- Vizcaya Bridge
Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Vizcaya Bridge
State Party = ESP
Type = Cultural
Criteria = i, ii
ID = 1217
Region = Europe and North America
Year = 2006
Session = 30th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1217The Vizcaya Bridge ("Bizkaiko Zubia in Basque, Puente de Vizcaya in Spanish"), is atransporter bridge that links the towns ofPortugalete andLas Arenas (part ofGetxo ) in theBiscay province ofSpain , crossing the mouth of theNervion River .For the locals it's commonly named Puente Colgante that is Spanish for "Suspension Bridge". That constitutes a misnomer, because it is really a transporter bridge, being a different structure from a
suspension bridge . However, the common name is widely used in the area and even in the official website.History
It is the world's oldest
transporter bridge and was built in 1893, designed byAlberto Palacio , one ofGustave Eiffel 's disciples. It was the solution given by the engineer to the problem of connecting the two towns without disrupting the maritime traffic of thePort of Bilbao and without having to build a massive structure with long ramps.The service was only interrupted four years during theSpanish Civil War , when the upper section was dynamited. From his house in Portugalete, Alberto Palacio could see how his master work was partially destroyed just before his own death.On
July 13th of2006 it was declared aWorld Heritage Site byUNESCO .Operation
The bridge, still in use, is 164 meters long and its gondola can transport six cars and several dozens of passengers in one minute and a half.
It operates every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day all year round, with different fares depending on the time of day, and is integrated into
Bilbao 'sCreditrans transport system.There are two new visitors lifts installed in the 50 meter high pillars of the bridge that allow walking over the bridge's platform, from where the tourists can see the port and the
Abra bay .Image gallery
External links
* http://www.puente-colgante.com
* http://www.guiabizkaia.com/gbilbao/portu/Index.html
* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1217 UNESCO World Heritage Official Site with the Vizcaya Bridge profile]
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