15 Fascinating Facts About Golden Gate Bridge - The Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge, also known as the Golden Gate Bridge or the Golden Gate Bridge, is a suspension bridge connecting the Golden Gate, the gateway to San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, ranked fifth in the list of favorite American architectures by the American Institute of Architects in 2007.

Construction of the bridge began on January 5, 1933, and was completed in April 1937. The inauguration ceremony began on May 27, 1937, and lasted for a week.

15 Fascinating Facts About Golden Gate Bridge - The Golden Gate Bridge

1. The initial cost for the Golden Gate Bridge construction project was over 35 million USD. However, when the project was completed in April 1937, this cost was lower than the allowed budget by 1.3 million USD.

2. Although this bridge is called the “Golden Gate”, its official color is actually International Orange, known as the “international orange”. Consulting architect Irving Morning chose the color for the bridge because it blends well with the natural surroundings and stands out in the fog, enhancing the beauty of San Francisco Bay.

Upon its completion in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge stood as the world's longest suspension bridge, swiftly becoming an international icon of San Francisco, California, USA. Since then, eight other bridges have surpassed its length.

The main span of the Golden Gate Bridge, measuring 4,200 feet (1,280 meters), held the world record for 27 years. Its two main towers soar 746 feet (227 meters), towering 191 feet (58 meters) taller than the Washington Monument. Five lanes of traffic traverse the Golden Gate Strait at a height of 400 feet, or 130 meters.

The Golden Gate Bridge stands as one of America's greatest transportation feats of the 20th century, yet it bears the grim moniker of the 'World's Most Famous Suicide Bridge,' with a significant number of suicide attempts. Since its construction, approximately 1,500 individuals have tragically ended their lives by jumping from the bridge.

Interestingly, there have been 26 documented cases of individuals surviving suicide attempts from the bridge.

According to Reuters, the Golden Gate Bridge ranks as the second-most popular suicide destination globally, following the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing, China.

Tragically, 11 lives were lost during the bridge's construction.

The iconic silhouette of the Golden Gate Bridge serves as the logo for Cisco, a leading global manufacturer of internet networking equipment founded in 1984 in the United States.

The Golden Gate Bridge has garnered significant attention from filmmakers, serving as a backdrop in numerous movies such as 'It Came from Beneath the Sea,' 'Superman: The Movie,' 'A View to a Kill,' 'Interview with the Vampire,' 'Vertigo,' 'Boys and Girls,' 'The Core,' 'X-Men: The Last Stand,' 'Monsters vs. Aliens,' '10.5,' and 'Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus.' It has also been featured in television shows like 'Star Trek,' 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,' and 'Sudden Attack.'

Since its completion, the Golden Gate Bridge has been closed three times due to adverse weather conditions: on December 1, 1951, due to winds reaching 111 km/h; on December 23, 1982, with winds of 113 km/h; and on December 3, 1983, with winds reaching 121 km/h.

Constructed in San Francisco, spanning the Golden Gate Strait, this bridge was named by Captain John C. Fremont in 1846 during the California Gold Rush, reminiscent of the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey.

Whether by car, bicycle, or on foot, travelers can traverse between San Francisco and Marin County across this 1.7-mile (2,736 meters) suspension bridge - the Golden Gate Bridge.

Only a handful of locations in San Francisco offer panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, such as Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, Twin Peaks, and Marin Headlands.

The bridge stands as a prime example of engineering prowess, presenting both structural challenges and aesthetic allure. It has been hailed by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the modern wonders of the world. Frommer's travel magazine suggests that the Golden Gate Bridge 'may be the most beautiful bridge, certainly the most photographed bridge in the world.'

As per Travelingmyself.com

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour