The largest structures are bridges. The largest and most unusual bridges in the world (27 photos). Bridge in Japan
Nowadays bridges are not something amazing and supernatural. They have long become a convenient tool for movement, and allow you to achieve your goals in the shortest possible time. Once bridges were trees, boards and ropes. Today, these are amazing designs that now and then compete in perfection and strength.
After everyone appreciated the convenience of these structures, bridges began to be perceived as a certain kind of art, they actually look impressively beautiful and represent a great creation of mankind. Many specially go on a trip in order to see and visit the most beautiful bridges in the world.
In this article, we will introduce you to longest bridges in the world and tell about the construction process, history and many interesting cases that are inextricably linked with them.
1. Danyan-Kunyshansky viaduct. China. This longest bridge in the world, 164.8 kilometers long. It was built as part of the Beijing High Mountain Railway. Its construction took only 2 years. It is located in Jiangsu province, between Shanghai and the city of Nanki. The largest reservoir that crosses the bridge - yangcheng lake. The lake, in turn, is known for the fact that mitten crabs live here, the meat of which is a great delicacy.
2. Tianjin viaduct. China. Second longest bridge, also located in China and also took 2 years to build. Its length reaches 113,700 meters, which stretch from the Beijing South Railway Station to the city of Tianjin.
It is not surprising that and third longest bridge in the world located in China. Its total length is 79,732 meters and connects the cities of Zhengzhou and Xi'an. The bridge got its name because it crosses the Wei River twice.
4. Bang Na Highway. Thailand. There is a bridge in the city Bangkok, and its total length is 54 kilometers. The construction of this elevated structure lasted 5 years, and the cost of the entire project was more than 1 billion US dollars. Bridge traffic paid, this is due to the fact that there is a ground free road. The bridge was created in order to unload highways from traffic jams.
And again, China is the country with the record for the longest bridges. Its length is 42.5 kilometers and extends the city of Qingdao with the Huangdao district, and also crosses the northern part of Jiaozhou Bay.
The construction of the bridge took 4 years and cost China 60 billion Chinese yuan, the same as almost 10 billion US dollars. Every day, 30,000 cars pass through the bridge, saving only 20-30 minutes, which is clearly not worth such a waste of the state budget.
6. Bridge (dam) over Lake Pontchartrain. USA. It has another name, which is better known to Americans - bridge between Mandeville and Metairie, since the lake connects these two cities. It is located in the state of Louisiana, and the length is 38.42 kilometers.
If we compare it with other similar buildings, the bridge is particularly stable and resistant to various elements. True, during its existence (since 1948), either one or several barges periodically crash into the bridge.
7. Bridge over Hangzhou Bay. Despite the fact that this bridge is the seventh on our list, it is actually the first longest transoceanic bridge in the world.
In turn, it crosses the ocean and connects the cities of Shanghai and Ningbo. The length of the bridge is 36 kilometers, its estimated service life is 100 years, despite the fact that it was built in China.
8. Bridge named after the Louisiana paratroopers. USA. From the name, it is obvious that the bridge is located in the state of Louisiana, namely between the cities of Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The bridge crosses the Atchafalaya Basin and has a length of 29.29 kilometers, making it second longest bridge in the US. Near the guest center at mile 121 of Highway 3177 is a monument dedicated to the memory of soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States.
9. King Fahd Bridge. Saudi Arabia. It is rather a whole complex of bridges, the total length of which is more than 25 kilometers. The task of the complex is to connect the city of El Hubao in Saudi Arabia and the island state of Bahrain. Construction began in 1982 when the heads of state King Fahd and Isa laid the first stone.
10. Bridge - a tunnel through the Chesapeake Bay. USA. Have you ever seen how a bridge turns into an underwater tunnel? No? Then you have a great opportunity to ride underwater. It is located in Virginia and was built back in 1964.
The bridge, if it can be called that at all, consists of two underwater tunnels (1600 meters each), 4 artificial islands, 2 bridges, more than 3 kilometers of dam roads and 9 kilometers of access roads. And all this is done so that the ships of the US Navy can safely go to the open sea. The total length of all these structures is 24.14 kilometers.
That's how creative people can be. Once you see one of these hulks, it will be difficult to call her just a bridge, in fact, this is a real work of art, resourcefulness and talent.
In fact, this is not the limit of human capabilities, and given how quickly our planet is populated by more and more new people, soon all of it will be covered with many layers of bridges, highways and tunnels.
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02.06.2013
The longest bridges in the world
No. 5. Qingdao Bay Bridge
Construction period: 2007-2011
This the longest water bridge located in China, stretching over the Jiaozhou Bay for 42 km. The construction of the bridge took no less than 5.5 billion pounds! Six traffic lanes and a reinforced structure, and as a result - a reduction in the time spent on the road from the city to the industrial zone - 30 minutes.
No. 4. Bang Na Highway, Thailand
Construction period: 1995-2000
The 54 km long bridge stretches in Bangkok in the form of a toll highway, which starts at the entrance to the city. The main goal is to fight traffic jams. Six lanes of traffic quite cope with this task.
No. 3. Bridge over Wei, China
Construction period: 2008
The bridge, which crosses the Wei River twice and several other rivers, carries the Zhengzhou Line railway tracks for its 80 km.
No. 2. Tianjin Viaduct, China
Construction period: 2008-2010
Another railway bridge and again in the People's Republic of China. 113.7 km cross the two provinces. Withstand the load of both conventional and high-speed trains.
No. 1. Tanyan-Kunshan Viaduct, China
Construction period: 2008-2010
The longest bridge in the world also intended for the railway. 164.8 km pass both over the water surface (the longest distance is 9 km) and over land.
The largest (highest) bridges in the world
No. 5. Stonecut Bridge, Hong Kong
Construction period: 2004-2009
The bridge connects several islands and belongs to the type of cable-stayed structures. Its height is 298 meters, length is 1 km. In order to avoid destruction by a typhoon, frequent for these territories, the bridge is additionally strengthened.
No. 4. Akashi-Kaikyo, Japan
Construction period: 1994-1998
In addition to its impressive height (298 meters), this bridge is distinguished by another feature: the world's largest span has been created between two supporting pillars - its length is 1991 meters, there are three spans in total. The bridge is paid, however, according to forecasts, it will pay for its construction only after 30 years, excluding inflation.
No. 3. Sutong Bridge across the Yangtze, China
Construction period: 2003-2008
The construction of a 306-meter high road bridge connecting Nantong and Shanghai has reduced the travel time between them from four hours to one.
No. 2. Russian bridge, Russia
Construction period: 2008-2012
This cable-stayed bridge has the largest span among self-similar - 1104 meters! AND the tallest pylons- 324 meters. The bridge connects the mainland with Russky Island, hence the name. despite the scale of the construction and the records set during it, the construction has been repeatedly criticized - mainly for cost and corruption.
No. 1. Viaduct Millau, France
Construction period: 2001-2004
Another cable-stayed bridge this time the highest transport in the world! Its pillars stand at the bottom of a gorge in the Tarn river valley. It is taller than the Eiffel Tower, but lower (40 m) than the Empire State Building in New York. The height of the highest point is 343 meters. It was originally conceived in order to eliminate traffic jams on the highways leading from Paris to the south. The project was a success, the A75 highway (of which it is a part) became free and significantly speeds up the movement of motorists.
It is not known who and when was the first to throw a log across the river in order to cross to the other side. But from that moment on, mankind began to gradually approach the construction of modern bridges with advanced technologies. The invention of the canopy can be called one of the cornerstones of historical progress. Bridges not only unite the shores - they connect the destinies of people, they allow you to admire the beauties of nature from an unusual angle. Often they themselves become an object of interest and admiration due to their venerable age, beauty of architecture or unique parameters. One of the categories characterizing bridges is their height. And thanks to progress, the list of the highest bridges in the world is gradually increasing. We will consider them in the article.
The active development of bridge building in China has led to the fact that a large number of record-breaking bridges are located in this country. At the end of 2016, they were joined by the Beipanjiang Bridge, thrown over the river of the same name and uniting the southwestern provinces of Yunnan and Zhejiang. The title of the highest suspension bridge in the world has already been assigned to this object - the highest point is at the 565-meter mark or at the level of the 200th floor of a skyscraper. In addition, he is considered one of the pioneers of buildings of this type in the Asian mountainous regions.
The Beipanjiang Bridge is a cable-stayed suspension structure. It rests on two pylons in the form of the letter "H" on opposite sides of the river gorge. The reliability of the construction, in addition to steel cables, is provided by a stiffening beam under the main span. The construction of the 4-lane bridge, which is part of the highway, took 3 years and required an investment of $150 million.
Millau (France)
In the list of the highest bridges in the world, the Millau Viaduct over the Tarn River Valley is far from the last place. This building is considered one of the signs of France - the cable-stayed bridge is part of the route connecting the capital and the town of Beziers, which houses many elite educational institutions. Therefore, fast communication between the two cities is especially important. If we take the total height with the pylons, then the viaduct (343 m) is slightly lower (by 40 m) than the Empire State Building, but exceeds the "height" of the Eiffel Tower (by 37 m). A 4-lane roadbed floats over the valley at an altitude of 270 meters.
The Millau Viaduct, the highest bridge on the planet, was put into operation at the end of 2004. Design work was carried out for 10 years, and construction was delayed for 3 years due to strong winds and difficult terrain. Design workshops participated in the construction, which at one time designed the main symbol of Paris. The metal roadbed was installed on the supports using the extension method from opposite sides, giving commands via satellite.
Quite often, a thick fog envelops the river valley - and then the bridge floats among the clouds. But the viaduct looks especially impressive at night. Illuminated 7 pylons with red lights at the top and wings of stretched cables look like alien ships at the start. And the light from 7 supports, "walking" through the valley, turns it into a mysterious world.
Russian bridge (Russia)
Among the highest bridges in the world, a worthy place is given to the Russian. It is only slightly inferior to the French Millau in terms of the height of its two pylons. The height of the Russian bridge is 321 meters (against 343 French meters). The name of the relatively young (2012) bridge was given by Fr. Russian, who, thanks to this facility, received road communication with the coastal part of Vladivostok.
The construction of a bridge across the strait was brewing throughout the 20th century. But the engineering projects of 1939 and 1960 did not meet the set technical tasks. In 2008, in preparation for the APEC summit, the most advanced idea at that time was designed, which was put into practice in 2012. The bridge, as a link developing the transport system of Vladivostok, instantly became a symbol of the capital of Primorye - it is called one of the wonders of the Far East.
The uniqueness of the Russian Bridge lies in its three-kilometer length and the length of the central span, which at a height of 70 m from the water extends for 1104 meters - according to this indicator, it is the first bridge in the world. In addition, the latest methods were used during construction: continuous concreting and the use of
The bridge is designed for car traffic only (4 lanes) - pedestrians are strictly prohibited from passing through the structure. The beauty and significance of the Russian Bridge is confirmed by its image on the new 2000 banknotes of Russia.
Sutun. Pride of China
The Sutong cable-stayed bridge from the numerous cohort of the highest bridges in China has been in operation since the middle of 2008. This giant of the cable-stayed type in terms of its parameters in the list of the highest bridges in the world immediately follows the Russian giant - each of its two pylons reaches 306 m in height, and the central span lacks 16 m to the span of the Russian bridge.
The task of the builders of the bridge was to connect two cities from different districts of China with each other, which they successfully coped with. The cable-stayed Sutong Bridge (China) enters the delta of the river in a smooth arc. Yangtze and extends 8206 m above its main fairway. The roadbed is raised 62 m above the water for the unhindered passage of ships and container ships. The bridge has become a landmark in China, it plays an important role in the rapid economic growth of areas in the southern reaches of the river. Yangtze, where cities such as Shanghai are located.
Sutong is the engineering and economic pride of the Celestial Empire, since the design and financing of the giant structure took place on its own by the state without the involvement of international assistance.
Bridge in Japan
An engineering marvel of Japanese bridge builders is the Akashi-Kaike suspension bridge, or Pearl. It is a connecting link between the islands of Honshu and Awaji. At the time of its opening (1998), it was considered the highest bridge in the world, since its two pylons rose 282.8 m above the waters of the Akashi Strait. Later, more impressive structures were built, but the scale and uniqueness of Akashi-Kaikyo did not suffer from this.
The Japanese giant is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the suspension bridge, the longest in the world (3911 m) - it is equal to approximately 4 Brooklyn bridges. The length of its central span is also phenomenal - 1991 m. Near the bridge there is a museum that tells about its construction.
The longest Zhemchuzhny Bridge was made by an earthquake that occurred during construction and moved one of the pylons away from the design site by 1 m. wind speed up to 80 m/s. The service life of Zhemchuzhny is designed for 200 years, and in the future it can become both a road and rail crossing.
But the bridge has a significant drawback - the passage through it is expensive, so most residents use the ferry or public transport.
highest railway bridge
The highest, like many automobile bridges, which for some time held the title of the highest in the world, is located in China. This facility connects the slopes of the famous Beipanjiang Canyon in the southwestern province of Guizhou in the vicinity of the city of Lupanshui. The bridge belongs to the arch type structures with one span and a passage along the upper part. The highest point of the building is at 275 meters. The railway bridge has been operating since 2001.
Transport facilities
The list of the highest transport bridges in the world is constantly changing. But currently it looks like this:
- Beipanjiang Road Bridge (China) - 565 m.
- Automobile viaduct Millau (France) - 343 m.
- Automobile Russian Bridge (Russia) - 321 m.
- Sutong Road Bridge (China) - 306 m.
- Automobile Pearl Bridge (Japan) - 282.8 m, in the future - and railway.
- Beipanjiang Canyon Railway Bridge (China) - 275 meters.
Pedestrian bridges of the world
The Kokonoe Yume Suspension Bridge is for pedestrians only. This is one of the highest pedestrian bridges in Japan - its structures reach a height of 173 meters. The object is located in the city of Kokonoe. At the same time, 1,800 vacationers can walk along the bridge, admiring the Kyushu Valley, Sindu Falls, or simply pictures of nature under their feet through the gratings of the central span. An unusual pedestrian bridge on the island bears the name of the Sky Bridge for its location at an altitude of 700 meters and magnificent views from it. The entire arc-shaped structure seems to be floating in the air, leaning on the only support - a column of 82 meters. This bridge is not the highest, it is only located at an unprecedented level. But he owns another record - he is the longest in the world among the curved suspension bridges (125 m).
The tallest pedestrian bridge is a glass structure in China. It opened for visitors in 2016 and is located in Zhangjiajie Forest Park. The height of its structures is 300 m, and the bridge itself is thrown from cliff to cliff at a height of 260 meters. The complex technical system consists of a steel frame and 120 glass panels. The structure can support the weight of 800 people walking on it at one time.
Bridges always attract people's attention with their technical characteristics or special appearance. They fascinate with the opportunity to admire the landscapes from unusual vantage points. And the inquisitive human mind will always create new bridge designs with the largest parameters.
I came to the conclusion that you should not get involved in sorting out some stupid disputes. So, from me - bare facts, from you - surprise or lack of it 🙂
1. So let's go. The definition of the longest bridge in the world is rather vague. Therefore, I suggest you get acquainted with the longest bridge in the world over the water surface.
2. It is called Qingdao Haiwan Bridge and is located in China.
3. The bridge is 42,500 meters long and cost the Chinese government $8.72 billion.
4. If you don’t “bother” where the bridge is located, then the Bang Na highway in Thailand should be considered the longest bridge.
5. In reality, Bang Na is an elevated bridge-type structure.
6. The length of the giant is 54 kilometers.
7. The longest suspension bridge (determined by the length of the main span) is located in Japan.
8. It connects the city of Kobe (Honshu island) and the city of Awaji (the island of the same name).
9. The central span of this bridge is 1991 meters long, which, in fact, is a record. The total length of the bridge is 3911 meters. Oh yeah, it's called Akashi-Kaikyo.
10. The longest dam bridge in the world is located in the USA and passes through Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana.
11. The bridge consists of two independent roads. The one that is longer - 38 kilometers and 420 meters. The total number of concrete piles of the bridge exceeds 9,000!
12. In the Dutch Rotterdam, there is another “record holder”, which is called the Erasmus Bridge.
13. It consists of two structures and is a single-support suspension bridge.
14. Before you is the world's longest drawbridge Erasmusbrug.
15. Its length is 802 meters.
16. The world's longest bicycle and pedestrian bridge is the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, located on the Mississippi River in Illinois.
17. Until 1967, the legendary Highway 66 (Route 66) passed through this bridge, but the route was subsequently changed.
18. For 31 years, the bridge was essentially empty, until in 1999 it was officially designated as a bicycle and pedestrian bridge. The total length of the bridge is 1631 meters.
19. The longest wooden bridge in the world is located in Myanmar and is called U Bein.
20. It was built back in 1849, and its length is 1.2 kilometers.
23. The longest natural bridge in the world is the rainbow bridge, which was formed as a result of the washing out of the rock by the flow of river water.
24. The bridge is located in the US, Utah.
25. Its height (88.4 meters) is greater than its length (83.8 meters).
26. The funny longest plastic bridge is located in the Scottish town of Aberfeldy and leads to the local golf club. The total length of the Wade Bridge is 113 meters.
27. The longest aqueduct bridge (water bridge) is located in the German city of Magdeburg.
28. It allows two channels to intersect - the Middle German and the channel connecting the Elbe and Havel rivers.
29. The total length of the bridge is 918 meters and, in addition to ships, pedestrians can walk on it.
30. The Millau Viaduct, located in France, is very beautiful and futuristic.
31. The bridge was created to relieve the road passing through the town of Millau, which suffers every summer from congestion with the participation of tourists. The highway on which the viaduct is located connects Paris and the southern city of Béziers.
32. The maximum height of the support at the bridge is 341 meters, which is higher than the Eiffel Tower! The total length is 2460 meters.
34. Another of the highest bridges in the world is located in the US state of Colorado, over the Royal Gorge. Previously, the Royal Gorge Bridge was also used by cars, but now it is used only by pedestrians.
36. The Arkansas River snakes along the bottom of the gorge, and the distance from the bridge to the surface of the water below is 321 meters.
37. The length of the bridge is only 384 meters, and the width is 5 meters.
39. Sources say that if we consider the concept of "highest bridge" in relation to the height above sea level, then the highest bridge should be the Bailey Bridge in the Indian Himalayas, located in the Ladakh valley.
40. Given that the valley itself is on average at an altitude of 5602 meters, the conclusion is simple. But there is not a single picture of the bridge. Therefore, we believe in the word. The widest large-span bridge in the world is located in the Australian city of Sydney and runs through the entire city harbor. The Sydney Harbor Bridge is 49 meters wide and 1149 meters long. It contains a bicycle and pedestrian paths, two railway tracks and an eight-lane highway for cars. The total weight of steel bridge structures is 52,800 tons.
41. Well, if we consider all the bridges, it turns out that the widest bridge is located ... in St. Petersburg!
42. It passes through the Moika River and is called the Blue Bridge. Its width, in fact, is equal to the width of St. Isaac's Square, into which it seems to have grown. The width of the bridge is almost three times its length! The blue bridge is 97.3 meters wide! For those who don’t see, I’ll tell you: in the second photo, it starts right behind the monument 😉
43. The bridge with the highest real capacity is the Howrah Bridge in the Indian city of Kolkata across the Hooghly River, which flows into the Ganges.
44. The daily norm of the bridge is 4 million pedestrians and about 150,000 vehicles.
45. Bridge Zavikon Island (Zavikon Island Bridge) is officially considered the shortest in the world. Its length is only ten meters.
46. The bridge is international, as it connects two islands, one of which belongs to Canada, and the second to the USA. Located in a region called the Thousand Islands.
