Bridges



**//Some of the greatest and most recent-made bridges.//** From left to right: Millau Bridge in France (2004), Hangzhou Bay Bridge in China (2007), Mittelandkanal waterbridge in Germany (2003) and finally the Erasmo Bridge in Rotterdam (1996). Images from: [|De ciudad en ciudad]

Gateshead Milleniun Bridge in England (2001). media type="youtube" key="q54VKT_mZfI" height="201" width="263" From: [|Blogspot] Image at right from [|Wikipedia] __//Notes from the videos I watched//__

[|First video] Suspension Bridges They transfer weight to the ground through the towers. Over the years, advances in technology have enabled engineers to expand the distance of bridges. Dakota bridge went down months after being founded because it couldn't resist to the strong wind. That event has teached professionals to learn not only from their success but from their failures too. [|Second video] NYC Bridge Its history fo how it was designed and constructed. [|Third video] Paragraph about bridges. **//__ Bridges: A connection never thought before! __//** // Bridges are structures usually made of wood, stone, brick or iron erected over a water course or any obstacle to connect tow ends by a passageway. There are six basic types of bridges: Girder, Arch, truss, cable stayed, rigid frame and suspension bridges. Each type has different forms. When deciding what type of bridge is the coorrect one, the first thing to do is to consider the physical conditions (stable surface, climate, weight requested to stand, etc) in which the bridge is going to be placed. Second of all, the distance we want the bridge to have. And finally the economic resources and materials neccesary to make it function as a well-designed structure. Depending on those variables one type of bridge may result better than another. Some of the great examples of these kind of structures are the Tsurumi-ku in Japan or the Meiwa Bridge in Tokyo just to put some examples, but there are many more. As we might not think about it, bridges make a very important influence in cities and even nations. What seemed impossible to connect before, is connected today by a bridge. That means that people can travel from one place to another without any problem. People from different and separated places can share cultures, economic exchanges and communication. In shorter words, bridges have enabled people to connect through distances. //  // Source : http://www.matsuo-bridge.co.jp/english/bridges/basics.shtm //
 * Drawbridges **and how they work.

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