term “bridge-square”. The name "Blue" comes from the color of the wooden drawbridge built in 1737 on this site. A little later, stone supports were added to it, in 1818 it was made of cast iron, and in 1842 it was completely rebuilt. The bridge has survived in this form to this day.

Everyone who studies English language and reached the topic “Sights of London”, they will definitely see a photograph of Tower Bridge in the textbook. This is a drawbridge over the Thames, built in 1894. Its two thousand-ton wings can rise to an almost vertical position - at an angle of 83º. Above the wings, at a height of 44 m, there are galleries, which can be accessed by stairs inside the towers. These galleries were created so that pedestrians could cross the river even during the opening of the bridge. However, very soon pickpockets began to actively trade there. For this reason, the galleries were closed in 1910. They reopened only in 1982, already as a museum and observation deck.

The city of Leeuwarden in the Netherlands, with heavy river and road traffic, needed a bridge that could rise and fall quickly without creating congestion. So in 2000, the original Slauerhof drawbridge made of iron and steel appeared over the Harlinger River. It is named after the 20th century Dutch poet and short story writer Jan Slauerhof, who was born in Leeuwarden. The square platform of the bridge, measuring only 15x15 m, is raised and lowered 10 times a day using hydraulic forces. The upper part of the platform represents part of the motorway, while the lower part is painted yellow and blue - the colors of Leeuwarden.

Since 2001, the creators of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in the UK have received a total of more than 30 awards for architectural and engineering solutions, five of which were for the night illumination design solution. The bridge is also featured on the £1 coin. The structure consists of two arches connected by cables. One of them is a pedestrian path under which small ships can pass. The second at its peak reaches a height of about 50 m. To allow a large vessel to pass, the arches rotate 40º around their axis, with one (pedestrian) rising and the other lowering. This turn is called the "winking eye". It is repeated about 2000 times a year.

The Magdeburg "water crossroads" in Germany connects the Elbe-Havel Canal with the Central German Canal, passing over the Elbe River at an altitude of 90 meters. Before the opening of this water bridge in 2003, ships had to make a 12 km detour through other locks. The main part of the bridge is a metal navigation trench lined with reinforced concrete, 32 m wide and 4 m deep. This trench is combined with a 10 m wide pedestrian path. The aqueduct stretches 918 m and is the longest not only in Europe, but also in the world.

Built in 2004 in France, the Millau Viaduct (Bridge Above the Clouds) was considered the tallest bridge in the world for almost a decade. It is made in the shape of a semicircle with a radius of 20 km and a length of 2560 m. The bridge consists of eight spans and seven concrete supports. Its road surface is raised 270 m above the ground, and one of the towers reaches 341 m at its peak. This is higher Eiffel Tower and only 40 m below the Empire State Building in New York. The record holder was replaced by the Aizhai Extra Large suspension bridge, 355 m high, opened in 2012 in China.

The Thrift Bridge was built by an energy company to carry out installation work in the vicinity of the Thrift Glacier in 2004. Five years later it was reconstructed, strengthening the steel cable system, and opened to the public. The bridge is located on Mount Titlis at an altitude of 3041 m, is about 100 m long and only 1 m wide. When walking, the bridge sways a little, which adds thrills. The designers claim that it is impossible to fall from the Thrift Bridge, since it can withstand wind gusts of up to 200 km/h and a snow mass of up to 500 tons. But, just in case, they open it only in calm weather.

The Rolling Bridge in London is a 12 meter long pedestrian bridge. True, six days a week it is an octagon of wood and steel. Every Friday since 2005, under the influence of hydraulic pistons built into the railings, the bridge unfolds. The mechanism resembles a caterpillar, which, according to architect Thomas Heatherwick, inspired him to create the bridge.

This honorary title is held by the Zhivopisny Bridge in the north-west of Moscow, opened in 2007. Unlike most bridges, it crosses the Moscow River at an acute angle, that is, it is located primarily along the river. The bridge design has no analogues: the road part is suspended by cables (steel cables) to a huge red arch. Its height is 105 m. On top of the arch hangs a glass observation deck in the form of an ellipsoid. Initially, it was planned to open a restaurant in this ellipsoid, but the idea was abandoned. To prevent the glass of the observation deck from becoming covered with snow and ice, they were equipped with an electric heating system. You can get to the top using a special lift from the gallery at the base of the bridge.

The Moses Bridge, opened in 2011 in the Dutch town of Halsteren, is a trench bridge with a pedestrian deck below the water level. The idea of ​​the bridge echoes the biblical story about the prophet Moses, before whom the waters of the Red Sea parted. This bridge was built during the reconstruction of Fort Roovere - part of the Brabant line of structures of the 17th century, which protected Holland from invasion from France and Spain. At that time, some cities and villages were connected and fortified with ramparts, the land behind which was flooded. In the 19th century, these structures became memorial zones - organically integrated into the local landscape tourist routes, retaining their original purpose. The bridge is made of specially treated and water-resistant wood. Moreover, on both sides of the moat there are additional shafts that drain excess water. Therefore, the water level in the moat remains unchanged, and the bridge itself does not get wet during rain.

One of the attractions of the Dutch city of Eindhoven is the round rotating Hovenring bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. It was opened in 2012 to cope with the increased load on the intersection, and so far has no analogues in the world. The diameter of the bridge is 72 meters. In its middle there is a 70-meter support, from which 24 steel ropes extend to the bridge. The engine is also located there. Since Eindhoven is positioned as a city of light, the designers also took care of the lighting of the bridge: LEDs are built into the bicycle ring, railings, ropes and the central support.

Bridge construction, like nothing else, characterizes the level of development of society, the degree of technical and scientific progress, if you like, more broadly - the level of civilization.

And we have something to be proud of...

Moscow.
The oldest surviving Moscow bridge is the Lefortovo Palace Bridge. Architect - Semyon Yakovlev. Built, according to various sources, in 1777 or 1781-1799.

Lefortovo Bridge. Moscow. Photo from the end of the 19th century.

Lefortovo Bridge. Moscow.

In Moscow there is also the Rostokinsky aqueduct across the Yauza River (the so-called “Million Bridge”), which was built in 1780-1805 for water supply. Now it is pedestrian.

Rostokinsky aqueduct. Moscow. Photos from the late 19th - early 20th centuries

Apparently, park bridges should be placed in a separate category.XVIII century in Neskuchny Garden. One of them is three-arched.

Boring Garden. Moscow.

Bridge in Tsaritsyn, Figurny, 1776-1778. The architect is also V.I. Bazhenov.

As part of the complex of buildings of Catherine’s summer residenceII included Big Bridge(1778-1774) through the ravine. It is the largest surviving bridge from the 18th century. Architect V.I. Bazhenov.

Tambov.
Derzhavinsky Bridge over the Studenets River, built in 1786-1788. It had three arches (two of them were blocked, one was filled up).

Vologda.

Stone bridge over the Zolotukha River; built in 1789-1791 according to the design of the architect P.T. Bortnikova. Due to its considerable width it is called a “street-bridge”.

Ryazan.
The stone Glebovsky bridge, built on the site of a wooden one (leads to Ryazan Kremlin). According to some information, it was built inXVIII century; according to others - at the beginningXIXth.

Kaluga.

The stone bridge over the Berezuevsky ravine is the largest stone viaduct in Russia. It was built in 1785 according to the design of the architect P.R. Nikitina.

For comparison...

Venice. Rialto Bridge, 1588-1591

The famous "Golden Bridge" in Florence, Ponte Vecchio. Built in 1345.

Prague, Charles Bridge, built 1357

Since ancient times, man has tried to embrace the immensity - to cross oceans, mountains, deserts. In this selection you will find the most unusual structures created by man, award-winning projects, with outstanding architecture and rich history. So, we're going to take a look at 25 of the most unique bridges in the world.

Helix Bridge in Singapore

This bridge is unique in that it is similar to the structure of DNA. Opened in 2010, the Helix Bridge is made primarily of steel and is illuminated at night with strips of LED lighting to highlight its unique design.

Kappelbrücke Bridge

Located in the city of Lucerne, this bridge was built in 1333 and crosses the Reuss River diagonally. This is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. Interior The bridge is decorated with 17th-century paintings depicting events in local history. Most of the bridge was destroyed by fire about 20 years ago. About two-thirds of the bridge and 85 of the 110 paintings were lost. The bridge itself was restored a year later.

Shenyang Bridge

Called the “Bridge of Wind and Rain” and hidden among rice fields and mountains, Shenyang is located in Chinese province Guangxi. Built in 1916 by the Dong people, an ethnic minority in China, the bridge is decorated with five separate pagoda-like structures. Traditional Chinese architecture makes the structure look fantastic, but the most amazing thing is that not a single nail was used during construction, only architectural tricks.

Rolling Bridge

This unique bridge is located in the Paddington area of ​​London. What makes it so special is that every Friday the octagonal structure transforms. Over the course of a day, the bridge is assembled back into its original shape. The bridge uses hydraulics to make these transformations and was completed in 2004. The project was designed by Thomas Heatherwick, who also designed some of London's Olympic projects.

Langkawi Sky Bridge

The Langkawi Sky Bridge can be reached via a cable car. This is a curved pedestrian bridge over 100 meters long, approximately 700 meters above sea level. Once you have crossed the path cable car, the bridge will provide an ideal opportunity to view the beautiful sights of Malaysia's mountains and rainforests.

Gateshead Millennium Bridge

This structure was opened by the Queen of England in 2002 and is located in the city of Newcastle, crossing the River Tyne. The Millennium Bridge is unique in that it is one of only a few bridges in the world that tilts. When it is tilted to one side, it turns into a normal pedestrian bridge where you can walk and admire the views of the river. When the bridge is tilted in the other direction, it allows boats and ships to pass under it. Gateshead Millennium has won numerous architecture awards for its design and its name "Viking Eye" because it resembles an eye that blinks every time the structure tilts.

Old Bridge of Bosnia

The old bridge was built in 1566 and successfully withstood the test of time until it was destroyed in 1993 during the Bosnian War. More than $13 million was spent restoring the bridge and surrounding buildings until it was finally restored and opened to the public in 2004.

Akashi Bridge in Japan

One of the greatest examples of Japanese engineering, the Akashi Bridge holds the record as the longest suspension bridge in the world, with a total length of 3,911 meters. It would take 4 Brooklyn bridges to cover that distance. It took 12 years to build this structure. Strangely, the bridge was not built with the intention of being the longest suspension bridge in the world, but in 1995, after an earthquake, additional sections had to be added, which gave Akashi his record. The total length of the bridge cables is 300,000 km. That's enough to circle the Earth 7.5 times!

Rialto Bridge in Italy

Built in the 15th century, it crosses the Grand Canal of Venice. The Rialto was first built in 1181 and was the only way to get to the other side of the Grand Canal. Only in 1551 did the authorities decide to modernize the bridge. The best architects, including Michelangelo and Palladio, proposed their designs, but the task was eventually given to Antonio da Ponte. Some architects were skeptical of his plans and predicted the bridge would fail, but he defied his critics and the bridge remains perfectly preserved to this day. The bridge's classical Venetian architecture was supplemented with nineteenth-century elements several centuries later. Rialto has been for a long time the only bridge, crossing the Grand Canal and the only connection between the two sides of Venice until more modern bridges were built.

Slauerhofbrug Bridge

No, this is not an optical illusion! This extremely quirky bridge is located in Leeuwarden. Due to the huge number of rivers and canals in the Netherlands, the high intensity of shipping and the same volume Vehicle, the country needed a bridge that could rise and fall quickly and benefit both the road and river navigation. This is how the Slauerhofbrug bridge came into being. Built in 2000 from iron and steel, the bridge is raised and lowered 10 times a day using hydraulics.

Octavio de Oliveira Bridge

Opened in 2008, the bridge in the city of Sao Paulo was built in 5 years. 450 workers were employed to build the Octavio de Oliveira Bridge. The design is unusual due to the X-shaped structures in the middle and two levels of movement crossing each other while passing through the support. The Oliveira Bridge is also decorated with LED lights that twinkle on special holidays. For example, at Christmas time the bridge may be lit to look like a Christmas tree.

Falkirk Wheel

It's more than just a bridge thanks to its futuristic design. The Falkirk Wheel is the world's first and only boat lift! The structure can actually rotate 180 degrees. The boat floats down the canal to the lower tier, after which the structure turns around, lifting the boat to the top of the canal. This is a unique way of connecting channels, making it an exceptional feat of modern design.

Henderson waves

The bridge was designed to look like waves. Henderson Waves connects 2 parks in Singapore and offers ideal views of the surrounding beauty. At night, the structure is illuminated to add more beauty to its already artistic design. Henderson waves are made of steel and wood. Steel is needed for structural purposes, while wood enhances the beauty of parks. The bridge is equipped with benches and observation decks, places for recreation and excursion corners.

Sidu Bridge

Opened in 2009, Xidu Bridge is located 495 meters above the ground. This is higher than the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Giza and Big Ben. Sidu rises serenely above a river gorge in China's Hubei province, surrounded by mountains and forests. Construction was a challenge due to the remote location. There was no way to use cranes, boats or helicopters. Engineers came up with an interesting idea to use rockets. More than 1,000 meters of cable were attached to the missiles, which were launched on the other side of the gorge. This is a unique location, and a unique way of construction.

Millau Bridge

The Millau Bridge is in the Book of Records as the tallest bridge in the world. The height of the technical masterpiece is 342 meters. The New York Times described it as a “triumph of engineering” and the BBC called it “one of the technical marvels of the 21st century.” French President Jacques Chirac opened the bridge in 2004 at a cost of approximately 394 million euros. The bridge itself crosses the Tarn River valley at Millot and offers drivers some of the most stunning views in all of France, sometimes even above the clouds.

Danyang-Kunshan Bridge

This bridge is the most long bridge in the world - it is 102 miles long. The railway bridge is part of a high-speed railway Beijing-Shanghai. Construction began in 2006 and the project cost an incredible $8.5 billion. More than 450,000 tons of steel were used for the structure, with 10,000 workers constantly involved in the process. The Danyang-Kunshan Bridge etched its name in history for a long time.

Moses Bridge

This bridge was named after Moses because it literally splits the water in two. An innovative solution was implemented near a 17th century fortress. Initially, the bridge was supposed to be built across the moat around the fortress, but the architects had a desire not to disturb the image of the fortress. They decided to camouflage the bridge and run it along the waterline to make it almost invisible. This artistic design creates the illusion that you are walking across water and the bridge blends in with the landscape. It is made entirely of wood and is waterproof.

Khaju Bridge

The Khaju Bridge was built by the Persian king, Shah Abbas II, during the 17th century. It has 23 arches and the bridge also functions as a dam to control the waters of the Zayandeh River. The remains of stone chairs built for Shah Abbas II still remain here. Here he sat, admiring the performances. The central pavilion was built solely for his pleasure, originally as a tea house.

The Brooklyn Bridge

Built in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge has become a national historic landmark and a symbol of New York City. It is located behind tall skyscrapers New York. The bridge connects Manhattan with Brooklyn and crosses the East River. John A. Roebling designed the Brooklyn Bridge, but died shortly before construction began. His son, Washington Roebling, continued his work, but was himself stricken with illness and took up residence in an apartment overlooking the construction site. Emily Roebling, his wife, relayed his instructions to the workers and was effectively the chief engineer until the bridge was completed. At that time, this was a real technical feat. In 1884, a group of circus animals, including a herd of 21 elephants, were allowed across the bridge to prove that the bridge was stable.

Sydney Harbor Bridge

In 1815 Francis Greenway proposed to build a bridge from the north to south coast harbor A number of designs were presented in 1890, but all turned out to be unsuitable. As a result, construction of the Harbor Bridge began only in 1924. It took 1,400 workers, 8 years and $6.6 million to finally complete the project. Six million rivets and 53,000 tons of steel were used in construction. Today it is one of the most recognizable bridges in the world, one of the symbols of Sydney.

Alexander III Bridge

Elegance - best word to describe this bridge located in Paris. Its construction began in 1896 and ended in 1900. The structure was built in the Art Nouveau style and decorated with statues of nymphs, cherubs, winged horses, angels, ships and ancient lamps along its sides, creating one of the most decorated bridges in the world. Even though it is in France, the bridge was named after Alexander 3rd, Emperor of Russia, to honor the Franco-Russian alliance. Alexander's son, Nicholas II, laid the first stone when construction began.

Banpo Bridge

This truly amazing bridge is located in Seoul and crosses the Han River. The bridge itself was actually created in 1982, but then restored in 2007. In 2009, the design included a fountain that shoots 190 tons of water per minute from each side of the bridge from 380 spouts. At night, Banpo's color resembles a rainbow thanks to its 10,000 LED lights, creating a variety of colorful effects. The water jets are dynamic and can move with the music. The Banpo Fountain Bridge is environmentally friendly. Water is pumped directly from the river itself and continuously purified.

Golden Gate Bridge

Probably one of the most famous bridges in the world, the Golden Gate has become a symbol not only of San Francisco, but of the entire United States. Designed by engineer Joseph Strauss, this bridge was built to connect San Francisco to Marin County and cross the Sound. It took thousands of workers, 4 years, and $35 million to complete the project. When the bridge was completed in 1937, it broke 2 records, becoming the longest and highest suspension bridge in the world. The structure received international acclaim, had magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean, defied critics, and was praised for its Art Deco design and its red color. The bridge's records would soon be broken in the future, but it still holds its popularity and iconic status to this day.

Tower Bridge

In the 19th century, London Bridge was the only way to cross the River Thames. As London grew, the East Side became a busy port, and it became obvious that a new bridge was needed. Planning began in 1884, when the design was selected from 50 designs. It took 8 years, 432 workers, and over 11,000 tons of steel to build what we now know as Tower Bridge. The Prince of Wales opened the bridge in 1894. The bridge has become one of the most recognizable in the world due to its iconic design. It has 2 towers at the ends of each bank. The middle section of the bridge can be raised up and down using hydraulics to allow ships to pass by. The bridge is not only a symbol of London, but of the whole of Great Britain.

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio is a medieval bridge located in Florence and crossing the Arno River. It is so ancient that it dates back to Roman times. Destroyed by a flood in 1333, the Ponte Vecchio was rebuilt in 1345 by Taddeo Gaddi. In 1565 Giorgio Vasar was commissioned to modernize the bridge and an upper corridor was added. This bridge is famous for having residential areas inside it. Originally, however, these were workshops where artisans produced their goods. In 1593 they were replaced by goldsmiths because they produced too much waste and caused a foul stench. The Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Florence to survive World War II unscathed.