Moving bridges, stone bridges, new bridges, historic bridges, world legend bridges, bridges you've probably never heard of - they're all here. This list even includes a bridge that floats in water and a bridge that water flows across. These are the top 30 most impressive bridges around the world.
At the time of its opening in 1937, this bridge, which had been under construction for four years, was the longest in the world (main span - 1280 meters) and the highest suspension bridge. The Golden Gate held these records until the 1960s. Also renowned for its color - the bridge is partially tinted international orange to match the warm coastal surroundings and stand out on the horizon for boaters.
Most old bridge in Florence. Rebuilt after flooding in 1345, renovated in 1565. After that, the bridge over the Arno River was filled with workshops and houses, which sometimes exceeded the dimensions of the bridge itself. Ponte Vecchio is the only one historic bridge in Florence, a survivor of the Second World War.
A water bridge over the Elbe, connecting two important canals: the Elbe-Havel and the Central German, through which there is a connection to the industrial region - the Ruhr valley - the longest navigable aqueduct in the world with a length of 918 meters. The concrete water bridge near Berlin provided ships with a new convenient route. Before its opening in 2003, ships were forced to make a twelve-kilometer detour through the Rottensee lock, along the Elbe and through the Nigripp lock.
The largest bridge in Sydney, one of the largest steel arch bridges in the world. The length of the arch span of the bridge is 503 meters. One of the main attractions of Sydney. Because of its remarkable shape, the bridge received the comic name "Hanger" from the Sydney people. It was opened on March 19, 1932. Contains six million rivets. With a width of 48.8 meters, it is considered the widest arched steel bridge in the world, although de facto it is almost twice as wide as the Blue Bridge in St. Petersburg, the length of which is 32.5 meters above the Moika riverbed with a width of 97.3 meters.
At the time of construction, the Viaduct Millau, opened in 2004, was the tallest transport bridge in the world, one of its pillars is 341 meters high - slightly higher than the Eiffel Tower, and only 40 meters lower than the Empire State Building in New -York. The total length is 2460 meters.
One of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, it is 1,825 meters long and crosses the East River and connects Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City. At the time of its completion (1883) it was the largest suspension bridge in the world and the first bridge to use steel bars. The bridge is built of limestone, granite and Rosenthal cement.
Twice entered the Guinness Book of Records: as the longest suspension bridge (main span - 1991 meters, total length - 3911 meters) and as the tallest bridge, since its pylons are 298 meters high, which is higher than a 90-storey building. Subsequently, it was surpassed in the height of the pylons by the Millau viaduct. If all the steel strands (5.23 mm in diameter) of the bearing cables of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge are stretched in length, then they can gird the globe more than seven times. The steel bridge is designed to accommodate earthquakes, strong winds and harsh sea currents.
The most famous bridge in Venice and one of the symbols of the city. It was originally made of wood and has repeatedly collapsed. At the end of the 16th century, a new stone bridge was erected, which has survived to this day. The bridge consists of one powerful arch 28 meters long, its maximum height in the center is 7.5 meters, and its total length is 48 meters. Built at the narrowest point of the Grand Canal, the bridge rests on 12,000 piles driven into the bottom of the lagoon. On the bridge, in the arched galleries, there are 24 shops (6 shops on each side), divided in the center by two arches.
10. Bay Bridge (Oakland, California)
A suspension bridge over the San Francisco Bay between the cities of San Francisco and Oakland. Consists of two parts: western suspended (2822 m) and eastern cantilever (3101 m), which are connected by a tunnel under the island of Yerba Buena. The bridge is one of the longest bridges of this type in the world. Opened in 1936, it replaced the seismically unstable bridge.
11. Pontoon Bridge 520 State Highway (Seattle, Washington)
The longest pontoon bridge running over Lake Washington with a length of 2350 meters. It is based on 77 concrete pontoons.
The longest vertical drawbridge in Europe - 670 meters - rises 77 meters above the Garonne River. The four pylons, which serve to lift the span vertically, light up blue at high tide and green at low tide.
Reproducing the shape of DNA, this bridge offers 280 meters of architectural and acoustic intrigue for pedestrians. Construction material - steel of various types. Has five viewing platforms.
The Nanpu Bridge, with a total length of 6.5 km and a width of seven breakwaters, which stretches over the Huangpu River, is remarkable for its swirling aboveground part.
15. Tower Bridge (London, UK)
213 meter pedestrian bridgelocated 70 meters above the canyon. Not for the faint of heart.
A cable-stayed bridge in Vladivostok across the Eastern Bosphorus Strait connects the Nazimov Peninsula with Cape Novosilsky on the Russky Island. The second highest bridge in the world, its height is 324 meters. It has the largest span in the world among cable-stayed bridges with a length of 1104 meters.
Ancient stone bridge over the Vltava river. Start of construction - 1357, opening - 1380th. The bridge is 520 meters long and 9.5 meters wide. The bridge rests on 16 powerful arches lined with hewn sandstone blocks. It is decorated with thirty sculptures of predominantly religious content.
19.Tilikum Pass (Portland, USA)
Portland's first new 518-meter bridge over the Willamette River since 1973 - Tilikum Pass, opened in September 2015. The structure is remarkable not only for its impressive design with 33.7-meter towers and five spans, but also for the fact that the bridge is not designed for cars, which is not typical for the United States. Trams, buses, cyclists and pedestrians can navigate the bridge.
20. Hangzhou Bay Bridge (Zhejiang, China)
This is one of the longest transoceanic bridges in the world - 33.6 km long. Opened in 2008, it connects the cities of Shanghai and Ningbo. Movement along it is carried out in three lanes in each direction. Travel speed - up to 100 km / h, service life over 100 years. After the completion of the bridge, the route between Shanghai and Ningbo was shortened by more than 160 km. Halfway across the bridge, there is a platform island with a service center where drivers and passengers can relax, have a snack and use a wide range of services.
Fully automatic "flying" drawbridge. Rises and falls from one pylon. Has a deck of 15x5 m.
22. Confederate Bridge (Borden-Carlton, Canada)
Connects Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick on mainland Canada. It was opened in 1997. With a length of 12.9 km including access roads, it is the longest bridge in the world built over ice-covered water. Supported by 62 supports. 44 spans - the main ones, each 250 meters long. The width of the bridge is 11 meters, the height of the bridge above sea level in the Northumberland Strait is 40 meters, in the central part intended for the passage of sea vessels reaches 60 meters. The bridge is built with a slight double bend in the shape of the letter S. This is done so that drivers do not lose their vigilance on the road.
23. Millennium Bridge (Gateshead, UK)
The world's first "tilt" bridge, opened in 2001. The base of the bridge is two steel arches. One of them rises 50 m above the surface of the water. On the other, located almost horizontally, pedestrians and cyclists move, and under it can pass vessels of low height. When a tall ship approaches the bridge, unable to pass under the horizontal part, both arches as a whole rotate 40 ° around the axis connecting their ends: the pedestrian and bicycle deck of the bridge rises, while the upper arch, on the contrary, drops. The turn lasts no more than 4.5 minutes, depending on the wind speed. When it is completed, the two arches are in an "equilibrium-raised" position, in which the top points of the arches rise 25 meters above the water surface. For this maneuver, the bridge received the nickname "Winking Eye".
The fifth longest bridge in the world and one of the longest bridges passing through bodies of water... The length of the bridge is about 42.5 kilometers. Built in 2011, the bridge is divided into six lanes and is supported by more than 5,200 pillars. The structure is strong enough to withstand an 8-point earthquake, typhoon or collision with a vessel up to 300,000 tonnes.
25. Lupu Bridge (Shanghai, China)
The second longest steel arch bridge in the world. The total length of the bridge is 3.9 km. The length of the arch across the river is 550 meters. The height of the roadway above the water is 46 m. \u200b\u200bAccording to the project, the bridge is able to withstand a 12-point hurricane and a 7-point earthquake on the Richter scale.
This bridge, opened in 2008, is 290 meters long and 138 meters high. The only bridge in the world in the form of the letter "X". A cruciform support supports two transport tracks, the lower of which is 12 meters high and the upper one is 24 meters above the ground. The construction of the bridge is supplemented with an illumination system, multi-colored LED bulbs are built directly into the cables.
27. Royal Gorge Bridge (Canyon City, USA)
Opened in 1929, this highest bridge in the Western Hemisphere is located 291 meters above the Arkansas River. between the towers and has a total length of 384 meters (the span of the suspension bridge is 268 meters). The steel base structure is covered with 1292 wooden planks. It is used by pedestrians-tourists, only cars can drive on it from vehicles.
The cable-stayed bridge over the lake, located in the new administrative center of Malaysia above the lake, is interesting for its design, reminiscent of a sailboat. The inverted Y-shaped concrete-steel pylon rises 96 meters at an angle of 75 ° to the 165-meter span and is supported by cables (21 pairs on the inland side, 30 pairs on the span side) and two supports.
This bridge has won numerous awards since its opening in 1998 for its innovative design and aesthetic appearance... Designed by Christian Menn, the curved Sunniberg is 526 meters long and 12.3 meters wide and features a unique Y-shaped support structure.
Suspension bridge connecting two historical parts of Budapest - Buda and Pest. Became the first permanent bridge across the Danube. Designed by the English engineer William Tierney Clarke, the bridge was impressive with an abundance of cast iron and stone and, with a length of 375 meters, was one of the longest when it opened in 1849. Despite the fact that in 1945 the bridge was almost completely destroyed by the Germans, its towers were preserved, which made it possible to carry out its reconstruction in 1949.
I came to the conclusion that one should not get involved in clarifying some stupid disputes. So, from me - the 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 to know the longest bridge in the world over the water surface.
2. It is called Qingdao Haiwan Bridge and is located in China.
3. The length of the bridge is 42,500 meters, and it cost the Chinese government $ 8.72 billion.
4. If you do not "bother" on where the bridge is located, then the longest bridge should be considered the Bang Na highway in Thailand.
5. In reality, Bang Na is an overhead 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 Kobe city (Honshu island) and Awaji city (eponymous island).
9. The central span of this bridge is 1991 meters long, which is actually a record. The total length of the bridge is 3911 meters. Oh yes, it's called Akashi Kaikyo.
10. The world's longest dam bridge is located in the United States and passes through Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana.
11. The bridge consists of two separate roads. The one that is longer - 38 kilometers and 420 meters. The total number of concrete piles in the bridge exceeds 9,000!
12. In the Dutch Rotterdam there is another "record holder" called the Erasmus Bridge.
13. It consists of two structures and is a single-support suspension bridge.
14. Before you the longest drawbridge in the world Erasmusbrug.
15. Its length is 802 meters.
16. The longest bicycle and pedestrian bridge in the world is the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, located on the Mississippi River in Illinois.
17. Until 1967, the legendary Route 66 passed through this bridge, but later the route was changed.
18. For 31 years the bridge was essentially empty, until in 1999 it was officially designated as a bicycle and pedestrian. 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 considered to be the rainbow bridge, which was formed as a result of the washing out of rocks by a stream river water.
24. The bridge is located in the USA, 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 a 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 canals to cross - the Middle German and the canal 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 from congestion every summer with the participation of tourists. The highway on which the viaduct is located connects Paris and the southern city of Béziers.
32. The maximum support height at the bridge is 341 meters, which is higher Eiffel tower! The total length is 2460 meters.
34. Another one of the highest bridges in the world is located in the US state of Colorado, above the Royal Gorge. Previously, the Royal Gorge Bridge was also used by cars, but now it is only used by pedestrians.
36. The Arkansas River snakes along the bottom of the gorge, and the distance from the bridge to the water surface below is 321 meters.
37. The bridge is only 384 meters long and 5 meters wide.
39. Sources claim that if we consider the concept of "highest bridge" in relation to height above sea level, then the highest bridge should be the Bailey Bridge in the Indian Himalayas, located in the Ladakh valley.
40. Considering 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 take our word for it. The widest large-span bridge in the world, located in the Australian city of Sydney and runs across the city's harbor. The width of the Sydney Harbor Bridge is as much as 49 meters, with a length of 1149 meters. It contains bicycle and pedestrian paths, two railway tracks and an eight-lane highway for cars. The total weight of the steel bridge structures is 52,800 tons.
41. Well, if you look at all the bridges, it turns out that the widest bridge is located ... in St. Petersburg!
42. It crosses 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 do not see, I will 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 Calcutta over the Hooghly River, which flows into the Ganges.
44. The bridge's daily rate is 4 million pedestrians and about 150,000 vehicles.
45. The Zavikon Island Bridge is officially the shortest in the world. Its length is only ten meters.
46. \u200b\u200bThe bridge is international, as it connects two islets, one of which belongs to Canada and the other to the United States. Located in the region called "Thousand Islands".
BEST ENGINEERED DESIGNS OF ALL TIME
Surprisingly, the city with the largest number of bridges in Europe is not Venice at all, as many people think, but Hamburg. This city has more than 2,300 bridges, which is almost 6 times more than in St. Petersburg ...
However, it is not so much a matter of the number of bridges as of the uniqueness of the most unusual structures. If you think about it, each of such impressive projects, including the latest ones, is able to glorify an absolutely unknown place and, at the same time, become the most memorable architectural landmark of cities and Geoparks with a long history ...
VINOGRADOVSKY BRIDGE (1985). KRASNOYARSK. RUSSIA
Vinogradovsky bridge - pedestrian across the Yenisei canal in Krasnoyarsk, a favorite walking place for the townspeople and a tourist symbol of the city. This bridge is 550 m long and 10 m wide.
Initially, the bridge was named after the founder of Krasnoyarsk, Andrey Dubensky. However, after a while, by order of the city administration, the unique design was named after the architect-builder Sergei Nikolaevich Vinogradov, the head of Bridge Construction Crew No. 7, who built this bridge.
Thanks to the Vinogradovsky Bridge, the formerly uninhabited Tatyshev Island has become one of the most popular places in Krasnoyarsk. The two-pylon cable-stayed bridge looks incredibly light and graceful, however, accurate mathematical calculations allow us not to doubt the high reliability of its structures, despite their external weightlessness.
BEIPANJIANG (2016). ZHEJIANG AND YUNNAN PROVINCES, CHINA
Beipanjiang Is the new highest cable-stayed bridge on the planet, a three-year construction of which was completed in 2016 in China. The bridge is located in the Beipanjiang Valley in the southwest of the country. The new structure became part of the expressway connecting Zhejiang and Yunnan provinces. The bridge passes over the Nichzhu river at an altitude of 565 m, which is 25 m higher than the Ostankino tower. The length of the bridge is 1,341 m.
As the builders note, the maximum error in joining the two halves of the bridge, connected the other day, is only 5 mm!
More than $ 150 million was spent on the construction of the structure.
Previously, the 495 m high bridge across the Syduhe River was considered the highest in the world.
ERESUN BRIDGE (1999 - 2000). COPENHAGEN, MALMË. DENMARK, SWEDEN
Unique road-rail design Øresundsbron (a compromise between Danish Øresundsbroen and Swedish Öresundsbron ) connects Denmark (Copenhagen) and Sweden (Malmë)across the Øresund Strait. It is the longest combined bridge tunnel in Europe. The only link between continental Europe and Scandinavia.
The length of the bridge is 7845 m. Two pairs of free-standing 204-meter load-bearing pylons allow navigation in the alignment of the main span, 490 m long, 57 m high. However, most ships pass unhindered through the strait above the tunnel.
Project architect - George Rothne, structural design - Ove Arup & Partners.
PAINTING BRIDGE (2007). MOSCOW. RUSSIA
Zhivopisny bridge in Serebryany Bor - across the Moskva River in the west the Russian capital... The opening of the bridge took place on December 27, 2007. 
The competition for the best project of this bridge, which was supposed to connect three banks of the Moskva River at once, was announced in the early 2000s. In the end, the idea of \u200b\u200bthe Omsk architects from NPO MOSTOVIK LLC won, who proposed a cable-stayed structure with an unusual arch made of tubular elements.
Length Zhivopisny bridge 1.5 km, width 40 m, arch height 105 m. The length of the main span is more than 400 meters, which ensures comfortable passage of river vessels. The main "highlight" of the Zhivopisny Bridge is a unique observation deck and a restaurant in the form of an elliptical "flying saucer", as if frozen over the water at a height of 100 meters ...
HARBOR BRIDGE (1932). SYDNEY. AUSTRALIA
Harbor Bridge Is the largest bridge in Sydney and one of the largest steel arch bridges in the world. The Sydney people jokingly call this bridge the "Hanger" due to its remarkable shape. The bridge opened on March 19, 1932. The length of the arch span of the bridge is 503 m. The total length of the bridge is 1 149 m. The width of the bridge is 49 m.
The Harbor Bridge connects the downtown area ( South coast) with the central (North Shore) and crosses Port Jackson Bay.
One of the bridge's towers houses the Pylon Lookout Museum and Observation Deck, which offers magnificent views of the harbor and city center. To climb the side arch of the bridge to its top, you only need rubber-soled shoes and a special suit with insurance, which is issued on the spot, the instructor will help to cope with everything else.
RAILWAY BRIDGE THROUGH KAMU (1899, 1998). Permian. Russia
The Kamsky railway bridge is one of the largest engineering structures in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. The superstructure project developed by engineer E.N. Adadurov, was approved by the Construction Department of the Siberian railroad April 30, 1896 Construction began in 1897. The grand opening took place January 27, 1899 in Perm.
In 1919, the second truss of the bridge on the left bank side was destroyed by the retreating troops of Kolchak. However, soon at the Chusovoy metallurgical plant, new structures were made for the destroyed farm, and on February 18, 1920, traffic on the Kamsky bridge was restored. Until our time the bridge has reachedin a rebuilt form. In 1953, the bridge was expanded by dismantling ice cutters and erecting supports on the existing caisson foundation. In the reconstruction, not only Russian, but also German and Hungarian factories were involved (at the expense of reparations).In 1988, the spans were replaced with new ones designed by the Moscow Institute of Giprotransput and the Chelyabinsk branch of Giprostroymost.In terms of its length (840 m), the Kamsky railway bridge is the largest in the Urals. More than two hundred passenger and freight passengers pass through it every day. trains in both directions.
SKYBRIDGE / SKYBRIDGE / (2014). SOCHI. RUSSIA
Skybridge - 440-meter suspension bridge in the Akhshtyrsky gorge of the Adler region of Sochi. A wonderful new attraction of the extreme amusement park SKYPARK AJ HACKETT SOCHI in the sea Olympic capital of Russia.
Skybridge may be in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest suspension bridge in the world. A 700-meter cable car leads to it. The structure sits at a height of 218 m, reaching 290 m above certain sections of the gorge, which is especially impressive since the bridge is made of polymer mesh and appears transparent.
The bridge is only 70 centimeters wide. New Zealander A.J. Hackett designed the new landmark in Sochi. The bridge offers an impressive view of the Mzymta River. There are platforms for fans of bungee jumping (jumping from a height on a cable) on the bridge. The bridge is capable of withstanding a magnitude 9 earthquake.
GLASS BRIDGE (2015). GEOPARK IN THE YUNTAISHAN MOUNTAINS. CHINA
This is the longest glass bridge in the world. It is located in the Hunan Geopark in the Yuntaishan Mountains at an altitude of 180 m and is considered one of the most terrifying on the planet.
The bridge was completely redesigned in 2015. The previous structure, which connects the peaks of the Stone Buddha Mountain, was made of wood and has deteriorated over time. However, 11 fearless engineers, who worked 12 hours a day, managed to turn it into a unique 300-meter glass "attraction", creating the illusion of walking through the air at a great height. 
Not everyone dares to walk along the Glass Bridge. The base of the bridge is made of two-layer glass 24 mm thick, which is 25 times stronger than ordinary window panes. The builders claim that the bridge is capable of withstanding a load of 800 kilograms per square meter.
Why did the bridge crack?
However, barely opening, the super-strong glass bridge suddenly cracked when one of the tourists dropped a metal thermos with water on it. Eyewitnesses say that they were frightened by a loud sound and felt vibrations. Panic broke out, people screamed and tried to escape from the bridge, risking passing each other - a word in some kind of blockbuster. Fortunately, things did not go further than cracks, and no one was hurt. The fall of the thermos damaged only one glass layer out of three. Experts believe that this is not the fault of the architects. It's all about the peculiarity of glass - as a material. As you know from the laws of physics, even bulletproof glass can crack if hit at a certain point. Apparently, the thermos hit just such a point. However, given the presence of several layers of glass, each of which has its own "risk points", the probability of breaking the bridge completely, even at the expense of strongest blowis actually zero.
ECOLOGICAL BRIDGE (2015). HUBEI PROVINCE. CHINA
Built in Hubei province the world's first ecological low-water bridge above a river. What is noteworthy is that the four-kilometer bridge does not pass across the river, but directly along the riverbed, which made it possible not to cut down trees during its construction. The bridge is part of a 10.5 km motorway. It follows the bends of the river exactly and connects the mountainous area with the central motorway. This bridge became a tourist attraction as soon as it opened. And already many travelers have set out to ride along the new ecological highway. 
BRIDGE AKASHI-KAIKE (1998). HONSU AND AWADZI ISLANDS. JAPAN
Akashi-Kaike bridge - one of the main works of engineering art in Japan. The longest suspension bridge in the world, reaching almost four kilometers. The length of the steel cables stretched along the bridge is a total of 300 thousand kilometers. That's enough to wrap the Earth 7.5 times! The bridge crosses the Akashi Strait and connects Kobe City on Honshu Island with Awaji City on Awaji Island. It is part of one of three highways connecting Honshu and Shikoku.
Before the construction of the bridge across the Akashi Strait, ferries operated, which was very dangerous due to severe storms. In fact, the construction of the bridge began in 1988 and the opening took place on April 5, 1998. Initially, two concrete pylon foundations were built at the bottom of the Akashi Strait. To do this, two huge round forms for pouring concrete were placed on the shore, then they were flooded. The difficulty was to flood them with great accuracy, but the bridge builders coped with this despite the strong current in the Akashi Strait. For the construction of this bridge, a special concrete was developed that does not dissolve in water when poured. The next stage in the construction of the bridge was the pulling of the cables, which was carried out with the help of a helicopter. In 1995, when both cables were stretched and it was possible to start assembling the roadway, a large earthquake of 7.3 magnitude occurred. And due to the change in the topography of the bottom of the strait, one of the pylons moved 1 m to the side, thus breaking all the calculations. However, the engineers found a solution, and construction work was delayed by only a month. Due to the high cost of travel ($ 20), few car owners use the bridge, preferring to cross the strait by bus or, as before, by ferry.
SUSPENSION BRIDGE. NEPAL
Nepal has a suspension bridge, which was not created to decorate the landscape or attract tourists, but for the convenience of local residents. This bridge will stretch over the gorge, and every day hundreds of people and livestock cross it at their own peril and risk in the absence of any alternatives. The structure of the bridge is very mobile and not strong, so walking on it is very scary.
"MONKEY BRIDGE". TATTON PARK. UNITED KINGDOM
A virtually weightless bridge hovers over a pond suspended from three huge white balloons in Tutton Park, England. The composition is called "Monkey Bridge". The author of the bridge is the French artist Olivier Grossetete. Unfortunately, people cannot run along such a crossing, this is just a fabulous art installation.
VIADUK MIJO / MILLFU VIADUCT. FRANCE
Futuristic bridge above the clouds Millfu Viaductlocated in France. At the time of construction, the Viaduct Millau was the tallest transport bridge in the world. The height of one of its pillars reaches 341 m, i.e. it is taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 40 meters below the Empire State Building in New York. The total length of the bridge is 2,460 m. Driving through this architectural wonder, it seems as if you are taking off.
BRIDGE "RAINBOW FOUNTAIN" BANPO BRIDGE (2009). SEOUL. KOREA
The fountain bridge is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the bridge with the world's longest fountain (length - 1140 m). The bridge connects the two banks of the Hanshui River in the South Korean city of Seoul and only became a fountain in 2009. Water jets move to the music, illuminated by multi-colored LEDs, performing a beautiful dance.
STORSEISUNDET BRU (1989).
PROVINCE MËRE-OG-ROMSDAL. NORWAY
Storseisundet bru - one of the seven bridges of the unique "Atlantic Road" of Norway, connecting the mainland and the island of Averei in Møre og Romsdal province. The Storsezandet bridge is built in such a way that at the moment of approach it creates the illusion of a springboard from which you can take off with the car. Locals this bridge is called "Drunk", because its shape is constantly changing depending on the angle of view.
HANGING BRIDGE KIKKI (1991). MIE PREFECTURE. JAPAN
The unique Kikki Y-shaped suspension bridge at Aoyama Kogen Golf Club in Mie Prefecture was designed in 1991. The bridge is 12 meters long. This bridge provides members with free passage from the clubhouse to the golf course. The uniqueness of the design lies in the fact that the bridge is designed without a single support and can be folded and unrolled. The bridge is driven by hydraulic pumps in the railing. From an architectural point of view, the Kikki bridge is incredibly beautiful, its railings are made of precious wood and decorated with very fine carvings in the national style.
MOST-AQUEDUKWASSERSTRAßENKREUZ MAGDEBURG (2003). BERLIN. GERMANY
Wasserstraßenkreuz Magdeburg - the largest water bridge in Germany, connecting the inner port of Berlin with the ports on the Rhine. The length of the bridge is 918 m. The bridge is located 10 km north of the center of Magdeburg. On the right bank of the Elbe near the bridge there is locality Hohenwart.
For the first time, the idea of \u200b\u200bbuilding such a bridge was expressed back in 1919, and by 1938 the Rotensee ship lift and the bridge supports were ready. During the First and Second World Wars, construction was postponed. Also, after the division of Germany into the FRG and the GDR, the construction was postponed indefinitely by the government of the GDR. With the unification of Germany, the construction of the bridge again became a priority. Construction began in 1997 and was completed six years later. In total, 0.5 billion euros were spent on the project. Before the construction of the bridge, the ships were forced to make a twelve-kilometer detour through the Rottensee lock along the Elbe and through the Nigripp lock.
BRIDGE PYTHON / PYTHONBRUG (2001). AMSTERDAM. NETHERLANDS
Pythonbrug - a serpentine bridge in Amsterdam connecting the Sporenburg peninsula with the island of Borneo... This is one of the most bizarre bridges in the world. It was built in 2001. West 8 was responsible for the design and construction of this post.
MOST RESTAURANT AYOLA (2003). GRATS. AUSTRIA
In 2003, New York-based architect Vito Acconci created the Iola Island Bridge, which spans the Mur River in Graz. The island part of the bridge is a small restaurant in the middle of the river with an interesting interior and an observation deck.
BRIDGE PONTE VECCHO (1345). FLORENCE. ITALY
Ponte Vecchio - the oldest bridge in Florence and the only one that has retained its original appearance. The bridge was built in 1345. A distinctive feature of the Ponte Vecchio is the houses squeezing on both sides of it. In the center of the bridge, a number of buildings are interrupted by an open area from which you can admire the river and other bridges of the city.
ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE (1929).GREAT CANYON OF ARKANZAS RIVER. USA
366 meter bridge Royal gorgedesigned by George Cole and Frank Stahl in Grand canyon the Arkansas River, became the prototype for "Jurassic Park". This canyon became especially famous in the middle of the 19th century. At that time, native silver was found there, but the deposit was quickly depleted. But archaeologists found the remains of dinosaurs in these places, and Canyon City instantly became a popular tourist town, especially for which a unique suspension bridge-attraction with a boardwalk was built. True, in the 1960s, the Royal Gorge became notorious as the "suicide bridge", where those wishing to take their own lives came specially. Fortunately, at the beginning of the XXI century. they were replaced by tourists wishing to make extreme jumps from the legendary bridge.
GATESHEAD MILLENNIUM BRIDGE (2001). GATESHEAD, NEWCASTLE. UNITED KINGDOM
Built by architects Chris Wilkinson and Jim Eyre to celebrate the new millennium, the 126-meter Oscillating Bridge over the River Tyne between Gateshead and Newcastle is a unique lift-and-turn structure. At the heart of this design are two arches connected by cables, one of which serves as a footpath capable of passing small vessels underneath; and the other is raised above the water by about 50 m. When a tall ship approaches the bridge, the bridge performs a pirouette - the so-called "winking eye", when six hydraulic jacks rotate both arches 40 degrees around the axis connecting their ends and their upper points find themselves at a height of about 25 m above the water. Thus, the bridge "winks" about 2000 times a year, and every time a lot of people gather to look at it. The bridge weighing more than 800 tons is capable of withstanding a collision with a vessel with a displacement of up to 4000 tons, sailing at a speed of up to 4 knots. Gateshead Millennium Bridge is the recipient of over 30 engineering, architectural and design awards. In 2007, the Royal Mint featured him on the reverse of the one pound coin. 
HEAVENLY BRIDGE / LANGKAWI SKY BRIDGE (2004). LANGKAWI ISLAND. MALAYSIA
Architects: Peter Wyss, Höltschi & Schurter Dipl. Ing. ETH / SIA AG.
The mysteriously curved "Sky Bridge" really seems to be hovering over an abyss at an altitude of 700 m above sea level. Langkawi Sky Bridge is located near the summit of the Mat Chichang Mountain on the resort island of Langkawi. Once there were hiding pirates of the Andaman Sea, and now it is a UNESCO Geopark. The length of the bridge is 125 m. It rests on only one column and cables fixed in the rocks. Cable car in two steps with an intermediate stop, it lifts tourists to the observation bridge at an altitude of 712 m, from where a view of the gorges, the sea and the nearby islands of Thailand opens up. In 2005, the bridge was awarded the Footbridge International Competition Prize.
MOST-TRANSFORMER / ROLLING BRIDGE (2005). PADDINGTON. UNITED KINGDOM
Paddington's unique octagonal transforming bridge literally unfolds at noon every Friday afternoon, turning into a 12-meter footpath over a boat channel adjacent to the canal between London and Birmingham.
The English sculptor Thomas Heatherwick, who created this miracle together with Anthony Hunt and Packman Lucas, spied the principle of this “segmented kinetic sculpture” from ... a garden caterpillar. The collapsible metal parapet of the bridge contains hydraulic pistons that synchronously deploy and fold the bridge, which won the prestigious British Structural Steel Design Award in 2005.
HENDERSON WAVES (2008). SINGAPORE
This 36-meter footbridge is the tallest in Singapore. It links Mount Faber Park and Telok Blanga Hill Park.
The length of the bridge is 274m. The design of the bridge is quite unusual. Seven ribbed steel bulges above and below the deck of the bridge form a system of side niches containing seating areas with benches and tables. The inner decoration of the bridge is made of yellow balau wood, the outside is made of ribbed plate metal structures, in which lighting devices are hidden for beautiful night illumination.
GESHER HA-MEITARIM (2008).ISRAEL
The 360-meter bridge at the intersection of Herzl Boulevard and Jaffa Road in Jerusalem is twice jubilee: it was created for the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel and is the fortieth bridge in the work of the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. As conceived by the architect, the bridge for the high-speed tram line with pedestrian walkways, suspended on 66 cables, assembled into a single parabolic structure on one pylon 119 m high, symbolizes the harp of King David. The first two years after opening, before the start of the tram line, the bridge was exclusively pedestrian, contrary to forecasts and objections, it became one of the architectural attractions ancient city... The new bridge suddenly found itself at the center of a political scandal. It is located on the border of East Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel during the Six Day War and is still legally considered the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The intransigent PLO strongly opposed the construction and threatened to sue the Israeli government.
PONT GUSTAVE-FLAUBERT (2008). ROUEN.FRANCE
Pont gustave-flaubert is located in Rouen and is considered the highest drawbridge in Europe (total height 91 m, lift height 55 m). Its length is 670 m.The bridge was designed by Emeric Zublin, Michel Virlojot and François Gillard in such a way that under it could pass not only cruise ships, but also sailboats participating in the "Rouen Armada" naval parade. By the way, its opening took place before the next "Armada". The bridge bears the name of the Rouen-born French writer Gustave Flaubert, and its lifting mechanism is launched 30-40 times a year. Each roadway has its own lift section. At the same time, the opening between the bridge platforms, which overhang the river at a height of 7 m, partially retains the flow of sunlight to the water under the bridge, which supports the natural ecosystem of the river.
BRIDGE OF PEACE (2010). TBILISI. GEORGIA
The 156-meter pedestrian Peace Bridge over the Kura River, connecting Old Tbilisi with new micro-districts, is one of the most recognizable buildings in the Georgian capital.
Bridge of Peace in Tbilisi. Photo: soloway.org.ua
The bridge with a canopy of glass panels in the spirit of Norman Foster was designed by Italian architect Michele de Lucchi in collaboration with French lighting designer Philippe Martino.
An interesting illumination system is built into the construction of the Bridge of Peace: in the evening and at night, every hour, 30,000 light bulbs broadcast a message in Morse code, visible on both parapets of the bridge. This message is composed of the names of the elements of the periodic table that make up the human body. According to the architect, "this message is a hymn to life and peace between people and nations." For Tbilisi, this bridge played the same role as the Eiffel Tower for Paris, becoming a new symbol of the ancient city, being a modern technological structure.
MOSES BRIDGE (2011). FORT ROOVER. NETHERLANDS
Moses bridge - the newest of the unusual bridges in the world. It is located in Fort Roover, built in the 17th century. as part of the Brabant line of structures protecting Holland from invasion by the French and Spanish.
In the course of large-scale reconstruction of the fort, the designers were given a difficult task - to throw a bridge over the fortress moat for tourists, making it almost invisible. The architects coped with the task brilliantly, the bridge was designed in such a way that the pedestrian flooring is below the water level. From a distance it is invisible, but upon closer inspection it resembles a small moat cutting through a river. Hence the name in honor of the prophet Moses, before whom the waters parted. The bridge is made of specially treated and water-resistant timber. The Bridge of Moses is among the finalists of the prestigious Dutch Design Awards.
In this collection you will get acquainted with the largest bridges in the world. But it won't be a simple comparison in terms of length, area or height. Every year more and more bridges are being built, higher, longer and more unusual, therefore here I will talk about the record-breaking bridges, since each of them at one time was the longest, largest, highest, or original. All structures in this list will stand out in some way, which is why they are worth paying attention to. I ask you to take part in the discussions, express your point of view and supplement the selection with structures that are interesting in your opinion.
1. We will start with the longest this moment Road Bridge - Hangzhou in China. It is the longest bridge crossing the ocean - it is 36 kilometers long. You can commit virtual walk for Hangzhou at the link above. In the coming years, bridges will be built that will break the record for this bridge, but it will forever remain one of the longest and largest structures of this kind. 
2. The highest viaduct at the moment is the Millot (Millau) viaduct in France. Its height is 343 meters, Millau is also a record holder thanks to the tallest pillars in the world, as well as the tallest bridge towers in the world 
3. No less legendary bridge - Golden Gate in San Francisco. For a long time (almost three decades), it was the largest suspension bridge in the world. He also holds the sad record for the number of suicides. Almost every month, some madman jumps from it into the water. 
02.06.2013
The longest bridges in the world
# 5. Qingdao Bay Bridge
Construction period: 2007-2011
This the first longest water bridge located in China, stretches over the Jiaozhou Bay for 42 km. The construction of the bridge did not take much, not a little, 5.5 billion pounds sterling! Six 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 combat traffic jams. Six lanes do the job well.
No. 3. Bridge over Wei, China
Build period: 2008
The bridge, which crosses the Wei River and several other rivers twice, carries the Zhengzhou branch railroad tracks on 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. Withstands the load of both regular and high-speed trains.
No. 1. Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct, China
Construction period: 2008-2010
The longest bridge in the world also intended for the railway. 164.8 km pass both above the water surface (the longest distance is 9 km) and over land.
The largest (highest) bridges in the world
No. 5. Stone Cutting Bridge, Hong Kong
Build 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 typhoons, which are common in these territories, the bridge is additionally fortified.
No. 4. Akashi-Kaikyo, Japan
Construction period: 1994-1998
In addition to its impressive height (298 meters), this bridge is distinguished by one more feature: the largest span in the world was created between the two bearing pillars - its length is 1991 meters, there are three spans in total. There is a toll on the bridge, however, according to forecasts, it will pay off its construction only in 30 years, excluding inflation.
No. 3. Sutong Bridge over the Yangtze, China
Construction period: 2003-2008
The construction of a 306 meter high road bridge connecting Nantong and Shanghai has reduced travel time between them from four hours to one.
№ 2. Russian bridge, Russia
Construction period: 2008-2012
This cable-stayed bridge has largest span among themselves - 1104 meters! AND highest pylons - 324 meters. The bridge connects the mainland with the Russian island, hence the name. despite the scale of the construction and the records set during it, construction has been repeatedly criticized - for cost and corruption in the main.
No. 1. Viaduct Millau, France
Construction period: 2001-2004
Another cable-stayed bridge this time the highest transport in the world! Its supports stand at the bottom of a gorge in the Tarn River valley. It is higher 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 with the aim of eliminating congestion 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 accelerates the movement of motorists.
