Golden Gate Bridge

Facts file

➊ The Golden Gate Bridge is a bridge, which connects San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean

➋ It was opened in 1937. At this time it was both the longest and the tallest suspension bridge in the world

➌ The Golden Gate Bridge construction project was carried out by the McClintic-Marshall Construction Co.

➍ The bridge is popular with pedestrians and bicyclists, and was built with walkways on either side of the six vehicle traffic lanes.

➎ Lands and waters under and around the bridge are homes to varieties of wildlife such as bobcats, harbor seals, and sea lions.

➏ The bridge was going to be painted in blue and yellow stripes to increase its visibility but when the steel arrived in San Francisco painted in a burnt red hue as primer, the consulting architect decided the color was both highly visible—and more pleasing to the eye so they didn't change the color of it.

➐ The bridge is named after the Golden Gate Strait, which is the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean.

Interesting numbers

➊ 1,280 m - the length of the main span

➋ 227 m - total height

➌ 250 - pairs of vertical suspender ropes, which hold the weight of the roadway

➍ 130,000 km - the total length of galvanized steel wire used to fabricate both main cables

➎ 2,737 m - the total length of the Golden Gate Bridge from abutment to abutment

➏ $523 million - the price of the construction project

➐ 120,000 - the number of cars passing the bridge every single day

➑ 27,4 m - the width of the bridge

➒ 887,000 t - the weight of the bridge