Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Golden Gate Bridge
Named after the entrance to the Strait of San Francisco Bay
called “Golden Gate” by John Fremont in 1846, the bridge
opened in 1937, connecting San Francisco with Marin County.
Breathtaking views are offered from this world-famous
landmark, which has six lanes for vehicles, plus a pedestrian
and bicycle path. It is the world's ninth-largest suspension
bridge but it was the world's longest one when it was built.
Divers
To reach bedrock when building the
south tower, divers used dynamite
to smooth the surface of
the ocean floor.
The Tower Piers
The foundations of the towers are
a remarkable feat of engineering.
The south tower, 1,125 ft (345 m)
offshore, was sunk 100 ft (30 m)
below the surface in open water.
KEY
1
The length
of the bridge is
1.7 miles (2.7 km), with a center
span of 4,200 ft (1,280 m).
2
The roadway
is 220 ft (67 m)
above water 318-ft (97-m) deep
at the mid-point.
Concrete Fender
During construction of the south
(or San Francisco) tower, a ring or fender
of concrete was first poured to form the
base upon which the tower was built.
