The Golden Gate Bridge connects the San Francisco Peninsula’s northern tip to Marin County. This suspension bridge is a well-known landmark in San Francisco, California. It spans the Golden Gate, which connects San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. It was completed in four years and opened to traffic in 1937. The bridge itself was thought to be impossible to construct, but it was completed after nearly 100 years of debate. It is now considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
According to Frommer’s Travel Guide, it is “possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed bridge in the world.”
Prior to the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, the only way to cross the bay was by boat. A ferry operated from about 1820 to 1867, but full ferry service did not begin until 1867. By the 1920s, this ferry company was the world’s largest of its kind.
Depending on which route was taken, the ferry ride took between 20 and 27 minutes. If there is no traffic, it is possible to drive across the bridge in 10 minutes. To increase safety and reduce traffic accidents, the speed limit is only 45mph.
Many people believed that a bridge across the bay could not be built. There were strong winds, tides and currents, and deep water that would make such a project impossible.
Despite these reservations, construction began in January 1933, and the bridge was completed on May 28, 1937. It only took four years to construct.
Eleven men were killed while building the Golden Gate Bridge.
Despite its name, the Golden Gate Bridge is actually orange. This color was chosen because it was thought to blend well with the surroundings. The color also improves visibility for boaters.
It is thought that the harbour was given the name ‘Golden Gate’ because it reminded a US army Captain of a harbor in Istanbul. It was dubbed the “Golden Horn.”
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the modern world’s seven wonders.
The bridge’s total length is 8,981 feet. It is 746 feet above sea level.
Two cables support the roadway. These cables are made up of 27,572 wire strands that run through the two main towers. They are then anchored in concrete at both ends.
The bridge towers contain approximately 1.2 million rivets, 600,000 in each.
The bridge’s suspension span is 4,200 feet, making it the longest suspension bridge until New York City’s Verrazano Narrows Bridge opened in 1964.
It would cost approximately $1.2 billion to build the bridge today.
It is estimated that over 1.9 billion cars and vehicles have crossed San Francisco Bay via the Golden Gate Bridge.
On either side, there are six lanes and walkways.
It has the unfortunate distinction of being the world’s second most common suicide site.
On February 26, 1976, the Golden Gate Bridge graced the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. It served as the stage for five well-known rock stars of the time.
