Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge has been called
one of the world's most beautiful bridges.
It is also one of the most visited places in the world.
Experts say about 9 million people visit the bridge each year.
They say more than 1,000 million vehicles have used the bridge
since it opened almost 70 years ago.
The bridge has always been painted the color
called "International Orange".
The color was chosen
because it went well with the natural surroundings.
It is also easier to see in the heavy fog
that often covers the area.
But the Golden Gate Bridge was not named for its orange color.
It was named for the body of water that it crosses,
the Golden Gate Strait.
The Golden Gate Strait is the entrance to the San Francisco Bay
from the Pacific Ocean.
The Golden Gate Bridge
links the city of San Francisco with Marin County, California.
Planning for the bridge began in the 1920s
when the area around San Francisco was growing.
People living in the area needed another way to get to the city
besides the small ferry boats.
The chief engineer for the project was Joseph Strauss.
Work began in 1933.
Mr. Strauss demanded the strongest safety protections
in the history of bridge building.
These protections included the first use of the hard hat
and special glasses to protect the workers' eyes.
A special safety net was suspended under the bridge.
This net saved the lives of 19 men during the construction.
Still, 11 others were killed
when they fell from the bridge through the net.
The Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937.
It extends 1,280 meters across the water.
It was the largest suspension bridge in the world until 1964.
That is when the Verrazano Narrows Bridge
opened in New York City.