Here are some facts about Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia.
- Australia’s Sydney Harbour Bridge, nicknamed ‘the coathanger’ because of the shape of its design, carries road, rail and pedestrian traffic from Sydney’s business district to the North Shore.
- The bridge was opened in 1932, and it is just over 1,100 yards long. It is also one of the tallest bridges in the world, with a height of 130 yards from water level to the top.
- Around 14,000 workers were employed to build the bridge between 1924 and 1932. Many of these workers were immigrants and they were among the highest paid workers in the country at the time.
- Since 1998, tourists have been able to climb to the top of the bridge. It takes almost four hours to climb up and down, and tours leave every 20 minutes.
- Whenever the Queensland Rugby League team wins the State Championships, the Queensland state flag is flown from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
- Sydney Harbour Bridge was constructed with approximately 6 million steel rivets. An estimated 72,000 gallons of paint were used to paint the bridge.
- For many years, the south east pylon was an observation platform for tourists. The owners also had several white cats which roamed the bridge and became quite famous.
- Several planes have successfully flown under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, including a group of 24 Australian Air Force planes and a huge Lancaster bomber.
- To make sure that the bridge could hold enough weight, in 1924, its load capacity was tested by placing almost 100 trains on the bridge.
- During temperature changes, the size of the huge arch can actually change by up to seven inches. To allow for this, there are specially made hinges in the top of the arch.
What next? Find out some facts about another one of Sydney’s famous landmarks – the Sydney Opera House, or discover some facts about more of the world’s rivers and bridges.
