Description of the attraction
The decision to build the Friendship Bridge linking the Brazilian and Paraguayan banks of the Parana River was made in May 1956. In November of the same year, the governments of Brazil and Paraguay created a commission that was supposed to decide on the project of the bridge and the list of necessary work.
Based on hydrological studies that have been carried out on the Parana River over 20 years, five suitable sites have been identified for the construction of a new bridge. In February 1957, a boat sank on the river with engineer Tasso Rodriguez and his assistants involved in the construction of the Friendship Bridge. Construction materials were delivered from the cities of Sao Paulo, Volta Redonda and Rio de Janeiro. For the bridge arch, the National Metallurgical Company in Volta Redonda formed steel formwork over 157 meters long and 1200 tonnes in weight. 1000 workers were employed on the construction of the Friendship Bridge. To make room for this structure, about 14 hectares of virgin forest had to be cut down. All wood was used at the construction site. Several sawmills were built right on the shore to harvest wood. The sand for the needs of the builders was taken directly from the Parana River.
The Friendship Bridge, which is 552.4 meters long, was inaugurated by the presidents of the two neighboring states in 1965. The active development of the city of Ciudad del Este, located on the Paraguayan side, began. It was called Puerto Stroessner at that time. Ciudad del Este is recognized as a free trade zone, all goods that are sold here are much less than on the Brazilian coast. Therefore, from the very early morning in Ciudad del Este, an endless line of cars from Brazil travels across the Bridge of Friendship. Tourists who have come to the Iguazu Falls also come here.
