The Oxford Dictionary gives this definition for the word "bridge": A structure carrying a road, path, railway, etc. across a river, a road, or other obstacle.
But a bridge is much more than that. It is the structure that enables people from two shores to communicate with each other. On many occasions, these bridges offer startling views or seem to stretch in some impossible way.
There are many examples of bridges like these in English-speaking countries. We want to show you some of the most famous and spectacular ones. Come across them with us!
BROOKLYN BRIDGE (New York, US)
Completed in 1883, it is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. A National Historic Landmark, the Brooklyn Bridge is an iconic feature of New York.
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE (San Francisco, US)
More than 75 years old now, San Francisco Bay would not be the same without the beauty of this industrial age suspension bridge. It is one of the most recognizable bridges in the world.
ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE (Colorado, US)
This is the world´s highest suspension bridge at 359 metres above Arkansas River. Not surprisingly, it attracts lots of people who jump on parachute from it.
SUNSHINE SKYWAY (Florida, US)
This bridge of 6.67 kms. long connects St. Petersburg and Torre Ceia in Florida. The present bridge was completed in 1987, replacing an older bridge built in 1954 and partly destroyed in a collision in 1980.
THE BRIDGES OF MADISON (Iowa, US)
Although they are not the most beautiful bridges in the world, they became worldwide popular because of their important role in the Hollywood romantic drama movie The Bridges of Madison County (1995), starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.
There are only six of these bridges nowadays. If you have seen the film, they will be quite familiar for you. Here you have pictures of two of them: Roseman Covered Bridge and Cedar Covered Bridge.
MACKINAC BRIDGE ( Michigan, US)
This 2,626 metres long suspension bridge connects the Upper and Lower peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan. It was completed in 1957 after many decades of struggles to begin construction.
TOWER BRIDGE (London, England)
A combined bascule and suspension bridge spanning the River Thames in London, it was opened in 1894. Undoubtedly, it is among the most iconic landmarks in a city filled with with iconic landmarks.
CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE (Bristol, England)
This suspension bridge spanning the River Avon Gorge was opened in 1864. It is used as a symbol of Bristol on postcards or informational websites and it is one of the most distinctive landmarks all over Britain.
SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE (Sydney, Australia)
Nicknamed "The Coat Hanger" by Sydney locals because of its arch-based design, the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932 and is a focal point of Aussie (Australian) pride and celebrations (like New Year´s Eve).
HA´PENNY BRIDGE (Dublin, Ireland)
Not the most spectacular or the highest or the longest of bridges, however it is a very famous one. Officially known as the Liffey Bridge, it is a pedestrian bridge built of cast iron in 1816 on the River Liffey in Dublin.
It owes its nickname to the half penny toll that everyone crossing it had to pay for more than a century.
That's fab!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had visited all of those landmarks but I've only crossed two of all the bridges mentioned in the post.
Maybe Tim can tell us something about The Sunshine Skyway Bridge as it is placed in Tampa.
Anyway, how have you been able to find a video for every single bridge? Amazing!!
I really think that bridges are one of the most important structures people have ever built. They serve to join two banks and all the people who lived so close yet so far from each other.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, some of them are not only beautiful, but also spectacular. You´re right, Tim must have crossed Sunshine Skyway a few times. He must tell us about it.
To my mind, bridges are awesome structures. I give them a lot of importance because is the human who have been able to built it.
ReplyDeleteI think that a bridge has to be strong but also has to be a beautiful structure. For this reason, my favourite is the Sidney Harbour bridge.
Congratulations for your blog, I like it a lot.
In my opinion the bridges are necessary because are structures made for facilitate daily life for human
ReplyDeleteHowever a lot of bridges are structures amazing and beautiful that the people should know . my favorite bridge is Golden Gate bridge (San Francisco, US)
The blog is fantastic congratulations
the bridges are amazing
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised to see no mention of the extremely high and fantastically beautiful French bridge near Millau (South of France).
ReplyDeleteI can propose the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay, California. Actually, there are too many bridges in the world and make a list of the most beautiful ones it's extremely difficult but thanks for the pointers on here.
There are some new ones to me.
You're right. The Millau Acueduct is really breathtaking, but it is not in any English-speaking country, and that's one of the basic requirements to be included in this blog.
DeleteAs you say, the number of impressive bridges all over the world is quite high. This is only a list of some of our favourite ones.
Thanks for your comment!
I agree with you about how important a bridge is not only because their beauty or because they are well-built (although they are) but because of their importance and the different roles in people's life. As you said a bridge enable people from different sides comunicating with each other, therefore it was such a useful construction for people centuries ago, where the did not have telephone, internet...
ReplyDeleteIn addition some bridges make a landscape even more gorgeus!!!!!
My favourite is Clifton Suspension Bridge (Bristol, England)
Congratulations for your blog!!! :)
Wonderful collection of bridges and amazing ideas in the blog, as usual. Congratulations Manuel (the one always open to dialogue). My favourite one is, of course, London Bridge.
ReplyDeleteI think that Sidney Harbour Bridge is one of the most spectacular and beautiful bridge around the world. Good work Manu!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's true! The bridges are fantastic!
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