Description of the attraction
Along with the Sydney Opera House, the Harbor Bridge - Sydney's largest bridge and one of the largest arched bridges in the world - is perhaps the city's main attraction. The locals call the bridge "Hanger" for its characteristic shape.
The Harbor Bridge, built back in 1932 across Port Jackson Bay, connects Sydney's downtown with the North Shore. Before that, they crossed the bay by ferry, although the first projects of the bridge were proposed by various engineers back in the middle of the 19th century. Today, 8 highways, 2 railway lines, as well as pedestrian and bicycle paths have been laid across the bridge. By the way, toll on the bridge is about $ 2.
The length of the arch span of the bridge is 503 meters, which is only 15 meters less than the span of the world's longest arch bridge, Fayetteville, built over a gorge in West Virginia, USA. And the total length of the bridge is 1149 meters.
The steel arch of the Harbor Bridge weighing 39 thousand tons rises 139 meters above the waters of the bay. Any sea vessels can freely pass under it. Interesting fact: on hot days, due to the expansion of the heated metal, the height of the arch can increase by 18 cm!
Since 1998, there have been regular excursions across the bridge - along the side arch you can climb to the very top of the Harbor Bridge, from where a stunning panorama of the city opens.
