The Golden Gate Bridge is famous for its remarkable feat of engineering and is an iconic symbol of San Francisco. Here we have shared facts about Golden Gate Bridge.
About Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge located in San Francisco, California. It spans the Golden Gate Strait, which is the entrance to San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean.
The bridge is open to pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles, and there are designated pedestrian walkways on both sides of the bridge that offer stunning views of San Francisco Bay and the surrounding area.
The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic symbol of San Francisco and is recognized around the world as one of the most beautiful and impressive bridges ever built.
Facts About Golden Gate Bridge
Here are interesting facts about the Golden Gate Bridge.
1. The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the Golden Gate Strait, which is the entrance to San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean.
2. The bridge was designed by Joseph Strauss, who had been advocating for a bridge across the Golden Gate Strait since the 1920s.
3. Construction on the bridge began on January 5, 1933, and was completed on April 19, 1937, at a cost of $35 million.
4. At the time of its completion, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world, with a total length of 8,981 feet.
5. The bridge’s towers are 746 feet tall, making them the tallest structures in San Francisco until the Transamerica Pyramid was built in 1972.
6. The bridge’s suspension cables are made up of 27,572 strands of wire each and are 7,650 feet long.
7. The bridge’s main span is 4,200 feet long, and it is supported by two massive cables that are 36 inches in diameter.
8. The bridge is painted “International Orange,” which was chosen because it complements the natural surroundings and provides visibility in the foggy conditions that are common in the area.
9. The bridge’s roadway is 90 feet wide, and it is supported by two main cables that are anchored in concrete blocks on either side of the bridge.
10. The bridge’s suspension system allows it to sway and flex during high winds and earthquakes while remaining stable.
11. The bridge is open to pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles. There are designated pedestrian walkways on both sides of the bridge that offer stunning views of San Francisco Bay and the surrounding area.
12. The bridge’s toll plaza is located on the San Francisco side of the bridge, and the current toll for passenger vehicles is $8.
13. The bridge’s construction was a major engineering feat that required innovative design and construction techniques. For example, workers had to create a movable platform that allowed them to work on the bridge’s main cables while it was being constructed.
14. The bridge was designed to withstand strong winds, which can reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. The bridge’s suspension system allows it to sway and flex during high winds while remaining stable.
15. The bridge’s name, “Golden Gate,” actually refers to the strait that it spans and not the color of the bridge.
16. The bridge is a popular tourist attraction and has been featured in numerous films and TV shows, including “Full House,” “Monk,” and “Vertigo.”
17. The bridge’s iconic color has inspired other structures around the world to be painted in a similar hue, including the Taipei 101 tower in Taiwan.
18. The bridge has seen its fair share of accidents and suicides over the years. To prevent suicides, a suicide barrier is currently being constructed on the bridge, which is expected to be completed in 2021.
19. The bridge’s maintenance is ongoing and requires constant attention. A team of engineers and maintenance workers monitor the bridge’s condition and make necessary repairs and upgrades as needed.
20. The bridge is an important transportation link in the San Francisco Bay Area, with an estimated 100,000 vehicles crossing it each day.
21. The bridge has become an iconic symbol of San Francisco and is recognized around the world as one of the most beautiful and impressive bridges ever built.
Read More Similar Posts
- 9 Facts About Giant Sequoia Tree
- 21 Facts About Yosemite
- 16 Things To Do in Joshua
- 25 Things To Do in Death Valley
- 28 Things To Do in Lake Tahoe
FAQ
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Golden Gate Bridge. Here you can know some historical and amazing facts about Golden Gate Bridge.
How long is the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Golden Gate Bridge is approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) long.
Where is the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Golden Gate Bridge is located in San Francisco, California, USA. It spans the Golden Gate Strait, the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean, connecting San Francisco to Marin County.
When was the Golden Gate Bridge built?
The Golden Gate Bridge was built between 1933 and 1937. It took four years to complete and was opened to the public on May 27, 1937.
How tall is the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Golden Gate Bridge towers are 746 feet (227 meters) tall, measured from the bridge deck to the top of the towers. The roadway of the bridge is about 220 feet (67 meters) above the water.
Why is it called the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Golden Gate Bridge is named after the Golden Gate Strait, which is the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The strait was named “Chrysopylae,” meaning “Golden Gate,” by John C. Fremont, an American explorer, in 1846.
The name stuck, and when it came time to name the bridge that was to be built across the strait, “Golden Gate Bridge” seemed like a fitting choice. The bridge itself is not golden in color, but rather a reddish-orange hue officially known as “International Orange.”
How many people have jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Golden Gate Bridge is unfortunately known for being a site for suicide attempts. According to the official count by the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, more than 1,700 people have died by suicide by jumping off the bridge since it opened in 1937.
The bridge has been recognized as the second-most popular suicide site in the world, after the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge in China. In recent years, measures have been taken to reduce the number of suicides on the bridge, including the installation of suicide prevention barriers along the bridge’s pedestrian walkways.
What type of bridge is the Golden Gate Bridge?
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge. It is supported by two main cables, which are anchored at each end of the bridge and pass over the two towers before extending down to the anchorages on either side of the strait.
The bridge deck, which carries the roadway and pedestrian walkways, is suspended from the main cables by vertical suspenders. The design of the Golden Gate Bridge is considered to be one of the most iconic and recognizable in the world.
Why is the Golden Gate Bridge famous?
The Golden Gate Bridge is famous for several reasons. It is a well-known symbol of San Francisco, California, and the United States as a whole. It is also recognized as a marvel of modern engineering and a significant feat of human achievement. When it was completed in 1937, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, and it held that record until 1964.
The bridge’s distinctive color, officially known as “International Orange,” is also a recognizable feature that sets it apart from other bridges. Unfortunately, the bridge has also gained notoriety as a site for suicide attempts, which has led to efforts to improve safety measures and increase awareness of mental health issues.
Despite this tragic aspect, the Golden Gate Bridge remains a popular tourist attraction and a source of pride for the people of San Francisco and the United States.
Why was the Golden Gate Bridge built?
The Golden Gate Bridge was built to provide a much-needed transportation link between San Francisco and Marin County, which are separated by the Golden Gate strait. Prior to the bridge’s construction, the only way to cross the strait was by ferry, which was slow and unreliable, especially during inclement weather.
The idea for a bridge across the strait had been proposed as early as the late 19th century, but it was not until the early 20th century that serious efforts were made to make it a reality. In 1923, a bond measure was passed to fund the construction of the bridge, and a design competition was held to select the bridge’s design.
The final design was a suspension bridge by the architect Joseph Strauss, who oversaw the construction of the bridge until it was completed in 1937.
Today, the Golden Gate Bridge is recognized as one of the most iconic and recognizable structures in the world, and it continues to serve as a vital transportation link for the people of San Francisco and the surrounding areas.
