The bridge was a true experiment in its time; such a long suspension
bridge had never been tried before. It had the highest towers, the thickest cables
and the largest underwater foundations ever built. The foundations were a real
problem, because they had to be cast in a depth of more than 100 feet. Extreme
depth wasn’t the sole problem. The real challenge lay in the sinking of the piers
in the violent waves of the open sea, which was thought to be almost impossible.
The construction began in 1933, and was finished in 1937, when the
bridge opened to pedestrians. (It was opened to cars one year later.) The bridge
was finished ahead of schedule and cost much less than was estimated.
Today, the Golden Gate Bridge has a main span of 4,200 feet (almost a
mile) and a total length of 8,981 feet. The towers supporting the huge cables rise
746 feet above the water. Each steel cable is 7,650 feet long and has a diameter
of 36 inches.
‘International orange’ is the color the bridge has always been painted. The
architects chose it because it ‘blends well with the span’s natural setting’.
However, if the Navy had had its way, the bridge would have been painted black
with yellow stripes - in favor of greater visibility for passing ships.
There are fog horns to let passing ships know where the bridge is, and
aircraft beacons on the tops of the towers to prevent planes from crashing into
them.
The Golden Gate Bridge is the first sight for many people approaching the
United States by boat. It is almost the West Coast’s “Statue of Liberty”, and is
something everyone should visit at least once.
Show all questions 1 / 5 =>
*
The Golden Gate Bridge
* ? spans the San Francisco Bay
* ? is the best-known symbol of the United States
* ? spans the Golden Gate Strait
* ? is painted gold and has a gold-plated gate at each endBack Index Next
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