The best suspension bridges across the sea in the world. The most grandiose bridges in the world. The longest bridge in Russia

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 most long 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. 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 from continent to continent different types transport, 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 holiday destinations and cycling 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 place where three previous bridges were built: first - the bridge of the era Ancient Rome, then a bridge that collapsed in 1117, and finally a bridge that was demolished during a flood in 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 business, central part of the city with the North Shore and crosses 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 (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 assume 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, sea ​​bay, then it is the Qiazhou Bay Bridge that 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 a little 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 most high 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 a 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 lot happened strong earthquake, due to which a fracture of the earth’s crust occurred between the two bases, thereby moving these bases apart by 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 bicycle race 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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The main attraction of San Francisco is built across the strait of the same name and connects the city bay with 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, the Golden Gate Bridge retained this status until 1964, when it was bypassed by the New York 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 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 a whole architectural monument, built 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 design improved it 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 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 Superhighway passing through East coast 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 beautiful bridge were carried out in the world 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 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.

Aqueducts are designed to transport water through channels raised on supports above valleys, rivers, highways, railways and other obstacles. But there are also so-called water bridges, along which even small ships can move. People learned to use aqueducts back in ancient times, delivering water through them from a distant source to the city, but water canals are a much later invention.
Water canals are much heavier and larger than aqueducts, because not just a modest stream of water should flow through them, but quite a lot of water should float through them. big ship. Only in the 17th century did people decide to use water bridges to pass ships. Gradually in different countries The most grandiose water bridges in the world began to appear. In 1896, the French built a similar canal on the Loire, which remained the world's longest navigable bridge for the next century, until it was surpassed by the structure in Magdeburg.

1. Magdeburg Water Bridge

This structure, connecting the Mitteland and Elbe-Havel canals and passing over the Elbe River bed, was launched in October 2003. The length of this longest water bridge in the world is 918 meters. In the past, both mentioned canals near Magdeburg abutted on the opposite banks of the Elbe, the level of which was much lower than in the canals. To cross from one canal to another, ships had to make a 12-kilometer loop, then take an hour by water elevator to the level of the Elbe, and then repeat the same steps in reverse to rise to the level of the opposite canal. In addition, the Elbe was often too shallow for the passage of loaded barges, in which case it was necessary to spend a lot of time on their intermediate unloading and loading.
After the reunification of Germany, the main internal routes were developed, in light of which the construction of a water bridge in Magdeburg became a priority for the German government. Construction began in 1997 and cost the treasury 500 million euros. With the help of this water bridge, the network of internal German canals is connected by ports located on the Rhine.

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2. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

In Wales, near Wrexham, the Pontcysyllte aqueduct was built between 1795 and 1805. With his help, the Ellesmere Canal was able to cross the Dee valley. Here, during the Industrial Revolution, the aim was to link the canal system with the coal mines of Denbighshire. For its time, the construction of this water bridge was a huge technical achievement. Since then, for more than two centuries, this aqueduct remains the highest and longest aqueduct in Great Britain, and UNESCO included it in its list World Heritage. The aqueduct has a length of 307 m, a depth of 1.6 m and a width of 3.4 m, it is part of an 18-kilometer aqueduct. It is made of cast iron, and the bolted gutter is supported by curved steel strength ribs. The aqueduct passes over the Dee River at an altitude of 38 m.
The water bridge is supported by 19 high pylons made of stone. Thanks to the use of iron structures in the construction of the arches, the latter turned out to look light and elegant, although they have a large margin of safety. The appearance of the aqueduct had a huge impact on the economic development of the region, especially at the beginning of the 19th century. The extraction of ore, coal, limestone, as well as the production of lime, increased sharply. Oil production from shale quarries increased and agriculture flourished.
Nowadays, barges with minerals no longer move along the Pontkysyllte Aqueduct; it has become entirely a tourist attraction, being a technological attraction.

3. Barton Swing Aqueduct

In Greater Manchester, England, in the area of ​​Barton, there is a movable water bridge, Barton Swing, with which the Bridgewater Canal crosses the Manchester Canal. Small ships can navigate both intersecting canals at the same time, but when a large ship moves along the Manchester Canal, the Barton Swing and the neighboring exactly the same, but land swing bridge simultaneously rotate 90 degrees, freeing up space above the large canal and allowing the ship to bypass this water crossroads This is the only movable aqueduct in the world and is the most important civil engineering achievement of the reign of Queen Victoria.
This miracle of engineering was built in 1894 and still works properly. Previously, on the site of the swing bridge there was an ordinary stone aqueduct, due to which big ships could not pass along the River Irwell. Only such a technical solution could solve this transport interchange problem.

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4. Minden Water Bridge

Near German city Minden built another water bridge, along which the Central German Canal continues. This structure consists of two parts: the old bridge built in 1914 and the new one that appeared in 1998. The new bridge was built because the size of the old aqueduct channel did not allow modern barges to enter it. Therefore, only small ships and private boats continue to use the old bridge. The canal rises 10 m above the land and 12 m above the Weser River.
The Minden Aqueduct is the second longest in Europe, second only to its relative from Magdeburg. Construction of the first bridge lasted 2 years 9 months.
During World War II, it was bombed more than once by aircraft, but it was lucky to survive; only a few weeks in 1944 it was forced to undergo repairs. On April 4, 1945, the retreating Wehrmacht troops blew up the bridge, or rather, the two main spans over the Weser River. As a result, their debris blocked the flow, causing the water to rise by 1.5 meters. Reconstruction of the bridge began in 1947, and in 1949 it started working again. But the requirements of modern inland navigation gradually grew, and the bridge no longer met them, so in 1993 the Germans decided to build another bridge across the Weser nearby. It is located north of the old one, only 50 m from it. The spans of both bridges are completely identical, so that ships passing on the Weser do not encounter additional obstacles.

5. Briare Canal Bridge

The Briare aqueduct is one of the oldest in France. Many modern canals were built according to its analogy. This hydraulic structure connected the Seine and Loire rivers. The Briard Canal Bridge has a very respectable length - 56 km with a depth of 1.8 m. Its construction began back in 1604, and was completed in 1642. The canal became part of the system connecting to the Rhone basin after the Central and lateral Loire canals were built. The idea of ​​​​building a canal belonged to the Duke of Sully, and Henry IV supported him. The main objective of the channel at that time was the desire to intensify trade in grains in order to ease the problem of bread shortages in the region. The construction of the canal involved the labor of 6-12 thousand people.
Technological progress in the world forced the construction of another magnificent water bridge across the Loire, assembled from steel structures, in 1890-1896. For a long time it was the longest on the continent - 662 meters with a width of 11.5 m. The aqueduct rests on powerful stone supports.
On both sides of the water bridge there is an obelisk with pilasters depicting the most important French cities. They are decorated with beautiful lanterns on top, and the bow of the ship is visible below. The same cast iron lanterns are distributed along the entire length of the channel. When someone floats along this canal in a boat, he gets the feeling that he is in the bed of a large river.

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6. Avon Aqueduct

The highest and longest navigable aqueduct in Scotland is the Avon. It carries the Union Canal near Linlithgow and West Lothian. The bridge is 250 m long and 26 m high. In terms of length in the UK, it is second only to the Welsh Pontcysyllta Aqueduct. The architect of this water bridge was Thomas Telford. The bridge has 12 arches, and water flows over it through a cast-iron gutter. There is a narrow pedestrian path along one of its sides.

7. Haverud Aqueduct

This water bridge, built in Sweden, was particularly difficult to navigate. Due to unsuitable soil, the builders could not use a traditional lock to complete the Dasland Canal, so they decided to build a 30-meter steel bridge over the waterfall. They had to show the full power of their technical genius to cope with such a difficult task. At the waterfall, one river flowed into another. In 1860, a long aqueduct was built here, with the help of which water was delivered to a nearby village.
Nowadays, the Haverud Aqueduct has turned into a tourist attraction and a unique attraction that involves the river, the water bridge and Railway. Particularly popular among travelers are trips on small boats along the Dasland Canal.

8. Ringvaart Haarlemmermeer Aqueduct

In the western part of the Netherlands, near the town of Roelofarendsveen, the Ringvaart Canal is laid, which intersects with the A4 highway through an aqueduct. This is the oldest aqueduct in Holland, despite the fact that it was only built in 1961. In 2006, it underwent expansion; a couple more roads were laid under it, one of which was railway. Currently, the length of the aqueduct has increased to 1800 m.

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9. Pont du Sarthe Aqueduct

This water bridge in Belgium is a continuation of the Central Canal; near the city of Houdeng-Goegnis, it crosses from above the road junction of roads No. 535 and No. 55. The concrete aqueduct has a length of 498 m and a significant width of 46 m. ​​The weight of the structure is 65,000 tons, it is supported by 28 pylons with a diameter of 3 m.

10. Veluvemeer Aqueduct

This water bridge is located in the east of Holland. Using this unique design, the Dutch connected two artificial reservoirs. At first, the authorities intended to build an ordinary road bridge here, but this project turned out to be structurally inconvenient and more expensive. Therefore, over the channel connecting the reservoirs, instead of a classic bridge, a universal bridge appeared, capable of passing both cars and small ships. Large ships will not be able to fit into the geometry of its channel. Located under the bridge underground tunnel About 30,000 cars pass per day.
The level of reservoirs near Veluwemeer is regulated by a system of reservoirs and dams, but even in this case, sometimes the road tunnel is flooded with water - after all, do not forget that the Netherlands is located below sea level. This water overpass is 25 m wide and 19 m long. This aqueduct runs along the border dividing the Dutch mainland from the world's largest made-up island, Flevoland. There are walking paths along the nearby Route 302, from which it is convenient to view the local landscapes.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most picturesque landmarks in the country: its bright orange-red color looks festive in any weather. The bridge was built in 1937 and at that time was the longest suspension bridge in the world: its length is 1970 meters, the height of the supports is 230 meters. Over the past decades, the Golden Gate has lost its primacy in size, but has acquired the much more honorable title of a symbol of San Francisco, and in 1999 it became one of the five main architectural landmarks of the United States.

Confederation Bridge, Prince Edward Island, Canada

The Confederation Bridge is the longest of those built over freezing water, its length is 15 kilometers 900 meters. It helped unify the territory of Canada, allowing residents of Prince Edward Island to easily travel to the continent. Construction of the bridge lasted four years, and permanent traffic opened on it in the spring of 1997.

Millau Bridge, France

The Millau Bridge in Southern France was built in 2004 and in a matter of months became one of the country's most famous landmarks. Today it is the tallest bridge in the world: its highest pillar rises 341 meters above the ground - this is higher than the Ephel Tower and only slightly lower than the Empire State Building. The construction of the grandiose structure cost the French government 400 million euros. The bridge crosses the route from Paris to the resort of Montpellier.

Erasmus Bridge, Rotterdam, Netherlands

The Erasmus Bridge or Erasmus Brücke, connecting the banks of the Maas River in the very center of Rotterdam, is called the swan by the Dutch themselves because of the unusual shape of the central support. Despite its modest length - only 802 meters - the Swan rightfully takes its place among the world's greatest bridges as the longest in history drawbridge. The Dutch government spent about 75 million euros on its construction. The bridge was inaugurated for traffic in 2006. For my unusual shape The bridge is especially loved by show business figures.

Bridge over Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, USA

The Lake Pontchartrain Bridge in Louisiana consists of two parts, one of which is 38 kilometers 420 meters long, and is considered the longest bridge in the world passing over water. The idea of ​​this bridge originated in the 19th century, but at that time it was only science fiction, and began to take shape in the 40s of the 20th century, when the Louisiana Bridge Construction Company was created. The first part of the bridge was opened in 1956, the second - 13 years later, in 1969. Total construction costs amounted to $56 million.

Oresund Bridge, Denmark, Sweden

The Oresund Bridge, which connects Denmark and Sweden, is a four-lane highway stretching across the Oresund Strait for approximately 16 kilometers, with part of the route passing through a tunnel. The construction work, which cost the governments of both countries about 3 billion euros, was completed in 1999. Travel from one Scandinavian country to another will cost 36 euros; the bridge is very popular: about 25 million people cross it every year.