[Discovery Time] The Golden Gate Bridge in seven unusual facts

The city of San Francisco would not have as much notoriety without its Golden Gate Bridge. He has been in the picture since 1937 and often appears on the clichés of photographers and films from around the world. The bridge is suspended 67 meters above the sea and is 2,320 meters long, and six lanes wide.

The building is also visited by strolling through Golden Gate Park, a haven of greenery where a variety of trees meet. This place is often prized by the most sporty: cyclists and joggers in particular. The bridge is also admired from its converted car parks located at each end. Other points offer a panoramic view: the island of Alcatraz, Angel Island or one of the high points of the north of the bay of San Francisco for example. More peaceful and relaxed, it is possible to take a boat ride, passing under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Why is it orange?

The city of San Francisco often faces difficult weather conditions, including high winds and fog. Thus, to keep an optimal visibility, the bridge, originally steel color, is in orange. Every year, it is painted with 20,000 liters of paint for maintenance.

Hello?

Why is the bridge equipped with telephone terminals? The answer is not very happy. This equipment allows counselors specializing in anti-suicide to intervene and avoid the irreparable.

Thanks Chief Engineer!

Four years of work with many twists and turns have led to the development of this book. The bridge stands up to the cutting edge techniques of its time. The construction was also a beautiful human performance since there was "only a dozen deaths". All this is due to Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss who imposed several safety rules including the wearing of the helmet and the installation of a safety net under the bridge.

An architectural marvel

Thanks to modern architectural feats and techniques, the bridge has been awarded by the American Society of Civil Engineers and is one of the most extraordinary constructions of the 20th century.

San Francisco without the bridge?

San Francisco is not ready to cut bridges with its Golden Gate Bridge. It is often maintained so that it can withstand earthquakes and weather. It is often equipped with modern seismic protections, which allowed it to resist during the 1989 earthquake in Loma Prieta.

Suicide record

Since 1937, the bridge has counted more than 1,300 suicide attempts, and has become the place where people commit suicide the most in the world. It is estimated that the speed of the fall from the bridge is about 120 km / h.

The digital bridge

Since its construction, the bridge has been crossed by more than two billion vehicles. Her crossing today costs $ 6 Sausalito in San Francisco, and is free in the other direction. Other figures: The Golden Gate Bridge has more than 123 750 km of cables, which, following, would make three times around the Earth. Finally, it is also known that the bridge was closed only 3 times due to adverse weather conditions. For its 50 th anniversary in 1987, more than 300,000 people rushed on it.