Sydney Harbour Bridge by Myka and Justine
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the largest steel arch bridge in the world and spans the Sydney Harbour. It stretches from Dawes Point on one side of the Sydney Harbour to Milson's Point on the other. Its beautiful location has become known as a symbol of Australia around the world. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is in Sydney which is the capital of New South Wales.    

 

 

The bridge is 134 metres high, 49 metres wide and has a curve of 503 metres. The bridge has six million rivets (Nails) in total, and weighs 52,800 tonnes. Its total length is 1149 metres and its area span is  503 metres. All types of people use the bridge, cyclists on the West side and pedestrians on the East side. It has eight vehicle lanes, two train lines and a bike and walkway.

The general design was created by Dr J.J.C Bradfield.

 
On the 20th August 1930 after the arch was successfully joined, the official opening day was the Saturday 19th March in 1932 by Jack Lang, costing $20 million. It was a momentous occasion drawing huge crowds (estimated between 300,000 and one million people). Now the Harbour Bridge is an important traffic way to and from Sydney and on New Year's Eve fireworks and celebrations are held on and around the Bridge and Harbour.

Look closely in the centre of the bridge span and you will see the Olympic Rings

The Bridge is Sydney's second famous building with the Sydney Opera House being the most famous. 
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was also important when the Sydney Olympic Games were held in 2000. The Olympic Rings were placed on the Bridge.

In December 2001 and January 2002 Sydney had very bad bush fires. You could barely see the Bridge through the smoky sky which hung around Sydney for weeks as the fires were out of control.

The Sydney Harbour in 2001 Bushfires


The Harbour Bridge showing the north and south shore.

 You can go on Tours of the Bridge throughout the day and in the evening. You can go on the BridgeClimb Tour which takes you over the top of the arch. Due to the height you walk at cameras cannot be taken, but you can purchase souvenir photographs at the end of your tour. 
There is also a great Pylon Lookout and an interesting Museum there. 

The bridge is a great place to visit!