The most difficult bridges in the world. The most beautiful pedestrian bridges in the world. Krasnoyarsk Communal Bridge

The main attraction of San Francisco is built across the strait of the same name and connects the city bay with the Pacific Ocean. The design is a suspension bridge with a suspended roadway, and its length is 1970 m. Work on the construction of the bridge lasted from 1933 to 1937, during the Great Depression and during the formation of the city from the consequences of the earthquake of 1906. The developer of the project was Joseph Strouss - the best engineer of that time for bridge construction. At the end of May 1937, the grand opening of the largest suspension bridge in the world at that time took place; the Golden Gate Bridge retained this status until 1964, until it was bypassed by New York's Verrazano Bridge. The unique bridge is recognized as a symbol of the United States and is the pride of the American people.

One of the outstanding attractions of Portugal, striking in its infinity of length and beauty of its design. The total length of this bridge, recognized as the longest in all of Europe, is 17.2 km. Its architecture does not have a classical form and is distinguished by its airiness. The functional focus of the structure is to connect remote areas of the capital of Portugal. Thanks to the construction of the bridge, which gradually transforms from a cable-stayed structure into a viaduct, it was possible to establish transport links in the city and provide free access to some of its objects. And the unconventional shape of the bridge is expressed in the fact that the cable-stayed part is located perpendicular to the coastline, while the viaduct runs parallel.

It is the oldest bridge in the United States, built over the East River, connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan, the boroughs of New York. The construction of the bridge, stretching for 1825 m, took 13 years (1869 – 1883). All work was carried out under the guidance of engineer John Roebling, who was the first of the craftsmen to propose replacing cast iron with steel. To prove the reliability of the steel bridge, on the day of its opening - May 24, 1883, representatives of the city authorities walked along it with elephants. And for more than a century, the Brooklyn Bridge has been fulfilling its functions. It consists of 3 zones, two of which are for cars, and the 3rd for cyclists and pedestrians. This zone is located in the center of the structure, and it is raised above the 2 adjacent automobile zones, with this the engineer Roebling wanted to show the superiority of people over cars.

It harmoniously fits into the architecture of London and has become one of its symbols. The name of the structure is explained by its location - it is located next to Tower Castle, standing on the north bank of the Thames. The bridge was built according to the design of Horace Jones at the end of the 19th century. The result of the engineering work was a 244-meter structure with high 65-meter towers. At a height of 44 m they are connected by a gallery intended for pedestrians. Nowadays, this gallery has become a museum and observation deck. The color scheme of the bridge is also interesting. Initially it had a chocolate color, but on the occasion of the anniversary of Elizabeth II it was repainted, imitating the colors of the national flag. But the bridge did not become blue-white-red, because... There is very little red in it, and from a distance the structure appears blue and white.

A cable-stayed road bridge crossing the valley of the French Tarn River and passing near the city of Millau. It is considered the tallest in the world, because one of its supports reaches a height of 341 m. Engineer Michel Virlogio, famous for creating the Normandy cable-stayed bridge, worked on the development of the project for the grandiose structure. The unique structure is part of the A75 highway and ends it. Thanks to the emergence of the Millau Viaduct, high-speed travel from Paris to Beziers in transit through Clermont-Ferrand became available. It is noteworthy that travel across it is not free for motorists, since the bridge was created under a contract between the French government and the Eifage Group company. One of the clauses states that the company has the right to collect a small fee from cars passing here.

Ponte Vecchio, or the Old Bridge, is not just a structure designed to cross from one bank of the Arno River to the other. This is an entire architectural monument erected back in the 14th century. In ancient times, there was a ford at the location of the bridge, and the width of the Arno here was minimal. Therefore, the ancient Romans built a bridge here, installing it on stone piles and adding wooden superstructures. In this form, it survived the fall of the Roman Empire, but could not resist the destructive force of the water element that rebelled in 1117. The Ponte Vecchio bridge acquired its modern appearance back in 1345, after the development of a new project by the master Neri di Fioravanti. Changing the outline of the structure improved its appearance and gave it strength. The new bridge consists of 3 arches, reaching a length of up to 30 m.

The oldest bridge built across the Grand Canal in Venice. Initially, in this place there was a pontoon bridge, erected in 1811 according to the design of Nicolo Barattieri and called Ponte della Moneta, which is explained by the proximity of the mint. But due to the emergence of the Rialto market in the city, it became necessary to replace the existing bridge with a stronger one. So in 1250 a new wooden bridge appeared, made in the form of an arch. For the convenience of passage of tall ships, this arch opened in its central part. The bridge began to be called Rialto, but it did not prove to be highly durable - in 1310 it was significantly damaged during a fire, and in 1444 it collapsed, unable to withstand a huge crowd of townspeople. The modern 28-meter stone bridge appeared already in 1591 thanks to the efforts of the architect Antonio da Ponte.

The 36-kilometer “brainchild” of the Chinese engineer Wang Yong, recognized as the longest bridge in the world. Designed in the shape of the letter S, it crosses the Qiantang River and Hangzhou Bay. The structure is considered the most important link of the Super Highway running along the East Coast of China. It begins in the north of the country in Jiaxin and ends in the south, in Ningbo. Due to the construction of this large-scale structure, it was possible to reduce the distance of transport by 120 km (from Ningbo to Shanghai). Work on the construction of the longest and most beautiful bridge in the world was carried out from 2003 to 2008. Their difficulty lay in the fact that the structure had to be laid in an unpredictable marine environment and in a seismic zone.

It was erected over the Neva from 1912 to 1916. with the aim of connecting Admiralteysky Island with Vasilievsky Island (districts of St. Petersburg). Its history begins in 1882, when city residents and public figures began to contact the City Council with a request to build a permanent crossing across the river. But it was only in 1900 that the authorities listened to these requests and decided to hold an international competition to determine the designer of the bridge. And so, in February 1911, the Kolomna Plants Society began construction of the bridge; work on its construction was completed only by the end of 1916. The structure owes its name to the Winter Palace. The 250-meter metal bridge consists of 5 spans, and the central double-wing span extends in both directions. The mass of all steel parts of the bridge is 7770 tons.

The longest suspended structure in the whole world. It connects the Asian and European parts of Istanbul. Previously, no such structures had been erected over the Bosphorus Strait, and the Bosphorus Suspension Bridge became the first crossing. British engineers Roberts and Brown worked on his project. According to their idea, steel cables of a zigzag shape became the holders of the bridge, “hovering” above the water at a height of 64 m. The bridge is divided into lanes, ensuring safety during the movement of vehicles. The total length of the bridge is 1560 m, the width is 33 m, and over 200,000 vehicles pass through it every day. You cannot walk across the bridge on foot, because... due to suicide attempts it is closed to pedestrians. Trucks are not allowed here either.

Bridges are an integral attribute of almost every river; they help overcome obstacles, thanks to them distances become shorter, and getting from point “A” to point “B” turns out to be more comfortable and faster. With the advent of new materials and technologies, complex crossing designs are becoming a reality.

What is a bridge

Bridges are the continuation of a road over an obstacle. Most often they are laid through a water barrier, but they can also connect the edges of a ravine or canal. In connection with the development of transport infrastructure, bridges are being built in megacities for movement over roads, forming large interchanges. The main details of their design are spans and supports.

Classification of bridge structures

Types of bridges can be classified according to several criteria:

• according to the main purpose of use;
• constructive solution;
• building materials;
• depending on length;
• by service life;
• depending on the operating principle.

Since a man threw a tree from one bank of the river to get to the other, a lot of time has passed and a lot of effort has been put into the construction of engineering structures. As a result, different types of bridge designs emerged. Let's take a closer look at them.

Beam

The materials for their construction are steel, its alloys, reinforced concrete, and the first material was wood. The main elements of load-bearing structures of this type are beams and trusses, which transfer the load to the supports of the bridge base.

Beams and trusses form part of a separate structure called a span. The spans can be split, cantilevered or continuous, depending on the connection scheme with the supports. The first of them have two supports on each edge, continuous ones can have a larger number of supports, depending on the need, and in a cantilever bridge the spans extend beyond the support points, where they are connected to subsequent spans.

Arched

For their manufacture, steel, cast iron, reinforced concrete casting or blocks are used. The first materials for the construction of this type of bridges were stones, cobblestones or monolithic blocks made from them.

The basis of the structure is the arch (vault). The connection of several arches by a road or railway track is an arch bridge. The roadbed can have two locations: above the structure or below it.

One of the varieties is a hybrid - an arched-cantilever bridge, where two semi-arches are connected at the top and resemble the letter “T”. An arched structure can consist of one span, and then the main load falls on the outer supports. If the bridge consists of several connected structures, then the load is distributed across all intermediate and outer supports.

Suspension bridges

The main materials for construction in this case are steel and reinforced concrete. Structures are erected in places where it is impossible to install intermediate supports. The load-bearing element is pylons connected by cables. To keep the bridge in a stable condition, the pylons are mounted on opposite banks, and a cable connection is pulled between them to the ground, where it is securely fixed. Vertical ones are attached to the stretched horizontal cables, also attaching chains that will support the bridge deck. Beams and trusses give rigidity to the canvas.

Cable-stayed bridges

Construction materials - steel, reinforced concrete. Like their suspended counterparts, their design involves pylons and cables. The difference is that the cable-stayed connection is the only one that connects the structure of the entire bridge, that is, the cables are not attached to horizontally tensioned carriers, but directly to the final supports, which makes the structure more rigid.

Pontoon

“Floating” crossings do not have a rigid frame and no connection with the shore. Their design is assembled from separate sections with a movable joint. A variation of this type of bridges are floating crossings. Most often, they are temporary structures that are used until ice is established on water barriers. They are dangerous during periods of strong roughness on the water, they make navigation difficult, and movement along them has restrictions for multi-ton trucks.

Metal bridges

Most modern bridges involve the use of metal in the load-bearing parts of the structures. For quite a long time, a metal bridge was considered the most durable type of structure. Today, this material is an important, but not the only component of bridge connections.

Types of metal bridges:

• Arched structures.
• Viaducts with spans.
• Hanging, cable-stayed.
• Overpasses with supports made of reinforced concrete, where the spans are assembled from metal connections.

Metal structures have the advantage of being easy to assemble, which is why almost all types of railway bridges are built from this material. The metal parts are industrially manufactured in a factory and the size can be adjusted. Depending on the load-carrying capacity of the mechanisms with which the installation will be carried out, factory blanks for the future one-piece connection are formed.

The structure can be welded from parts directly at the final installation site. And if previously it was necessary to connect many parts of one span, now a crane with a lifting capacity of 3600 tons can easily carry and hoist an all-metal span onto supports.

Advantages of metal structures

Iron is rarely used as a material for bridge construction due to its poor corrosion resistance. High-strength steel and its compounds have become a popular material. Its excellent performance qualities can be assessed on projects such as cable-stayed bridges with huge spans. An example is the Moscow Bridge across the Dnieper in Kyiv or the Obukhovsky Bridge in St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg legends

There are an abundance of different types of bridges in St. Petersburg, there are also ancient ones that have become symbols of a bygone era, but their purpose has not changed, although they have acquired a flair of stories and romance. Thus, the Kiss Bridge attracts tourists with its name, but it comes from the name of the merchant Potseluyev, whose drinking house “Kiss” was located next to the crossing, and the name has nothing to do with romantic impulses.

The Liteiny Bridge has become overgrown with interesting legends, and the dramatic plot arose immediately upon its foundation. It is believed that one of the foundation stones of the supports was the Atakan sacrificial stone. Now he makes passers-by sad and provokes suicides. To appease the “bloody” boulder, some townspeople throw coins from the bridge into the Neva and pour red wine. Also, many claim that you can meet the ghost of Lenin at Liteiny.

Five longest bridges in Russia

Until the bridge across the Kerch Strait is built, the five large-scale crossings look like this:

• in Vladivostok. The length of the structure is 3100 m, the opening took place in 2012. The need for it was first thought about in 1939, but was implemented at the present stage.
• Bridge in Khabarovsk. Its length is 3891 m. It has two tiers. The lower one is open to rail traffic, and the upper one is open to road traffic. His image adorns the five thousand dollar bill.
• Bridge on the Yuribey River. It is located beyond the Arctic Circle in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The length of the structure is 2893 m.
• The bridge across the Amur Bay has a length of 5331 m. It was opened in 2012. It is interesting for its lighting system, which helps save up to 50% of electricity.
• across the Volga to Ulyanovsk. Its length is 5825 m. Construction took place over 23 years.

A modern bridge is not only an easy and quick way to get to the other side of a river, bay or sea, but also a real masterpiece of engineering and construction art. Here are the most famous, beautiful and longest bridges in the world.

If Arab sheikhs compete in building super-skyscrapers, then for China such “toys” are bridges. In any case, seven of the ten longest bridges in the world were built in China.

But first, not about records, but about the most famous and beautiful bridges in the world.

Let's start the “tour”, perhaps, with a real legend.

1. Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, USA)

There is probably no person on earth who has not seen this bridge at least once in some movie - the Golden Gate in San Francisco, which was the largest suspension bridge in the world from 1937 to 1964. The length of the bridge is 1970 m. Its construction began on January 5, 1933 and took more than 4 years.

On May 27, 1937, at 6 a.m., the Golden Gate Bridge was opened, but only to pedestrians. For 12 hours the grandiose structure belonged only to them. And only the next day, at a signal from President Roosevelt, the first cars drove across the bridge.

The Golden Gate Bridge is undoubtedly the most recognizable bridge in the world, but it also holds the sad record of having the highest number of suicides. Almost every month someone throws himself down towards his tragic choice.

2. Tower Bridge (London, UK)

The no less famous Tower Bridge is one of the main symbols of London. It was opened in 1894.

Its unique feature is that the bridge's draw mechanisms open the thousand-ton structure in just 1 minute to allow ships to pass through. In addition, thanks to special galleries, pedestrians can walk across the bridge even when it is open.

Today, Tower Bridge is only pedestrian and is also used as a museum.

3. Vasco da Gama Bridge (Lisbon, Portugal)

This is the longest bridge in Europe. It is usually compared to the Chinese “Hangzhou”, but “Vasco da Gama” looks more organic and elegant, although it is inferior in length.

Its length is 7.2 km. It was opened on March 29, 1998, just 18 months after construction began, before Expo 98. The same year marked the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route from Europe to India. Therefore, the bridge was named after the great traveler.

Despite the short construction period and the speed of work, during its construction all conceivable and inconceivable nuances were taken into account. Thanks to this meticulousness and care, today the Vasco da Gama Bridge can withstand winds of up to 250 km/h and earthquakes 4 and a half times stronger than the famous 8.7 magnitude Lisbon earthquake of 1755.

4. “Bosphorus Bridge” (Istanbul, Türkiye)

This bridge is famous for connecting Europe and Asia. It has become one of the symbols of modern Istanbul. The image of the bridge adorned the 1000 Turkish lira banknote. It is also a symbol of the unification of two continents.

For example, in 2007, the famous tennis match between American Venus Williams and Turkish tennis leader Ipek Shinolu took place right here. Since it was the first match between athletes from two continents, the Bosphorus Bridge was chosen as the meeting place. After the match ended, the tennis ball was thrown from the bridge into the Bosphorus.

Currently it is the 13th tallest in the world. Every day, the bridge carries about 200,000 units of various types of transport from continent to continent, and pedestrian traffic on this bridge is prohibited due to its frequent use as a place to commit suicide.

5. Banpo Fountain Bridge (Seoul, South Korea)

The Banpo Fountain Bridge in Seoul became the only one of its kind and even entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest fountain on a bridge.

The total length of the fountain with the romantic name “Moonlight Rainbow” is 1140 m. Thanks to the play of light rays, the fountain seems to “dance” and shimmer.

You can admire this miracle not only from the shore, but also from the first tier of the bridge, from where an equally wonderful view opens up and you get the feeling that you are inside a rainbow waterfall.

6. “Brooklyn Bridge” (New York, USA)

Another recognizable and legendary bridge, a landmark of New York, is the Brooklyn Bridge. This is the first bridge in the world to be suspended on steel cables.

Its length is 1825 meters. It carries both vehicular and pedestrian traffic - along it it is divided into 3 parts. The side lanes are for cars, and the middle lane, at a fairly significant elevation, is for pedestrians and cyclists.

In 1964, the Brooklyn Bridge was included in the list of National Historic Landmarks of the United States. Today, this one of the symbols of New York remains one of the popular recreation and cycling destinations for city residents.

7. Millennium Bridge (UK)

The amazing “Millennium Bridge”, or “Gateshead Millennium” - a bridge over the River Tyne connecting the cities of Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne (Northern England); The world's first tilting bridge.

Thanks to its hydraulics, the bridge tilts to allow ships to pass under it. It took more than two years to build, but after installation its dimensions corresponded to the plan with fantastic accuracy up to 2 mm.

It is the only swing bridge in the world. That is, when ships pass, it turns 40 degrees. From the side, this movement of the bridge resembles the blinking of a large eye.

The turning process is extremely impressive and only takes no more than 4 minutes. Over the course of a year, the bridge “blinks” about 200 times.

8. Oliveira Bridge (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

The Oliveira Bridge is the only bridge in the world with a support in the shape of the letter X. It has become one of the main symbols of Sao Paulo thanks to the special shape of the masts, a height of 138 meters, 144 powerful steel cables and chic LED lighting.

His full name is “Octavio Frias de Oliveira.” Two crooked masts, bound in concrete in an X shape, make up its support mast. It was inaugurated on May 10, 2008, and the bridge was named after the publisher of the newspaper Fola de Sao Paulo, who died in 2007 at the age of 94. Octavio Frias de Oliveira was one of the most influential people in Brazil.

At the end of December 2008, special light diodes were installed on the cables and masts of the bridge, creating various lighting effects reminiscent of a New Year tree.

9. Ponte Vecchio Bridge (Florence, Italy)

Ponte Vecchio is one of the oldest and most famous bridges in Italy, a symbol of Florence. This is the only bridge that has retained its original appearance for dozens of centuries. It is located on the same site where three previous bridges were built: first a bridge from the ancient Roman era, then a bridge that collapsed in 1117, and finally a bridge that was demolished during the flood of 1333. And since then, the Ponte Vecchio has never been destroyed. Even the German troops, retreating from Florence in 1944 and blowing up many buildings in the city and all the bridges, spared the Ponte Vecchio. They say that they were also captivated by the beauty of this unique bridge.

There are only 2 such three-arch stone bridges in the world. “Vecchio” consists of 3 arches, the main one is 30 m apart, two on the sides are 27 m long.

The Florentine Bridge is also interesting because on its sides there are houses that have housed trading shops since the Middle Ages. But in 1593, by order of Cosimo de' Medici, Duke of Tuscany, meat sellers were expelled from the bridge, and jewelers took their place. Since then, “Ponte Vecchio” has had another name – “Golden Bridge”. A corridor was built right above the bridge back in 1565, which is still preserved.

10. Khaju Bridge (Isfahan, Iran)

This bridge is a unique example of Iranian architecture and is located in Isfahan. Travelers enjoyed it back in the 17th century, and today it is one of the most famous bridges in the East and one of the most beautiful bridges on Earth.

“Khaja” was built in Isfahan for a reason. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Isfahan was located on the famous Silk Road and was then one of the largest cities in the world.

In addition to aesthetics, the Khaju Bridge has many other useful features, such as a water dam that carries water to all the gardens of Isfahan. In addition, during the intense summer heat, “Khaju” allows you to hide from the sun in its shady corners. The lower level of the bridge is for pedestrians, while the upper level is accessible to horses and carriages.

And now - finally, record holders.

11. Harbor Bridge (Sydney, Australia)

It is Sydney's largest bridge and one of the largest steel arch bridges in the world. It is one of Sydney's main attractions. Because of its remarkable shape, the bridge received the comic name “Hanger” from Sydney residents. The bridge was opened on March 19, 1932. The model for the bridge was New York's Hell Gate Bridge.

The bridge carries road, bicycle, pedestrian and rail traffic. The Harbor Bridge connects the downtown area with the North Shore and spans Port Jackson Bay.

The arched span of the bridge is 503 meters long. This is just a little less than the 518-meter span of the longest steel arch bridge, the Fayetteville Bridge, across the gorge along which the New River flows, near Fayetteville (West Virginia, USA). Since nowadays, if it is necessary to build a bridge with a long span, they choose the design of a suspension or cable-stayed bridge (they are much lighter and cheaper than a rigid arch bridge), the Harbor Bridge will remain on the list of the largest arch bridges in the world for a long time.

The steel arch of the "Hanger" weighs 39,000 tons. It rises 139 meters above sea level and at the same time has a clearance of 49 meters above the water surface of the bay, which ensures the passage of any sea vessels under the bridge. Interestingly, the height of the arch can increase by about 18 cm on hot days due to the fact that the metal expands when heated.

The total length of the entire bridge is 1,149 meters. The width of the bridge is 49 meters. The total weight of the bridge is 52,800 tons. The steel structural elements of the bridge are connected by rivets, the total number of which exceeds six million.

Since October 1, 1998, regular excursions have been held on the bridge for people over 10 years old - climbing along the side arch of the bridge to its top, from where a breathtaking panorama of the city opens. To climb, you only need shoes with rubber soles and a special suit with insurance, which is issued on the spot,

12. Run Young Bridge - the longest bridge across the river

The Run Yang Bridge was built in China in 2007, has a length of 35.66 kilometers and spans the widest point of the Yangtze River.

Its construction cost the country a total of $700 million. The supporting towers of this bridge reach a height of 210 meters.

13. Hangzhou Bay Bridge (China) - the longest transoceanic bridge in the world

The Great Transoceanic Hangzhou Bay Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in Hangzhou Bay off the east coast of China. Connects the cities of Shanghai and Ningbo (Zhejiang Province).

It opened to traffic on May 1, 2008, although it was assumed that the bridge would not be completed until Expo 2010. Construction of the bridge began on June 8, 2003 and continued until 2007, after which closed testing of the bridge was carried out for several months.

The length of the bridge is about 36 km, traffic is carried out on three lanes in each direction. This is the third longest bridge across water spaces. The design speed of the bridge is 100 km/h, service life is more than 100 years.

14. Dam bridge over Lake Pontchartrain (USA)

The sixth longest bridge (in total) in the world and the second longest bridge across bodies of water is located in Louisiana, USA. The bridge consists of two parallel roads, the longest of which is 38.42 km (23.87 mi) long.

The bridge connects the towns of Metairie and Mandeville, located on opposite shores of Lake Pontchartrain. The bridge is supported by more than 9,000 concrete piles. 13 km (8 miles) south of the northern coast, bridges have lift spans.

Due to the frequent fog that surrounded the bridge from time to time, barges crashed into it several times.

15. The Qiazhou Bay Bridge (China) is the longest bridge over the water surface.

Just a few years ago, the longest bridge in the world located above the water surface was put into operation in China - the Qiazhou Bay Bridge. The length of this structure is 42.5 kilometers.

It is immediately necessary to clarify why clarification is necessary - the longest bridge over the water surface, and not just the longest in the world. The fact is that for some reason the car viaduct in Thailand and railway viaducts in China are considered to be the longest bridges in the world. More about them a little later. These are overhead bridge-type structures for cars and railway transport. Of course, this is quite controversial. After all, if the structure stands over flat land, then it is, as it were, not quite a bridge. If we proceed from the fact that a bridge is something that helps to overcome any water obstacle: a river, a gorge, or, as in the case of the Qiazhou Bridge, a sea bay, then the Qiazhou Bay Bridge should be given the status of “the longest in the world". But, since it is so customary, we will consider it “the longest above the sea surface.”

The bridge is T-shaped and the interchange in the center of the bay allows for easy turning in any direction.

Construction of the Qiazhou Bay Bridge began in 2007 and lasted 4 years. During this time, 5,200 columns were installed on the seabed.

16. Bang Na Highway (Thailand)

This bridge, located in Thailand, is not actually a bridge, it is just a long elevated highway.

The Bang Na Expressway is an elevated bridge-type structure in the city of Bangkok. The total length is 54 kilometers. Its width, with three lanes in each direction, is 27.2 meters.

The total cost of the project, whose construction lasted five years from 1995 to 2000, amounted to more than $1 billion. This structure was built to combat traffic jams at the entrance to the city and travel across this bridge is paid, while the existing free ground alternative is available.

17. Tianjin Viaduct (China) - the second longest bridge in the world

It was built as part of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway and the Beijing-Tianjin intercity railway. Construction began in 2008 and upon completion in 2010, its length was 113,700 meters. The opening of the bridge took place in June 2011.

The viaduct begins slightly southeast of Beijing South Railway Station, then crosses two districts (Anqi and Guangyang) of Langfang urban district and ends in the north of the central part of Tianjin.

18. Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct (China) - the longest bridge in the world

It is the one that is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest bridge in the world. It was built as part of the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed ​​Railway. Construction began in 2008 and its length was 164,800 meters; the opening of the bridge took place on June 30, 2011.

It is located in Eastern China in Jiangsu province, between the cities of Shanghai and Nanjing. Approximately 9 km of the bridge is laid over the water surface; the largest body of water that crosses the Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct is Lake Yangcheng.

19. Akashi Bridge (Japan) - the longest suspension bridge

It is famous for its largest central span of a suspension bridge in the world - its length is 1991 meters.

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is located in Japan and connects the cities of Kobe and Awaji on the islands of Honshu and Awaji, respectively. At the time of the commissioning of this bridge (April 5, 1998), it set three world records: the longest suspension bridge, the most expensive bridge and the highest bridge. The first two records still belong to the Akashi-Kaikyo, but the title of the highest bridge went to the Millot (or Millau) viaduct in France.

So, on to the numbers. The height of the pylons (the foundations on which the entire bridge structure rests) is 298 meters, which is approximately the height of a 90-story building. The distance between the pylons is 1991 meters.

The length of the suspension bridge is considered to be precisely the distance between the pylons, that is, the central span (in fact, this distance was supposed to be 1990 meters, but during the construction of the bridge a very strong earthquake occurred, due to which a fault in the earth’s crust occurred between the two foundations, thereby pushing apart these bases are another 1 meter). If we add to this length the distance from the pylons to the shore, we get a total length of 3911 meters! The length of all the cables of this structure is such that if you tie them all in one line, it will be possible to encircle the globe 7 times!

20. Bridge to Russky Island (Vladivostok, Russia) - the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world

Two years ago, the bridge to Russky Island was opened. The bridge to which the right to be called the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world was transferred. And, of course, what makes me especially proud is that it was built not somewhere in China or the USA, but in Russia, in Vladivostok.

We remind you that the length of cable-stayed and suspension bridges is calculated by the central span, and not by the total length of the bridge. That is why the bridge to Russky Island has every right to be called the longest. The distance between its pylons is 1104 meters. The previous record, 1088 meters, belonged to the Chinese Sutong Bridge. But in terms of total length, the bridge to Russky Island is inferior to many cable-stayed bridges; its figure here is 3,100 meters. For example, the same “Sutun” has a total length of more than 8 kilometers. But this is no longer so important, the record is “ours”!

The technical opening of the structure took place on July 2, 2012. On July 28, a bike ride was organized across the bridge. And on August 1, 2012, traffic was opened for all transport.

And, in conclusion, another photo of the cable-stayed bridge in Vladivostok, also opened in August 2012. For some reason, it is often confused with the bridge to Russky Island, although it is very easy to distinguish them - by the shape of the pylons; this one has them in the form of spread “horns”. This structure is called a bridge across the Golden Horn Bay.

Photo: wikipedia.org, flickriver.com, famouswonders.com, mypostalcards.files.wordpress.com, whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com, forensicgenealogy.info, filfranck.com, jackiejouret.com, archicentral.com, cntraveler.com, architecture. about.co, badfon.ruforums.vwvortex.com, architypereview.com, wonderfull-tourism.blogspot.com, people.cs.nctu.edu.tw, studyblue.com, inkedinblack.wordpress.com.

"Construction Rules", No. 57, December 2017

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See the world's most beautiful pedestrian bridges, offering stunning views and stunning scenery.

24 PHOTOS

1. Peak Walk, Switzerland. This stunning suspension bridge, 107 meters long, connects two peaks of the Swiss Alps - the Scex Rouge peak and Glacier 3000 - at an altitude of... 3000 meters. Only kodak cameras can capture all the greatness of this beauty. (Photo: DENIS BALIBOUSE/Newscom/Reuters).
2. A 280-meter bridge in the form of human DNA - this can only be seen in Singapore. In the evening, computer-controlled lighting gives the Helix Bridge an incredible atmosphere. (Photo: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)
3. The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge in Ireland, built by local fishermen, stretches directly over a 30-meter precipice. (Photo: LOCOG/Getty Images).
4. The Trift Bridge in Switzerland is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the Alps. It is located above Lake Triftsee and is 170 meters long. (Photo: Urs Flueeler/AP Photo).
5. Benson Bridge in the USA. The 14-meter bridge was built over Multnomah Falls in Oregon. (Photo: Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket/Getty Images).
6. Henderson Wave Bridge in Singapore. The undulating 275 meter bridge over Henderson Road features some very beautiful LED lighting. (Photo: TIM CHONG/Newscom/Reuters).
7. The suspension bridge, called “Across the Treetops,” is located in the Valley of the Giants, Australia. This amazing bridge was built to allow visitors to Walpole-Nornalup National Park in Perth to walk and admire the canopies of giant eucalyptus trees. (Photo: REX Features)
8. Millennium Bridge in Gateshead, England. It is the world's first tilting bridge over the River Tyne and has won numerous architectural awards. Locals enjoy using it for walking and cycling from Gateshead to Newcastle. (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images).
9. Langkawi Sky Bridge, Malaysia. Situated 700 meters above sea level, a curved bridge leads to the summit of Gunung Mat Chinchang. The bridge, which is 125 meters long, offers breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. (Photo: UIG/Getty Images).
10. Capilano Suspension Bridge in Canada. Built in 1889, the bridge sits 70 meters above the Capilano River and appears to rest on the treetops of a virgin forest. (Photo: Rich Wheater/Aurora Photos/Corbis).
11. Kokonoe Great Suspension Bridge "Yume" in Japan is currently the longest suspension bridge in the world. It is 390 meters long and 173 meters high. The bridge offers stunning views of Shindonotaki Falls and the surrounding Kyusuikei forests. (Photo: UIG/Getty Images).
12. Cherrapunji Root Bridge in India. This is the most amazing natural bridge in the world, which was made by the Khasi tribe. The roots of the surrounding rubber trees were directed by local residents so that over time they would form strong, natural bridges that could support 50 people. (Photo: Amos Chapple/Getty Images)
13. Bridge of Peace in Georgia. The arched bridge, designed by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi, is located over the Kura River in Tbilisi. The bridge structure was manufactured in Italy and transported to the construction site on 200 trucks. (Photo: David Sucsy/Getty Images)
14. Songimgyo Bridge in South Korea. This arch bridge over Jeongjeyeon Falls on Jeju Island is decorated with 14 statues of nymphs playing various musical instruments. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Getty Images).
15. Nesciobrug in the Netherlands. This is the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in Europe. Its length is 780 meters. The bridge runs over Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal and will connect two districts: Amsterdam-Oost and IJburg. (Photo: Richard Wareham Fotografie/Getty Images)
16. Stone bridge in Spain. The stone bridge is the only road connecting the island of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe to the mainland. A bridge running over the ocean leads to a monastery with a small church. (Photo: Getty Images).
17. Women's Bridge in Argentina. The shape of the bridge, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, was inspired by the movements of a couple dancing tango. The 160-meter bridge is located over the Rio de la Plata in Buenos Aires. (Photo: Diego Giudice/Bloomberg).
18. Tree Top Canopy Walk, Malaysia. The 300-meter bridge is located among the treetops of the rainforest on the island of Borneo. It is equipped with an observation deck from which you can admire the forest, which is... more than 130 million years old. (Photo: Andrea Pistolesi/Getty Images).
19. Royal Gorge Bridge in the USA. Built in 1929, the 385-meter bridge over the Arkansas River in Colorado is one of the region's most popular attractions. Royal Gorge Bridge, 305 meters high, was the tallest bridge in the world from 1929 to 2001. (Photo: David Zalubowski/AP Photo)
20. Tigbao Suspension Bridge in the Philippines. The bridge looks as if it is about to collapse, however, this is only an appearance. Hanging 25 meters above the Loboc River, the bridge is made of metal. The bamboo trim is just the outer layer of the structure. (Photo: OTHK/Getty Images).
21. Rialto Bridge in Venice. This is one of the most famous bridges in the world and a very popular attraction. The Rialto Bridge, which sits directly over the Grand Canal, was originally made of wood. The current stone structure was built between 1588 and 1591 under the direction of the architect Antonio da Ponte. (Photo: Manuel Silvestri/Reuters).
22. China's Chengyang Bridge, also known as Yongji Bridge or Rainy Bridge, was built in 1916 over the Linxi River in the Sanjiang region. It is made of wood and stone and is 65 meters high. (Photo: REX Features)
23. Old bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Built in 1566, the arch bridge is an example of classical Ottoman architecture. During the war between Croatia and Bosnia in 1993, the bridge was destroyed. The old bridge was restored only in 2004. (Photo: Kelly Chang Travel Photography/Getty Images)
24. Pont du Gard in France. This Roman bridge has stood the test of time and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Built in ancient times, on the banks of the Gard River, the three-level bridge is one of the most famous tourist attractions in France. (Photo: REX Features)

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 a rich history. So, we're going to take a look at 25 of the most unique bridges in the world.

Helix Bridge in Singapore

Kappelbrücke Bridge

Shenyang Bridge

Rolling Bridge

Langkawi Sky Bridge

Gateshead Millennium Bridge

Old Bridge of Bosnia

Akashi Bridge in Japan

Rialto Bridge in Italy

Slauerhofbrug Bridge

Octavio de Oliveira Bridge

Falkirk Wheel

Henderson waves

Sidu Bridge

Millau Bridge

Danyang-Kunshan Bridge

Moses Bridge

Khaju Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge

Sydney Harbor Bridge

Alexander III Bridge

Banpo Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge

Tower Bridge

Ponte Vecchio