The Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most recognized bridges in the world. It stretches across the Golden Gate strait in San Francisco, California. The bridge is painted a special color called International Orange, which makes it easy to see in fog. It opened in 1937 and is still one of the longest suspension bridges ever built.

Building the Bridge

Many people thought a bridge across the Golden Gate was impossible to build. The water was deep, the currents were strong, and fog rolled in often. Workers had to build the tower foundations in the open ocean. A huge safety net was hung below the bridge during construction and saved the lives of 19 workers who fell.

Bridge Facts and Features

The Golden Gate Bridge is about 1.7 miles long. Its two main towers rise 746 feet above the water, taller than a 60-story building. The cables that hold up the bridge contain about 80,000 miles of wire. That is enough wire to wrap around the Earth three times! About 10 million vehicles cross the bridge every year.

Fun Facts

• The bridge is not actually golden. It is painted International Orange so it can be seen through San Francisco's thick fog.
• The bridge sways up to 27 feet in strong winds, which is normal and safe.
• About 30 painters work full-time to keep the bridge looking fresh.

Did You Know?

The name 'Golden Gate' does not come from the bridge's color. It is the name of the narrow strait of water the bridge crosses, named during the Gold Rush.