Vocabulary

Video

Transcript

Visitors to the San Francisco Bay in California are greeted by the sight of a famous landmark that has spanned the water for the last eighty years: the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a long, suspension bridge that connects the city of San Francisco to Marin Country.

It has a length of eight-thousand-nine-hundred, eighty-one (8,981) feet or two-thousand, seven-hundred, thirty-seven (2,737) meters.

When it first opened in 1937, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Although it lost that status in 1964, it has also been called “possibly the most beautiful — and certainly the most photographed —” bridge in the world.

Before the bridge was built, the shortest route to San Francisco was a ferry across the bay. At the time, San Francisco as the largest city in the United States that was mostly reached by boat, and it was difficult for the city to grow.

Many people wanted a bridge to connect San Francisco to the communities around it, but experts did not think it was possible to build such a long bridge.

The Golden Gate Strait, which was the narrowest part of the entrance to the San Francisco Bay was over a mile or two kilometers across, with strong currents and swirling tides.

The water in the center of the channel was three-hundred and seventy-two (372) feet or a hundred and thirteen (113) meters deep.

In addition, there were frequently ferocious winds and blinding fogs that would make any construction difficult.

By 1916, engineers began designing plans for a bridge that could cross the span and stand up to the harsh conditions.

The original plans for the bridge were too expensive, and there were many changes made to them before construction began on January fifth, 1933.

Construction of the bridge took over four years, and was notable for advances in safety. The Golden Gate Bridge was one of the first building projects where workers were required to wear hard hats and a safety net beneath the bridge saved the lives of nineteen men who fell during construction.

The bridge was completed in April of 1937 and was originally painted with a red-orange sealant to protect the bridge from damage by water and humidity.

But people liked the color, and it helped make the bridge visible by passing ships, even in fog. and so the Golden Gate Bridge was officially painted the color called “International Orange”.

Since the bridge opened for traffic on May 28, 1937 more than two billion vehicles have crossed it.

At the time, the San Francisco Chronicle called the Golden Gate Bridge a “thirty-five million dollar steel harp.” But it is estimated that today, it would cost about $1.2 billion to build.

Once a record-breaker, the Golden Gate Bridge still serves an important function in the San Francisco area and enjoys fame around the world as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern Engineering.

Questions

Golden Gate Bridge. Is the Golden Gate Bridge in New York City? Does it look classical or modern in style?

Panama Canal. The Golden Gate Bridge is about the length of three football fields. True or false? Is it still the longest bridge in the world?

New York Subway System. Was Golden Gate Bridge built in the late 1800s? Before the bridge was constructed, did people often fly across by airplane?

Hoover Dam. Constructing the bridge was straightforward and easy. Is this right or wrong? What were some challenges and difficulties?

Channel Tunnel. Did it take twenty years to complete the Golden Gate Bridge? Did the builders care about the construction workers?

Transcontinental Railway. The natural color of the metal is orange-red. Is this correct or incorrect?

Netherlands Dikes and Levees. The Golden Gate Bridge is strictly used for utilitarian purposes. The Golden Gate Bridge is used only for transportation. Do you agree?
 
 
 
Brooklyn Bridge. I have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. I have visited San Francisco. I have visited California. Yes or no?

Grand Canal of China. Have you and your friends been to other famous landmarks?

Empire State Building. What other famous structures or landmarks are you familiar with?

Queen Mary Ocean Liner. Should other cities and countries replicate the Golden Gate Bridge?

Interstate Highway. What might happen in the future?