Suspension bridge "Golden Gate" thrown across the strait of the same name, very wide and stormy, at its narrowest point, and is known throughout the world as one of the symbols of San Francisco in California.

Everyone arriving at San Francisco from the Pacific Ocean observes this large-scale architectural structure - the largest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its opening, which, moreover, was built in a difficult time for America, immediately after the Great Depression, from 1933 to 1937. It connects San Francisco to Merino County.

On a bridge wide 27 meters there are six lanes for cars, as well as sidewalks and bike lanes. How many lanes are allocated for traffic in each direction depends on the time of day and day of the week. By the way, you can move on the bridge by car for free only from the city. Those entering the city pay a few dollars toll. However, if it is a weekday and there are more than three people in the car, then the fee will not be charged.

Bridge length golden gate is 2797 meters, and the length of the free span - 1300 meters. A walk from one end of the bridge to the other takes at least half an hour, and it is included in almost every city excursion program. It’s not every day that you can walk on the sidewalk, located at a height of 67 meters above the water, and the 227-meter-high supports make you throw your head back to the limit in order to contemplate their peaks. Two metal cables are fixed on the supports, holding the bridge in suspension. The construction of the bridge required 1.2 million iron rivets and 129 thousand kilometers of cables.

The bridge organically blends into the panorama of the Golden Gate Bay, it looks especially impressive from the side protruding from the fog, which is so frequent in summer and early autumn. Walking along the bridge in the fog itself evokes no less emotions. Actually, it was fog that was the reason that it was decided to paint the bridge red. This makes the bridge more visible.

Unfortunately, not only fogs, but also earthquakes are typical for the area where the bridge is located. This is due to tectonic faults in the earth's crust. However, at the end of the last century, the Golden Gate Bridge passed the test with honors, withstanding an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 points.

It should be noted that a person who was not devoid of fine artistic taste worked on the bridge project. This is a famous engineer Joseph Berman Strauss. The implementation of his project seemed unrealistic, since the level of engineering capabilities of those years was not at such a high level. They openly laughed at the project, but the ambitious architect took it as a challenge, and four years later he achieved what he wanted.

The bridge turned out to be very beautiful, so it never suffered without the attention of not only photographers and directors, but also numerous tourists from all over the world. There are observation platforms on both sides of the bridge, which are almost never empty. For the way to the place of production of the famous Californian varieties of wines lies through the Golden Gate Bridge, so it is almost impossible for tourists to visit San Francisco and not visit the bridge.

Golden Gate Bridge

Introducing San Francisco's famous Golden Gate Bridge! It amazes with its beauty and brightness of colors! The suspension bridge looks like a flying ship on sails! It's like riding on clouds, swaying slightly in the wind! An ingenious celebration of engineering! It is constantly painted by 38 painters, supporting it from corrosion.

I collected a story about this beautiful bridge, a documentary film, a lot of large and beautiful photos.

Read, watch movies and photos dear readers, I created this post out of love for bridges!

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge across the Golden Gate Strait. It connects the city of San Francisco in the north of the San Francisco Peninsula and the southern part of Marin County, near the suburb of Sausalito. The Golden Gate Bridge was the largest suspension bridge in the world from its opening in 1937 until 1964. The length of the bridge is 1970 meters, the length of the main span is 1280, the height of the supports is 230 meters above the water, the weight is 894500 tons. From the roadway to the surface of the water - 67 meters. This is one of the most recognizable bridges in the world.

documentary - Superstructures: Golden Gate Bridge

Story

The construction of the bridge began on January 5, 1933 and lasted more than 4 years. The bridge was designed by engineer Joseph Strouss and consulted by architect Irving Morrow, who used Art Deco elements in the design. All the mathematical calculations for the bridge were done by Charles Alton Ellis, but due to bad relations between him and Joseph Strouss, Ellis's name does not appear in the construction of the bridge and is not inscribed on the bridge builders' plaque on the south tower.

On May 27, 1937, at 6 o'clock in the morning, the Golden Gate Bridge was opened for pedestrians. For the first 12 hours, it belonged only to them. The next day, at a signal from President Roosevelt from the White House, the first cars drove onto the bridge. In 1987, when the bridge turned 50, a special celebration took place. On this occasion, they even wanted to block traffic on the bridge so that all participants in the holiday could walk along it. On Sunday, May 24, 1987, approximately 300,000 people passed over the bridge during the celebration.

Golden Gate is a strait that connects San Francisco Bay (off the western coast of the United States of America) with the Pacific Ocean. The length of the strait is 8 kilometers, the width is 1.5 - 3 kilometers. On the northern shore of the strait are forts, on the south - the city of San Francisco itself. The Golden Gate Suspension Bridge was built across the Strait of the same name in San Francisco (California, USA) in 1937. The total length of the bridge is more than 2.7 km, the length of the main suspension span is 1281m, the height of the vertical clearance in the middle of the span is 66m.

The two main pillars of the bridge rise to 230m. Repayment of construction costs was decided to be made at the expense of tolls. In the early 1980s, the bridge deck was replaced with a lighter and stronger steel structure covered with asphalt. Thanks to this, the total mass of the bridge decreased by 12,300 tons, amounting to 894,500 tons. Golden Gate - "The bridge that cannot be built." Only in the middle of the 18th century, almost three centuries after the discovery of America by Columbus, Spanish navigators discovered a huge bay, on the shore of which one of the most beautiful cities in the world, San Francisco, grew from a small settlement of Franciscan monks.

In 1864, John Frémont, captain of the American Army surveying expedition, named the strait, which allows access to San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate. By analogy with the Bosporus Strait - the Golden Horn. The captain did not know how symbolic this name would be ... “Gold, gold! On the American River! - the carpenter James Marshall rushed headlong through the dusty streets of San Francisco.

In his hand was a golden ingot. Marshall went to the mountains to build a sawmill and found gold instead. Within two months, the quiet settlement turned into a seething anthill. And the strait, into which until now the ships were in no hurry to enter due to difficult weather conditions, was filled with large and small vessels. Including plying schooners carrying lots of people covered by the "gold rush" from the east of the country. San Francisco turned into one of the largest ports in the world, where at least 700 ships arrived daily ... The Englishman Joshua Norton hated ships. And he had a reason.

He sailed to San Francisco a year after the discovery of gold mines, made a fortune, but soon lost money - along with his mind. The fact is that the enterprising Norton decided to increase his income by buying up all the rice arriving in the city in order to raise prices for it later. Alas, three huge ships, packed from top to bottom with bags of rice, crashed and sank right in the strait. Since then, Norton has turned into an urban lunatic. In San Francisco, they were countless - the "gold rush" was doing its dirty deed. Having proclaimed himself the "Emperor of All America", the unfortunate eccentric printed in the San Francisco Bulletin newspaper with the remaining money

In 1859, a proclamation that shocked even the townspeople accustomed to everything with its crazy idea. In an address to the people, Norton ordered "to build a suspension bridge across the strait." The journalist James Wilkins was an absolutely sane person and in 1916 worked for the same newspaper, the San Francisco Bulletin. Like all journalists, Wilkins was impatient, accustomed to living in a mode of urgent news and, like all newspapermen, advocated progress. Once, when he was once again late for work, toiling on a ferry across the strait filled with cars and people, he came up with something. A few days later, an article appeared in the newspaper “The suspension bridge over the Golden Gate will be the largest in the world!”. Residents of San Francisco can do anything - didn't they prove it by completely rebuilding their city from the ruins after a terrible earthquake just 10 years ago? the pathos of the journalist was quite in the spirit of the time, when the great invention of the Yankees was gaining momentum - faith in the notorious American Dream.

Soon, the chief architect of San Francisco appointed a commission of three engineers to carry out all the necessary studies. Around the idea of ​​​​building a bridge, disputes and debates began that lasted more than 10 years ... The legend says: Joseph Straus (one of the three appointed engineers) vowed to glorify himself at all costs by building the most majestic bridges in the world, on the day when from the window University Hospital in Cincinnati looked at the longest suspension bridge over the Ohio River at that time (322 meters - the length of the span). A short student (1 meter 50 centimeters) of the Faculty of Engineering was beaten up by classmates - through his fault the football team lost an important match. Already in his thesis, the young man presented to the astonished professors an ambitious project that strikes the most daring imagination - an 80-kilometer long bridge across the Bering Strait connecting North America with Asia. In 1919, 49-year-old Joseph Straus was already an established engineer. He built about 400 bridges all over the world. In August 1929, Straus was appointed chief engineer for the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Not the best moment - in America came the Great Depression. Millions of unemployed, no free money.

The project was again under threat and could go down in history under the name "The Bridge That Cannot Be Built". It remained only to hope for a "financial miracle". And it happened ... The Italian immigrant Amadeo Peter Giannini in 1906 during the earthquake managed to save all the money and valuables from his bank. His bank was the first to open in San Francisco, as soon as the city recovered from the natural disaster. Giannini helped rebuild it from the ashes. The bank became the largest financial corporation in the country. Giannini also believed in the American Dream.

So he proclaimed, “The city needs this bridge. We'll find the money!" Construction began on January 5, 1933 and lasted over 4 years. The highest support towers (228 meters), the longest steel cables (on which the span of the bridge rests), huge underwater piers erected under water (“bulls”), and the longest span between the towers at that time (1280 meters) at a height 67 meters from the water level are the main features of the Golden Gate Bridge. The “air” bridge is able to withstand the monstrous wind pressure in the strait (96 kilometers per hour), and the supports are able to withstand water pressure, enhanced by powerful currents and storms.

Its color of "red gold" fits perfectly into the palette of colors surrounding it - the blue sky and the ocean, the green and sandy-gold mountains. And when the Golden Gate - the strait and the bridge - is covered with a thick cap of fog, slender orange masts, or at least their tops, always shine through a gloomy gray veil ... On May 27, 1937, at 6 o'clock in the morning, the Golden Gate Bridge was opened - for pedestrians. For 12 hours it belonged only to them. Among them was a little boy scout - he came the night before and spent the night in a sleeping bag next to the checkpoint, so that in the morning he would be the first to enter the bridge ... The next day, at the signal of President Roosevelt, the first cars drove onto the bridge from the White House. Funny people live in San Francisco - the fiesta lasted exactly a week.

They chose the Queen of the Bridge - she was accompanied by Hollywood actor Robert Taylor, composed many songs and poems about "the precious necklace thrown across the Golden Gate." Costumed performances, fireworks, marches, sailing races under the bridge, airplanes flapping their wings in a friendly way over it ... The Golden Gate Bridge ranks sadly first in the world in terms of the number of suicides. Perhaps this is the only thing that its creator Strauss did not foresee: “This bridge does not need panegyrics and compliments, its beauty speaks for itself. It is enough to see him at least once ... "

car traffic

As the only northward exit from San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is part of both Federal Highway 101 and California State Highway 1. The bridge has six lanes for vehicular traffic. On average, 100,000 vehicles a day cross the bridge. The number of lanes in each direction varies depending on the traffic flow. Usually on weekday mornings you can see four lanes to the south (into the city) and two lanes to the north (out of the city). In the evening rush hour, the opposite is true. At night, two lanes are open in each direction.

The dividing strip is made of plastic posts that are very easy to knock down and drive into the oncoming lane. Because of this, the speed limit on the bridge is 45 mph (~72 km/h). On average, once a year, accidents happen when a car drives into the oncoming lane and collides with oncoming traffic. At the moment, talk continues about the construction of a mobile median strip, which would protect both sides of the bridge from such accidents.

Payment

As of September 1, 2002, the toll for crossing the bridge to the south by cars was increased from $3 to $5 ($4 if paid through the Fastrak electronic system). Movement in the northern direction is free. Pedestrians and cyclists can cross the bridge for free.

As of January 2007, pedestrians can cross the bridge for free. On December 26, 2008, the fare for passenger cars was - 6 US dollars. On weekdays, if there are more than three people in the car, travel to the city will also be free. Ambulances, police and fire trucks are also allowed free of charge.

Bridge painting work

The bridge was originally painted with a red lead primer and a lead based top coat, touched up as needed. In the mid-1960s, a program to improve corrosion protection began, which included removing the old paint and repainting the bridge using a zinc silicate primer and a vinyl-based top coat. Acrylic emulsion has been used for the outer layer since 1990 due to air quality requirements. The program ended in 1995 and the bridge is now maintained by a team of 38 painters who touch up the most corroded areas.

Safety

Various methods of reducing the number of suicides have been discussed. One idea is to close the passage to pedestrians at night, allowing cyclists to pass by monitoring their passage with electronically controlled gates. Proposals to build an anti-suicide barrier have not been successful due to technical complexity, high cost and public opposition. The estimated cost of the barrier is $15-20 million. On January 27, 2005, representatives of the bridge administration raised the issue of the construction of the barrier to the committee for the construction and operation of the bridge for the eighth time, indicating increased attention to the problem from the press and the public.

On March 11, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Bridge voted 15 to one to approve a two-year, $1.78 million plan to explore the possibility of the barrier. Supporters of the project cite the example of the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower, where the construction of the barrier brought the number of suicides to zero, while opponents of the plan argue that the barrier would be aesthetically unsightly, expensive, and would simply move the site of the suicide to another location.

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Golden Gate Bridge, which is a local landmark and one of the symbols of the United States, was subject to increased security measures with the involvement of the National Guard. In April 2004, California Governor A. Schwarzenegger, for economic reasons, ordered the security to be removed. The points of the guards, located on the bridge and around it, were liquidated and now the bridge is patrolled by the local police and security structures cooperating with it.

Interesting Facts

1) On May 18, 2004, a deer crossed the bridge for the first time, delaying traffic for 20 minutes.

2) The stylized image of the Golden Gate Bridge is the emblem of Cisco Systems

3) In one of the most popular computer games, GTA: San Andreas, this bridge connects two game cities - San Fierro and Las Venturas.

4) In the movie X-Men: The Last Stand, Magneto moves the bridge towards the Alcatraz prison, which is fiction - the length of the Golden Gate will not allow this.

source-Wikipedia, http://www.tonnel.ru/?l=kniga&163

(Golden Gate Bridge) in San Francisco - a suspension bridge over the Golden Gate Strait. Connects the peninsula and city of San Francisco to the northern mainland of California.

The need to build a bridge across the strait was discussed as early as the 19th century. After the beginning of the "gold rush" in California, the population of San Francisco grew rapidly, but the development of the city was largely hampered by the lack of convenient transport links with the northern regions of the state. Then the Golden Gate could only be crossed by ferry. Nevertheless, the idea of ​​building a bridge came back again and again. The official proposal for construction appeared in 1916 in an article in the San Francisco Bulletin on behalf of former engineering student James Wilkins. Engineer Joseph Strauss responded to him.

From an engineering point of view, it was not easy to implement the project. It was necessary to take into account the depth of the bay, powerful ocean currents that occur during high and low tides, as well as the increased seismic hazard of the area. In addition, ocean-going commercial and military vessels were to pass freely under the bridge.

The first draft of Joseph Strauss was rejected. When developing the second project, Strauss decided to use the achievements in the field of metallurgy and build a suspension bridge.

In 1928, Joseph Strauss presented his drawings and financial calculations to a special commission. Strauss combined engineering talent with great organizational skills. Despite the difficult times for the American economy, he managed to achieve public support for his project, provided the assistance of major politicians and financial tycoons.

In November 1932, the project was finally approved, on January 5, 1933, construction began.

It took place in very difficult conditions. For the safety of workers, a special wire net was stretched under the bridge under construction, however, 11 people died during the construction. Great efforts were required to build the underwater foundations of the supports, since during the ebb and flow of the tides, the masses of water pass through the narrow passage at great speed.

At the time of its opening, it was the largest suspension bridge in the world. It wasn't until 1964 that the record passed to the Verrazano Bridge in New York State.
To avoid metal corrosion, the bridge was painted orange-red from the very beginning, since these dyes contain a lead component. In the 1960s, work began to improve corrosion protection, the old paint was removed, it was replaced with zinc silicate-based paint, and an acrylic emulsion was used for the outer layer.

Throughout its existence, it has been significantly modernized, in particular, lighting has been improved, the seismic resistance of the bridge structure has been strengthened, and a steel mesh has been placed in order to prevent suicides ("Golden Gate" "suicide bridge").

The design of the bridge has withstood more than one test. In December 1951, during a storm, when the wind speed reached more than 110 kilometers per hour, the suspended part departed from the main position by seven and a half meters, but the bridge after that needed only cosmetic repairs. Also in 1982 and 1983, the bridge was closed due to strong winds, but again there was no structural damage to the bridge.

Already in 1985, the billionth car drove over the bridge. In 1987, on the day when the 50th anniversary of the bridge was celebrated, over 300,000 people crossed the bridge.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Considered the Golden Gate Bridge. It serves as a connection between the city of San Francisco and the Marin Peninsula over the eponymous Golden Gate. You can safely call it the front gate of the city.

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is considered the main symbol and calling card. The bridge is almost invisible from the city itself. And to enjoy a stunningly beautiful picture, you need to go to him early in the morning.

The idea of ​​building a suspension bridge was proposed by engineer Joseph Strauss. They became interested in his project, although few believed it was possible to build a bridge at all. Joseph, along with his companion Irving Morrow, with drawings and mathematical calculations in their hands, applied to various organizations, trying to prove the possibility of building such a structure. Only in 1933 did the new F. Roosevelt show interest in the project, and the construction of a bridge across the wide strait began.

Construction was in very difficult conditions. Winds, waves, frequent fogs interfered with the erection of supports, the tension of wire ropes, and the installation of bridge spans. There were no accidents either.

For 4 years, the construction was completely completed, and the bridge was ready for use. All of its metal structures were covered with a special orange-red paint with an anti-corrosion effect, which makes it really look like gold. Until now, the condition of the bridge has been constantly monitored, its parts affected by corrosion are being repaired, the supports and other parts exposed to humid sea air are constantly tinted.

In 1937, on May 27, the Golden Gate Bridge becomes available for movement. On the day of the grand opening, more than 200 thousand pedestrians drove through it in a limousine and also walked. Only the next day traffic was opened for cars.

The Golden Gate is a bridge, the length of which is 1970 m, the width is 1280 m. The height of its metal supports is 230 m, which creates an unhindered passage for ships that constantly come to the city of fogs. It has 6 lanes for vehicular traffic, bike paths and paths for pedestrians. Amazing views of the city and the bay open from the observation platforms, and if you look from top to bottom, through the thick fog and clouds, then there is an extraordinary feeling of flying or soaring.

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most important transportation routes in San Francisco. Today, it is able to pass more than 100 thousand cars daily, but their speed should not exceed 72 km/h. Ambulances and pedestrians can cross the bridge for free, but motorists will have to pay a toll.

An interesting sad fact is that a short time after the construction of the bridge was completed, the first suicide attempt took place on it. Since then, the number of people trying to end their lives with this grandiose and world-famous building has skyrocketed.

The Golden Gate Bridge in the city of San Francisco is a recognized ingenious engineering creation, because it is no coincidence that it is considered a wonder of the world created by human hands.

The Golden Gate Bridge is undoubtedly the hallmark of the capital of Silicon Valley in particular and all of California in general. It is the most recognizable bridge in the world and is one of the new seven wonders of the world. Stretching for almost five kilometers, it separates the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. This wonderful bridge adorns all postcards from the Bay Area, and the first thing tourists from all over the world go to the bay to take a look at the world-famous landmark.

Anyone who travels by car is sure to plan his route in such a way as to ride along the entire length of the bridge and enjoy stunning views of the city. I did the same.

First meeting

I remember the day I first arrived in the West Coast capital. I arrived by car from the city, which is an hour's drive from San Francisco. I had many things to do, but first of all I went to the cherished place, to the north of the city. Conquering me at first sight, not like any other bridge in the world, built on such a grand scale, it struck me with its grandeur and solidity. The weather was beautiful, and the Gates stood out brightly against the azure sky, seagulls circled around, and the Pacific Ocean rumbled below. I then returned to this place many times: I drove over the bridge, had picnics under it, and sometimes just admired its view from the windows of some high-rise office. And, every time I saw the bridge, everything was like the first time - it struck the imagination, and it was impossible to take my eyes off it.

Construction

I became interested in the history of the creation of this phenomenon and learned a lot of interesting things. So how was the Golden Gate Bridge built in? The structure was erected for four years, and the process was constantly suspended due to the strongest oceanic winds and dense fogs, which completely absorbed visibility at arm's length. Many people took part in the project, but, as a result of many disagreements, the names of only three designers were immortalized in history, the most famous of which is Joseph Strauss.

Finally, after all the difficulties of production work, in 1937, on May 27 at 6 am, the bridge was opened to visitors. The height of the "Golden Gate" was 227 meters. All day long, people could move freely on the roadway as pedestrians, and only the next day it became available for road traffic.

What does the Golden Gate Bridge look like?

Majestic towers begin to be seen at the entrance to the bay from afar. The bridge is most clearly visible early in the morning, on a clear day. Then you can see every beam and rounding, every corner, and the whole structure in the sun shines bright red.

At sunset, the clouds float so low that the top of the bridge, along with the roadway, completely disappears from view, and it seems that only the supports rise from the water and smoothly go into the sky. In such conditions, obviously, only the lower part of the structure can be observed, but this only makes it look more mysterious and mysterious, and the photos are simply amazing! It seems that thick clouds caught on the spiers and hovered over the bay.

And, of course, one of the most beautiful views of the Golden Gate can be seen at night, when the bridge, filled with a thousand lights, flickers in the distance, representing a truly majestic sight. It becomes so festive and elegant that it is impossible to look away.

How to get there

Now I will tell you about the best ways to get to the bridge.

As a starting point, let's take the heart of the city - the central square of Union Square. It is marked on all maps, easily identified by the navigator and located at the subway station called Powell Street Station in the heart of downtown San Francisco. The square is also easily accessible by cable car from the Powell-Hyde and Powell Mason stops.

By bus

To get from Union Square to the bridge by bus, you need:

• find a stop on Sutter Street and take the 30-Stockton bus,
• get to Chestnut Street and there transfer to the 28-19th Avenue bus (do not confuse it with the 29R bus),
• it will take you to the Golden Bridge Pavilion, from where you can walk to all the above sites.

By the way, the 30-Stockton bus passes through Chinatown, which will add exotic to your trip - you will follow the street decorated with traditional red lanterns, past authentic buildings, markets and cafes. The ticket price is about $5, the bus runs approximately every 20 minutes.

On the suspension tram

Suspended yellow tram is a hallmark of San Francisco. Since the city is located on the hills, the tram now and then flies up and falls down, revealing breathtaking panoramas. This intricate form of transport can be used when traveling to the bridge. Take the tram to Union Square and it will take you straight to the famous Fisherman's Wharf tourist pier. Ticket price is $ 7 for a single trip, $ 20 for a day pass. This route departs from Union Square every 10 minutes.

From there you can reach the bridge in 7-10 minutes by taxi or take a ferry to Sausalito (read below).

Metro

From Union Square Station, walk to Metro Powel Station. From there, every 15 minutes, trains run almost to the very foot of the bridge. The fare is about $5. Get to the Judah Street & 23rd Avenue station and then walk 15 minutes to your destination.

Don't be afraid to get lost, there are signs everywhere.

By car

If you are coming from the north, you need to take the famous Highway 101 (HWY 101), which runs through California and crosses into San Francisco. This highway will take you directly to the bridge, as it runs directly over it. If you are coming from the south, again it is most convenient to take Highway 101, which leads into the very center of the city, and then to the bridge, but traffic jams often occur here. You can also enter the city via the beloved People's Highway 1 (HWY 1), which offshoots the 101 along the coast and then to the bridge. Here, traffic is usually not as intense as on the main highway. If you are entering the city from the direction of Auckland, that is, from the east, move along Highway 80 (HWY 80), and then turn onto 101.

By taxi

From Union Square to the foot of the bridge or to any of the observation decks, a taxi will cost approximately $20-25.

On a ferryboat

You can take a round trip to Sausalito and back from the Ferry Building or Fisherman Wharf. During the trip, you can enjoy the views of the bridge from different angles.

Don't forget to bring something to eat on the ferry! A one-way ticket costs $11.25. The schedule can be viewed.

On foot

If you are a fan of leisurely walks, you can walk to the bridge. It takes approximately two hours to walk from Union Square. The advantage of walking is that you can make any route you want, stopping at cozy cafes for coffee and snacks.

It will be interesting to walk along Grant Ave, crossing Chinatown, on the way visit the Church of St. Mary, the TransAmerica high-rise, then go to the famous Columbus Ave, then turn onto the embankment, walk along the piers, eat the famous chowder with clams on the shore, and then along the Marina Blvd slowly walk to the bridge itself, stopping along the way at all sites that offer an unforgettable view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The best viewpoints on the bridge

I have compiled a list of the most successful places, personally checked by me, from which it is best to enjoy a great view and take unforgettable pictures.

So, let's begin.

Golden Gate Promenade Beach

In my opinion, the best place to photograph and remember the famous panorama is the beach on the Golden Gate Promenade. It is a large public lot with free parking nearby, where you can cozy up on a mat with a picnic basket, sunbathe, play frisbee and just enjoy the wonderful view. Various water sports are available here. From this angle, the bridge is visible in its entirety, almost along its entire length, and it is located in close proximity to you.

How to get there

It's pretty simple:

• drive along Marina Bvld in a westerly direction,
• stay in the right lane, the street will turn into Mason St.,
• follow it until you see signs on the right,
• turn off, you will find yourself in the parking lot.

Battery East End

Another popular spot with breathtaking views of the bridge, which also has its own free parking, is the lookout on the Battery East End street, leaving Lincoln Blvd. There you can observe the bridge from the height of the hill from a very interesting and successful angle.

This is a popular place: there are always a lot of cars and tourist buses, so there are public toilets on the territory.

How to get there

This place is best filled on the navigator and proceed to it by car, moving along the map. This is the only accessible way to find it due to the many road junctions. Also, your hotel most likely organizes bus tours here.

Fort Point Park. Picnic

Fort Point Park is located near Golden Gate Promenade Beach. This place is number one on my list for me personally. It's all about atmosphere. Atmosphere, atmosphere! Fort Point is designed for those who want to enjoy the view alone or alone with only their closest ones, practically at the very foot of the bridge. Here you can fry meat or seafood right on the shore: on a site specially equipped for picnics. Barbecues, tables and benches are installed on the grass, you can cook dinner and enjoy the stunning view at the same time. We have come here many times, picking up shrimp, fish, steaks at the nearest Whole Foods and watching the sunset here. It is best to visit this place in the late afternoon: by the end of your meal, it will get dark, and the sky above the bridge will be strewn with stars. The bridge itself, which rises directly above you, will light up with lights. There are always very few people here, or there is no one at all, because this place is not at all touristy, but I found it absolutely by accident when I was driving a car according to the “where my eyes look”.

Impressions from this day will last for a very long time! Don't forget to bring charcoal and lighter fluid with you.

How to get there

Finding this place is not as easy as the previous ones, but it's worth it. If you are driving, the landmark is the Planet Granit San Francisco climbing center. Right behind the building is a parking lot, this time paid (about $4.50 per hour). But let me tell you a little more about the route to this site.

If you move along Mason St. heading west, drive to the above mentioned climbing center (it's better to enter it by name in online maps, google easily locates it on the map), go around it on the right and park behind the building. Then go towards the shore along the grass and you will see places for a picnic.

Point Cavallo

You can capture a beautiful view of the bridge from the other side, where the northern district of the city called Marin is located. From this site, along with the bridge, you will see the skyscrapers of the business center of San Francisco. Again, just an unforgettable sight!

How to get there

If you drive north across the bridge, there will be an exit to the right at the foot of the bridge, which will lead to the Point Cavallo embankment and the Presidio Yacht Club. Immediately after the turn, you need to stick to the Sommerville Road path, it will take you directly to the right place.

Bridge travel

Here I will list all the possible ways of transportation. So:

On foot

You can not only ride a car on the Golden Gate Bridge, but also walk on foot. There is a special, fairly wide area for pedestrians, on the right and left sides of the bridge. It is best to go early in the morning, when there are not so many people yet, and the sky is not overcast, and there is an opportunity to take great pictures of the bay and the city. Do not forget that skateboards and roller skates are not allowed on the bridge.

Pedestrian bridge opening hours

Divided into two seasons:

• In winter (until March 13 inclusive): on weekdays from 5 am to 3.30 pm, the east side of the bridge is open (that is, from the main part of the city to the north, to Marin County) and from 15.30 to 18.00 west side (from the north to the central part of the city ). On weekends, the west side is open from 5 am to 6 pm.
• In the summer (until November 5), the bridge is open to pedestrians according to the following schedule: on weekdays from 5 am to 3.30 pm, the east side is open and from 3.30 pm to 9 pm the western side. On weekends and holidays, only the eastern side of the bridge is open from 5 am to 9 pm.

By car

To cross the bridge, you will have to pay a penny of $7.25.

Moreover, you pay only for entering the city from the north, you won’t have to pay when leaving.

At the entrance, the main thing is not to make a mistake with the lanes and not to go into the bus lane, where there are no payment posts, and public transport can pass for free. Once, I made a mistake: having moved off in the wrong direction, I immediately stumbled upon the policemen who were on duty there and were catching such violators. Nothing terrible, of course, will happen, you will just be given a check for the same amount of travel, which will then come to the post office. But you will lose about twenty minutes here, as there are quite a few who get lost. Although if you want to chat with the police, by the way, they are quite friendly, then you are here.

By bike

Bicyclists are allowed here. Moreover, in addition to motorists, they also have the right to cross the bridge around the clock. True, at night there is enhanced control: in order to enter the bridge, bicycle owners must press a special button, and only after they are recorded on the camera, the electronically controlled gates will open and cyclists will be able to pass on.

All types of electric bicycles and tricycles are prohibited.

Helicopter over the bridge

If you are a sophisticated traveler and ordinary walks seem boring to you, fly a helicopter over the bridge and the whole city.

You are guaranteed an inexpressible feeling! Such a flight will cost approximately $230-250, depending on the company, and the flight time will be from twenty minutes to half an hour. Of course, there is little that compares to bird's-eye photographs. There are many companies in San Francisco that arrange such flights, such as Vista Helicopter tour, San Francisco Air tour and others.

Note

Unfortunately, the beautiful often goes hand in hand with the tragic. The world-famous bridge is one of the most popular suicide sites. On average, once every two weeks, they try to commit suicide here, and in the entire history of the bridge's existence, more than a thousand people have made successful suicide attempts at this place. Therefore, a patrol and climbers are on duty around the clock in this place, who catch the unfortunate ones who intend to make a jump.

At the entrance to the bridge hangs a sign that says: "THERE IS A HOPE. MAKE THE CALL. The consequences of jumping from this bridge are fatal and tragic”, which translates as “There is HOPE. CALL. The consequences of jumping from this bridge are fatal and tragic.” Life-saving devices with bell buttons are hung along the entire length of the bridge. Psychologists are on duty around the clock.

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