Bridges

[mountaingal]

Re: Bridges in Africa

European bridge engineering has mixed results in Africa, it seems. almost like the results of colonization itself. sometimes the "advanced" way gets out of step with indigenous ways, and sometimes results are less than positive.

this composite picture shows bridges in Zaire. On the left is a section of the Pan African Highway a major thoroughfare that, for this passage through central Africa, is composed of massive tree trunks. i guess it withstands the traffic well. On the right is a metal bridge where a lot of the surface path is gone, and crossing it, on foot, is seen as a test of nerve.




below is a google view of the Third Mainland Bridge, that links the island on which Lagos is located to the Nigerian mainland. It is the longest bridge in Africa, at over 11 kilometres.


unfortunately, poor maintenance has damned this bridge. after reports that it was vibrating (a fatal flaw in bridges that could lead to collapse) it was closed temporarily in 2008. i'm not even sure it's open anymore. there's talk of building a 4th mainland bridge.

[mountaingal]

Re: Bridges in Africa -Victoria Falls

Downstream (or is it upstream?) of the majestic Victoria Falls, over the Zambesi River, is the Victoria Falls Bridge. It joins two countries - Zambia and Zimbabwe, and apparently is used primarily as a footbridge. tourists also bungy jump from it. bridges and the lure of death, they're a natural combo.


Victoria Falls with the bridge in the foreground

[mountaingal]

Re: Bloukrans Bridge, South Africa

this is probably the most awesome bridge in Africa. it is the world's highest single arch bridge, and it straddles some serious territory leading way down to the Bloukrans River in South Africa.

[mountaingal]

Re: Bloukrans Bridge bungee jumping

"Shot out into reality you are challenged to remember who you really are and return back from whence you came." - comment on the spirituality of bungee jumping

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Originally a religious ritual used with the South Pacific island of Pentecost to appease mother earth, it was meant to proved for a good yam crop. It was also a demarcation, <span style="font-weight: bold">a rite of passage</span>, for young boys to become known as men. Since only if anybody can identify, these natives have conducted this ritual every spring, literally for 1,000's of years. The prevailing culture of the original <span style="font-weight: bold">land divers</span> was definitely a spiritual one.</div></div>
source [/quote]

Bloukrans Bridge, until recently, operated the world's highest bungee jump. Macao now offers a higher jump, but it uses more wires on the jumper. Bloukrans bungee jumpers make the literal leap of faith, tied only by their legs to a piece of elastic, plunging headfirst into a valley of rocks and trees, to test their mental strength.


this short video shows it all. whereas most bungee jumpers <span style="font-style: italic">fall</span> into their jump, this guy <span style="font-weight: bold">leaps</span> into the valley.
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CVE5eqel5-M&amp;feature=fvw"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CVE5eqel5-M&amp;feature=fvw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

[Compry]

Re: Bloukrans Bridge bungee jumping

(((MG))), not as stunning as some that you posted but this one came back to mind. I drove on it couple years ago. Driving through the underwater tunnel was an experience also.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in Virginia.

[Tulip]

Re: Bridges in Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MGee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
i like to think our ancestors liked being grounded, being close to the earth, liked taking the long, low road around to get around.

</div></div>


You know what, I'm not cool with those suspension bridges either.

I did not know I really had a problem until I was walking one in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. (Yes, it is an actual place.) I like for my bridges to have some support underneath.

Walking across a suspension bridge over a canyon between two mountains? Folks stopping to throw up and I'm suppressing the urge to climb over their back or scream keep it moving. I have a whole lot of respect for the phrase &quot;don't look down&quot; because lord knows it does not help.

[Tulip]

Re: Bridges in Africa -Victoria Falls

I've always thought Victoria Falls was beautiful from the pics. Nothing about it bothers me; it's peaceful.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MGee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Downstream (or is it upstream?) of the majestic Victoria Falls, over the Zambesi River, is the Victoria Falls Bridge. It joins two countries - Zambia and Zimbabwe, and apparently is used primarily as a footbridge. tourists also bungy jump from it. bridges and the lure of death, they're a natural combo.


Victoria Falls with the bridge in the foreground



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