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Popular bridges:
“Golden Gate Bridge”:
Golden Gate Bridge is located in San Francisco, USA; it is built over sea channel with same name “Golden Gate”. Golden Gate Bridge is opened in 1937. It belongs to suspension bridges type and built from steel. Height of main span — 230, length of main span — 1280, total length — 1970 m. For about thirty years, “Golden Gate Bridge” occupied first place in the list of largest bridges worldwide. For more than seventy years, post-inauguration of the bridge, the bridge became probably the most recognised symbols of San Francisco. Unfortunately, the bridge is popular as “Suicide Bridge” — already more than thousand persons have committed suicide by jumping off the bridge into waters.
Tower Bridge:
Movable bridge type built over river Thames in London, The Great Britain and is opened in 1894. It is popular owing to two towers with height of 65 m each, established on abutments.
Brooklyn Bridge:
One of the oldest suspension bridges of USA. It connects areas Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York over East River. The bridge was opened in 1883; at the moment of the opening, this bridge was largest suspension bridge in the world. Brooklyn Bridge — first bridge in the world with steel rods being used in its design.
Bridge of Sighs:
Arch bridge in Baroque style. It is built over Palace channel in Venice, Italy and connects the Doge’s Palace (in which, court was organized) and prison. According to legend, name of the bridge occurred from the sighs of convicted persons, who passing through the bridge, had a last glance at Venice.
Charles Bridge
Arch Gothic bridge, decorated with baroque sculpture and built over river Vltava in Prague, Czech Republic. The bridge is a monument of the Middle Ages and is popular for its towers at the entrance of the bridge and thirty sculptures, decorating the bridge.
Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge
It is the longest suspension bridge and highest bridge in the world. It is located in Japan, spanning Akashi Strait and connects cities Kobe and Awaji Island. Height of the main span — 297 metres and total length of the bridge — 3911 m.
Bosphorous Bridge
First suspension bridge over Bosphorus, Turkey and connects Asian and European parts of Istanbul, Turkey. The bridge was opened in 1973 commemorating the 50th of founding of Republic of Turkey. Pedestrians are banned to use the bridge because the bridge was repeatedly used for committing suicides.
U Bein Bridge
Largest wooden bridge in the world with length of more than two kilometres, built over lake between Mandalay and previous capital Amarapura in Burma.
Disasters:
Incorrect design can be the reason for spontaneous collapse of bridge. While designing the bridge, it is always necessary to take probable natural cataclysms, such as strong wind or earthquake, into account.
Earliest known major disaster occurred in 1297 during a battle near the Stirling bridge (Great Britain). The bridge was overloaded by attacking heavy cavalry and collapsed. Later on, some more bridges collapsed due to overloading, in particular, Yarmouth Bridge, United Kingdom (1845) and also Silver Bridge in USA (1967).
In XIX — in the beginning of XXth century, some disasters occurred because of resonance, when troops crossed the bridge. Steps cause sharp increase in amplitudes of oscillations and the design of bridge does not withstand this. The following collapsed due to resonance: Angers Bridge, Angers, France (1850); Egyptian Bridge in St.Petersburg (1905); Tacoma Bridge in USA (1940).
Natural cataclysm can also become the reason for collapsing of bridge: in that case, the fault lies on the architect, who designed the bridge since bridge builder should take probability of natural disasters into account. Bridge over Firth of Tay in Dundee, United Kingdom, collapsed in 1879 due to strong gale: 75 persons died in this collapse. In 1953, Lahar destroyed the bridge, which was built over Whangaehu River in New Zealand, 151 persons lost their lives in this disaster. In 1989, during big earthquake in California, viaduct in Oakland (42 dead) collapsed and the bridge, spanning gulf of San Francisco suffered: portion of load-bearing designs collapsed on roadway and one person was killed.
Cases of terrorist attacks on bridges are very frequent: blasting of bridges also is known means of carrying out guerrilla war. Major disaster of such type occurred in India in 2002, when the railway bridge, built over river Dhava, was blown up in which 130 persons lost their lives.
In the news: Plans for a helix shaped bridge have been unveiled last week in Singapore. The audacious plan calls for a bridge that that will link a massive new tourist development, including a giant Ferris wheel and casino complex on reclaimed land. It is estimated that the bridge which will cost around $68 million. It is believed to be the world's first to resemble the structure of DNA, the genetic material in all living beings. Singapore aims to double visitor arrivals to 17 million annually while working to triple tourism receipts to $30 billion by 2015. It is relying on new projects such as two planned casino-resorts and a 170-meter high Ferris wheel to meet these goals. The resort island of Sentosa additionally is being developed. Tourism is one of the biggest revenue sources in Singapore. Tourism is responsible for generating more than 5 percent of gross domestic product of Singapore. The government said construction of the bridge which will include a six-lane motorway and six-meter wide pedestrian walkway, is now slated to commence at the end of the year. Completion is targeted for completion in 2009. |
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