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San Francisco : Golden Gate Bridge
| Completed in 1937, at a cost of $35 million, the 1.2-mile Golden Gate bridge took more than four years to build. Eleven men lost their lives during construction.The bridge links San Francisco with Marin County and despite competition from modern constructions such as the Transamerica Pyramid, it remains the symbol of the city. Before completion, many thought the bridge unbuildable due to 60-mile-per-hour winds and the foggy weather conditions that are common to the area. Upon completion it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and its 746 ft suspension towers were higher than any construction west of New York.The colour of the bridge, known as International Orange, was chosen because it blends well with the bridge's natural surroundings, however the bridges name comes from the nickname given the entrance to the harbour by early visitors. The two great cables contain enough strands of steel wire (80,000 miles) to circle the equator three times over. There was enough concrete poured into its piers and anchorage's to pave a five-foot wide sidewalk from San Francisco to New York. The first exit on the Marin side of the bridge, Vista Point, provides incredible views of the San Francisco skyline. Other vantage points include the Toll Plaza and Visitors Centre, Fort Point and the Marin Headlands. Fort Point has a gift centre, a statue of Strauss and a sample of the 3 ft-thick suspension cable. The best way to see the bridge is to walk across it which takes about an hour. When walking the bridge dress warmly whatever time of year. Pedestrians and cyclists are allowed across the bridge( unlike on the Bay Bridge) on pathways with sweeping views of the City, Alcatraz and the Marin Headlands. The bridge toll for vehicles is $3 collected when entering San Francisco |
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