The city in Europe with the most bridges. Which European city has the most bridges? The Best Engineering Designs of All Time
Nowadays bridges are not something surprising or supernatural. They have long become a convenient tool for movement, and allow you to achieve your goal in the shortest possible time. Once upon a time, bridges were trees, planks and ropes. Today these are amazing structures that constantly compete in perfection and strength.
After everyone appreciated the convenience of these structures, bridges began to be perceived as a certain form of art; they actually look impressively beautiful and represent a great creation of mankind. Many people specifically go on a trip in order to see and visit the most beautiful bridges in the world.
In this article we will introduce you to longest bridges in the world and we’ll tell you about the construction process, history and many interesting incidents that are inextricably linked with them.
1.Danyan-Kunyshan viaduct. China. This longest bridge in the world, 164.8 kilometers long. It was built as part of the Beijing High Mountain Railway. Its construction took only 2 years. It is located in Jiangsu province, between Shanghai and the city of Nanki. The largest body of water that crosses the bridge is Yangcheng Lake. The lake, in turn, is famous for the fact that it is home to shaggy crabs, whose meat is a great delicacy.
2. Tianjin viaduct. China. Second longest bridge, is also located in China and its construction also took 2 years. Its length reaches 113,700 meters, which extends from Beijing South railway station to Tianjin city.
It is not surprising that third longest bridge in the world is located in China. Its total length is 79,732 meters and connects the cities of Zhengzhou and Xi'an. The bridge received this name because it crosses the Wei River twice.
4. Bang Na Highway. Thailand. There is a bridge in the city Bangkok, and its total length is 54 kilometers. The construction of this above-ground structure lasted 5 years, and the cost of the entire project was more than 1 billion US dollars. Traffic over the bridge paid, this is due to the fact that there is a free ground road. The bridge was created in order to relieve traffic jams on highways.
And again, China is the country that holds the record for the longest bridges. Its length is 42.5 kilometers and extends between the city of Qingdao and the Huangdao region, and also crosses northern part Jiaozhou Bay.
Construction of the bridge took 4 years and cost China 60 billion Chinese yuan, the same as almost 10 billion US dollars. Every day, 30,000 cars cross the bridge, saving only 20-30 minutes, which is clearly not worth such a waste of the state budget.
6.Bridge (dam) across Lake Pontchartrain. USA. It also has another name, which is better known to Americans - bridge between Mandeville and Metairie, since these two cities are connected by a lake. It is located in the state of Louisiana, and its length is 38.42 kilometers.
If we compare it with other similar buildings, the bridge is particularly stable and resistant to various elements. True, during its existence (since 1948), one or several barges periodically crash into the bridge.
7.Hangzhou Bay Bridge. Despite the fact that this bridge is the seventh on our list, it is actually the first longest transoceanic bridge in the world.
In turn, it crosses the ocean and connects the cities of Shanghai and Ningbo. The length of the bridge is 36 kilometers, its estimated service life is 100 years, despite the fact that it was built in China.
8.Bridge named after Louisiana paratroopers. USA. From the name, it is obvious that the bridge is located in the state of Louisiana, namely between cities of Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The bridge crosses the Atchafalaya Basin and has a length of 29.29 kilometers, making it second most long bridge in USA. Near the visitor center at milepost 121 of Highway 3177 is a monument dedicated to the memory of the soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division.
9. King Fahd Bridge. Saudi Arabia. It is rather a whole complex of bridges, the total length of which is more than 25 kilometers. The purpose of the complex is to connect the city of Al Hubao in Saudi Arabia and island state Bahrain. Construction began in 1982 when heads of state King Fahd and Isa laid the first stone.
10. Bridge-tunnel over the Chesapeake Bay. USA. Have you ever seen a bridge turn into an underwater tunnel? No? Then you have a great opportunity to take a ride underwater. It is located in Virginia and was built back in 1964.
The bridge, if you can even call it that, consists of two underwater tunnels (1600 meters each), 4 artificial islands, 2 bridges, more than 3 kilometers of roads along dams and 9 kilometers of access roads. And all this is done so that US Navy vessels can safely go to the open sea. The total length of all these structures is 24.14 kilometers.
That's how creative people can be. Once you see one of these giants, it will be difficult to name it just a bridge, in fact, this is a real work of art, resourcefulness and talent.
In fact, this is not the limit of human capabilities and, given how quickly our planet is populated with more and more new people, soon it will all be covered with many layers of bridges, highways and tunnels.
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Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. He is also popular tourist destination thanks to its beautiful scenery, unique juxtaposition of historical monuments and modern pubs and nightclubs, including the world-famous red light district of Reeperbahn.
Hamburg is considered a major port city, despite its location approximately 100 kilometers from the North Sea, on both sides of the Elbe River. Hamburg has the country's largest port - the second busiest port in Europe, and the third largest in the world, after the ports of London and New York. Therefore, everyone who loves water, ships and harbors simply must visit it.
Hamburg is practically surrounded by water on all sides. The Alster River is divided into two lakes, Binnen and Aussenalster (meaning "inner" and "outer"), located on either side of the city, and the Elbe River flows directly through the city and into the North Sea. This abundance of water means there are many canals, rivers and bridges. In fact, few people know that in Hamburg more bridges than any other city in the world, and more canals than Amsterdam and Venice combined. According to estimates, their number ranges from 2300 to 2500 - which is much more than total canals in London, Amsterdam and Venice. Below are the most famous bridges of this wonderful city:
Köhlbrand Bridge
The Köhlbrand Bridge opened in 1974 and has been one of Hamburg's most famous landmarks ever since. Its length is 3940 meters, and the span of the central, cable-stayed part is 325 meters. From 1974 to 1991, this bridge was considered the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It is now considered the second longest bridge in Germany.
Network of Hamburg Elbe Bridges (Hamburg Elbbrücken)
New Elbe Bridge (Neue Elbbrücke), Billhorner Bridge, and Freeport Elbe Bridge.
Railroad bridge
New bridge over the Elbe
Bridge over the Elbe Free Port
The Hamburg Elbe Bridge Network is a series of independent bridges that cross the Elbe River, which flows through Hamburg. This Hamburg shipping route is divided into two main branches, the North Elbe and the South Elbe, which merge after they pass the network of Elbe Islands, united into the most big Island on this river.
Hamburg Bridge over the Elbe (Harburger Elbbrücke)
The Old Hamburg Bridge over the Elbe was opened in 1899. The 474 meter steel arch bridge, originally built for vehicles, was the first road bridge across the South Branch of the Elbe. Now it serves only to ferry pedestrians and cyclists. Between 1980 and 1995, the bridge was radically rebuilt. Cantilever walkways were built on both sides of the bridge.
Kattwyk Bridge
The Kattwyk Bridge, crossing the South Branch of the Elbe, is a 290-meter vertical drawbridge with two 70-meter-long entrances for rail and road transport. This bridge, opened on March 21, 1973, connects the Wilhelmsburg quarter with the Moorburg quarter. Both neighborhoods are located on the Elbe island network. Kattwyk is capable of rising to a height of 46 meters and is the largest vertical drawbridge in the world.
The peculiarity of the bridge is that the rails located on it are located in the center of the roadway. Due to the fact that "Kattwyk" is both a railway and road bridge, road traffic is blocked when crossing the bridge freight train. These stops usually last between eight and ten minutes. On weekdays, the bridge is raised every two hours to allow ships to pass. During the lifting of the bridge, traffic stops for 15-20 minutes.
Brooks Bridge
The Brooks Bridge, which leads to the city of Speicherstadt, was opened in 1887. The bridge is decorated with four statues, one at each of its corners. The original sculptures were destroyed during World War II. The sculptures that stand on the bridge today were installed in 2001.
Lombardsbruecke and Kennedy Bridge
The Lombard Bridge in Hamburg is a railway and road bridge over the Alster River. It was named after the pawnshop that was located there in 1651. The original wooden bridge was replaced in 1865 by a new 69-metre, three-arch bridge crossing the Alster River.
Next to the Lombard Bridge is the Kennedy Bridge. The second bridge was built in 1953 because the old Lombard Bridge could not cope with the increased traffic. The bridge was originally called the New Lombard Bridge. It was renamed Kennedy Bridge in 1963 in honor of John F. Kennedy after his assassination.
Lombard Bridge and Kennedy Bridge separate the Inner and Outer Alster lakes.
Toll Bridge (Zollenbrücke)
The Toll Bridge is the oldest bridge in the city, built in 1663. The 25-meter bridge, with three different sized arches, is built from sandstone blocks. Railings and lanterns were added in the 19th century when the bridge was widened.
Ellentors Bridge
The Ellerntors Bridge is a stone arch bridge that crosses the Tomb of the Lord's Fleet. For many centuries it served as a direct route from Hamburg to Altona. Built in 1668, this bridge is the second oldest surviving stone bridge in Hamburg.
Otradny Bridge (Trostbrücke)
Otradny Most is a small historical bridge that crosses "Nikolaifleet", which is one of the many narrow coves connecting the city's docks with the Elbe River. Situated southwest of the city center, it once stood on the border between Hamburg's old and new towns. It was built in 1881. This stone structure is famous for the presence of statues of Count Adolph III and Bishop Ansgar, the founder of the very first cathedral in Hamburg. In translation, the bridge is called “Otradny”. It received this name because convicts were led across it, and the beauty of the bridge was their last joy.
Reesendamm Bridge
The "Reesendamm" bridge crosses the Little Alster lake, Jungfernstieg and mountain road. It was named after Heinrich Müller Reese, who owned a corn mill in the 13th century. The bridge was built in 1843. People love to come to this bridge to admire the beautiful view of the river with swans, which they can feed with pieces of bread.
Bridge "Slamatjen"
One of the lesser-known bridges is the Slamatjen Bridge, located in the Neustadt district on the Ludwig-Erhard street, which crosses the Alster. Since its completion in 1959, it has served as a road bridge. On the bridge there is a wonderful picture carved in stone, which represents two women talking. The place where the bridge is located once was popular place meetings of water bearer women.
We welcome you again to the pages of our website “Me and the World”! Bridges stretch over water, over land, over abyss. Today we will tell you which is the longest bridge in the world.
When going on a trip around the world, take a look at the top 10 longest structures, take a closer look at the photos, find out where they are and what they are called. And then walk through them in reality.
In 1st place is the Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct - 164,800 m
The Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct connects two cities in Eastern China. This railroad bridge, along which several trains can travel at once. Almost 9 km passes over the surface of the water, the rest of the distance the train travels on land. Construction lasted quite a short time, only four years, and 10,000 people worked here. China spent $8.5 billion on the project and it is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest in the world.
2nd place goes to Great Tianjin - 113,700 m
This structure continues the high-speed railway line between the cities of Beijing and Shanghai, and was also built in China.
In 3rd place - Bridge over Wei - 79,700 m
Again the Chinese railway bridge. It connects the banks of the Wei River and crosses it twice. Trains began traveling along it in 2010, although it was built in 2008.
4th place – Bang Na Highway – 54,000 m
This is a six-lane highway, but many consider this road to be a bridge because it passes over the ground. The automobile giant is located in Thailand and took 5 years to build. Serious traffic jams convinced the authorities to build this highway and invest more than a billion dollars in it. And although the highway is toll, many motorists and tourists try to drive along it, avoiding traffic jams and admiring the surrounding views.
Middle of the ranking – Qingdao – 42,500 m
The largest automotive project across the water. The entire 42.5 km of the Qingdao Bridge goes over the bay. It took 4 years to build, and during this time it cost 10 billion dollars. Every day, up to 30,000 cars pass on the road, and only half an hour of time is saved. Some are surprised: why was it necessary to spend so much money from the budget to save 30 minutes?
6th place – Pontchartrain Dam Bridge – 38,420 m
Also goes through the water of Lake Pontchartrain USA. Located in the state of Louisiana and is paid. Now you can drive between the two shores of the lake in just 50 minutes. Very resistant to various elements, but apparently built so low above the water that barges periodically crash into it.
7th place goes to the Hangzhou Bay Bridge - 35,673 m
One of the most beautiful in the world is located in China. Overwater, passing along the Pacific Gulf. The structure is built in the shape of the letter S. Driving through the structure, motorists reduce the distance by 120 km. On the six-lane road you can drive at a speed of 100 km/h. The shelf life is set at 100 years and then the structure will be reconstructed.
In 8th place is the Shanghai Maglev - 30,500 m
This is the most expensive Chinese railway project. It is made on a magnetic suspension. The project cost about 1.6 billion dollars. The road was laid mainly through marshy areas, and every 25 km it was necessary to make concrete pads for supports, and they are expensive. The highest speed of a train on such a bridge is about 430 km/h, but only a minute and a half - after all, there is almost nowhere to accelerate.
9th place goes to the Bridge-Tunnel, which runs across the Chesapeake Bay - 28,140 m
Very interesting building, which becomes an underwater tunnel. Great idea to ride underwater. The building took 35 years to build. The cost to cross the bridge is $12.00 per toll. The cars ride on the surface for some time, and then “go” down into a tunnel under water so that ships can freely sail through the structure.
And the list ends with the King Fahd Bridge - 26,000 m
It consists of several dams and small bridges that connect Saudi Arabia and the state of Bahrain, located on the islands. The name is given in honor of the King of Arabia, who laid the foundation for construction. One of the parts is quite remarkable, because it rises high above the water, like a hill. I would like to tell you about other unique bridges that are not included in the top ten
The longest arched one was built in Shanghai, more than 3.5 km long and about 45 m high
The longest glass curtain wall is again in China with a length of 488 m and a width of 2 m
The structure connects two rocks, and its weight reached 70 tons. When tourists approach the center, it sways slightly. How great this is, but also scary! 500 people can step on it at the same time.
The longest pedestrian cableway runs over the Akhshtyrsky Gorge in Sochi. Length – 439 m and it stretches at an altitude of 207 m
The length of the longest in Europe is 17 km - Vasco da Gama
The structure is quite beautiful and passes over very clear waters. It was built in just a year and a half and was ready for the 500th anniversary of the opening of the route from Europe to India.
In Russia, a long cable-stayed one was built in Vladivostok 3100 m
It is about 29 m wide and weighs 23,000 tons. High pylons rise up to 324 m. Another large cable-stayed one is located in St. Petersburg across the Neva River. It is permanent and has a length of 2884 m.
An unusual “dancing bridge” is laid across the Volga and stretches for 2.5 km
At the end of 2011, it was strengthened with the participation of specialists from Germany.
And here is the current project - the Crimean Bridge
It will be one of the largest in Russia. For 19 km there will be a motorway and railway from the Taman Peninsula to the coast of Crimea through the sea strait. Opening Crimean bridge: .
We shared information about the longest and most unusual bridges in the world, crossing the sea, land, suspension bridges and railway bridges. Share the information with your friends on social networks and see you on the pages of our website!
Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. It is also a popular tourist destination thanks to its stunning scenery, unique mix of historical monuments and modern pubs and nightclubs, including the world-famous red light district Reeperbahn.
Hamburg is considered a major port city, despite its location approximately 100 kilometers from the North Sea, on both sides of the Elbe River. Hamburg has the country's largest port - the second busiest port in Europe, and the third largest in the world, after the ports of London and New York. Therefore, everyone who loves water, ships and harbors simply must visit it.
Hamburg is practically surrounded by water on all sides. The Alster River is divided into two lakes, Binnen and Aussenalster (meaning "inner" and "outer"), located on either side of the city, and the Elbe River flows directly through the city and into the North Sea. This abundance of water means there are many canals, rivers and bridges. In fact, few people know that Hamburg has more bridges than any other city in the world, as well as more canals than Amsterdam and Venice combined. Estimates put the number between 2,300 and 2,500 - far more than the total number of canals in London, Amsterdam and Venice. Below are the most famous bridges of this wonderful city:
Köhlbrand Bridge
The Köhlbrand Bridge opened in 1974 and has been one of Hamburg's most famous landmarks ever since. Its length is 3940 meters, and the span of the central, cable-stayed part is 325 meters. From 1974 to 1991, this bridge was considered the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It is now considered the second longest bridge in Germany.
Network of Hamburg Elbe Bridges (Hamburg Elbbrücken)
New Elbe Bridge (Neue Elbbrücke), Billhorner Bridge, and Freeport Elbe Bridge.
Railroad bridge
New bridge over the Elbe
Bridge over the Elbe Free Port
The Hamburg Elbe Bridge Network is a series of independent bridges that cross the Elbe River, which flows through Hamburg. This Hamburg shipping route is divided into two main branches, the North Elbe and the South Elbe, which merge after they pass the network of Elbe Islands, united to form the largest island on this river.
Hamburg Bridge over the Elbe (Harburger Elbbrücke)
The Old Hamburg Bridge over the Elbe was opened in 1899. The 474 meter steel arch bridge, originally built for vehicles, was the first road bridge across the South Branch of the Elbe. Now it serves only to ferry pedestrians and cyclists. Between 1980 and 1995, the bridge was radically rebuilt. Cantilever walkways were built on both sides of the bridge.
Kattwyk Bridge
The Kattwyk Bridge, crossing the South Branch of the Elbe, is a 290-meter vertical drawbridge with two 70-meter-long entrances for rail and road transport. This bridge, opened on March 21, 1973, connects the Wilhelmsburg quarter with the Moorburg quarter. Both neighborhoods are located on the Elbe island network. Kattwyk is capable of rising to a height of 46 meters and is the largest vertical drawbridge in the world.
The peculiarity of the bridge is that the rails located on it are located in the center of the roadway. Due to the fact that Kattwyk is both a railway and road bridge, road traffic is blocked when a freight train passes through the bridge. These stops usually last between eight and ten minutes. On weekdays, the bridge is raised every two hours to allow ships to pass. During the lifting of the bridge, traffic stops for 15-20 minutes.
Brooks Bridge
The Brooks Bridge, which leads to the city of Speicherstadt, was opened in 1887. The bridge is decorated with four statues, one at each of its corners. The original sculptures were destroyed during World War II. The sculptures that stand on the bridge today were installed in 2001.
Lombardsbruecke and Kennedy Bridge
The Lombard Bridge in Hamburg is a railway and road bridge over the Alster River. It was named after the pawnshop that was located there in 1651. The original wooden bridge was replaced in 1865 by a new 69-metre, three-arch bridge crossing the Alster River. 
Next to the Lombard Bridge is the Kennedy Bridge. The second bridge was built in 1953 because the old Lombard Bridge could not cope with the increased traffic. The bridge was originally called the New Lombard Bridge. It was renamed Kennedy Bridge in 1963 in honor of John F. Kennedy after his assassination. 
Lombard Bridge and Kennedy Bridge separate the Inner and Outer Alster lakes.
Toll Bridge (Zollenbrücke)
The Toll Bridge is the oldest bridge in the city, built in 1663. The 25-meter bridge, with three different sized arches, is built from sandstone blocks. Railings and lanterns were added in the 19th century when the bridge was widened.
Ellentors Bridge
The Ellerntors Bridge is a stone arch bridge that crosses the Tomb of the Lord's Fleet. For many centuries it served as a direct route from Hamburg to Altona. Built in 1668, this bridge is the second oldest surviving stone bridge in Hamburg.
Otradny Bridge (Trostbrücke)
Otradny Most is a small historical bridge that crosses "Nikolaifleet", which is one of the many narrow coves connecting the city's docks with the Elbe River. Situated southwest of the city center, it once stood on the border between Hamburg's old and new towns. It was built in 1881. This stone structure is famous for the presence of statues of Count Adolf III and Bishop Ansgar, the founder of the very first cathedral in Hamburg. In translation, the bridge is called “Otradny”. It received this name because convicts were led across it, and the beauty of the bridge was their last joy.
Reesendamm Bridge
The "Reesendamm" bridge crosses the Little Alster lake, Jungfernstieg and the mountain road. It was named after Heinrich Müller Reese, who owned a corn mill in the 13th century. The bridge was built in 1843. People love to come to this bridge to admire the beautiful view of the river with swans, which they can feed with pieces of bread.
Bridge "Slamatjen"
One of the lesser-known bridges is the Slamatjen Bridge, located in the Neustadt district on the Ludwig-Erhard street, which crosses the Alster. Since its completion in 1959, it has served as a road bridge. On the bridge there is a wonderful picture carved in stone, which represents two women talking. The area where the bridge is located was once a popular meeting place for water-bearing women.