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What Are Suspension Bridges?

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As one looks across a gap in between two land masses, a thought of how one could cross comes to mind. When one thinks of this, a bridge comes to mind. Although they might now know what kind, a suspension bridge is the first idea. They picture something like the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge, one of the most recognizable structures in all of the world. Although suspension bridges now span over miles, they had very humble beginnings. The evolution and expansion of suspension bridges is a topic worthy of this very essay. Before understanding the evolution of suspension bridges, one must understand what a suspension bridge is. Suspension bridges are structures that span across a body of water or a ravine. A walkway or road that runs the full …show more content…

Some say the first suspension bridges were built during the Inca Empire, but others say they were built in Tibet. Both bridges were very crude and unstable. According to historians, a Tibetan Monk, Thangtong Gyalpo, built suspension bridges all throughout Tibet in the 15th century. He used iron chains as the main cables and strands of yak fur for the vertical cables. Only small amounts of weight could be on at once and it was greatly unstable during high winds. Although they were made of rudimentary materials and littered with design flaws, one of his bridges survived up until; 2004. This goes to show how solid suspension bridges are through the …show more content…

The Brooklyn Bridge, which connects Manhattan to Brooklyn, was completed in 1883. It unified the two boroughs and New York. The design of the bridge and materials used were revolutionary. The steel cables were the first ones ever to be used, This allowed the bridge to hold more weight, add to the distance, and to be cheaper. The large granite towers stand out amongst the river and help share the load with the anchors. This Brooklyn Bridge, which still stands today and carries millions of New Yorkers, became the example for suspensions around America and the

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