I love bridges! I've always been interested in them. Maybe it started back when I was seven years old and heard about the moving of the London Bridge to Arizona, piece by piece...how cool is that! Or my fascination whenever I go over a really high bridge and see the great view from it. Or seeing some new innovation in bridge design or a good-looking bridge, be it in the daylight or at night. If you haven't already done so, please read through "THE SERIES EXPLAINED" section below and then work on this fun, informative, and easy puzzle.
HELPFUL HINT: When looking at the links, click right mouse button and open up links in either another tab or window. This way you'll still have the main cache page to view.
THE PUZZLE
This is the seventh in a series of caches about bridges. This set of bridges are ones that hold some type of record, whether it be world or continent or country. Many of the bridges are pretty typical in their appearance, but the sizes, both large and small, are amazing.
The final coordinates for this puzzle are determined by finding the following answers.
Coordinates are: N43 AB.CDE W77 FG.HIJ.
A: Millau Viaduct Bridge
Millau, France
This bridge is the tallest in the world ("tall" is defined as the structural height of the bridge) at 1,125 feet (that's about equivalent to a 112 story building!). It took three years to build and was opened to traffic on December 16, 2004. The cables run down the center, allowing for some great views from the bridge.
A is the first digit in the year that the first plans for a bridge were discussed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millau_Viaduct
BONUS VIDEO: This video contains interesting information about the bridge construction.
https://www.britannica.com/video/179912/Overview-Millau-Viaduct-France-Tarn-River
B: Somerset Bridge
Bermuda
The Somerset Bridge is the smallest drawbridge in the world. A piece of wood is manually lifted, allowing the mast of a sailboat to pass through. The bridge is depicted on a $5 Bermudian banknote.
B is the second digit in the width, in inches of the bisected plank that is the opening.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerset_Bridge,_Bermuda
C: Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge
Akashi Strait, Japan
The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world. The main span is over one mile, at 6,532 feet. The length of the main span is the most common method of comparing the sizes of suspension bridges.
C is either the second or third digit in the number of meters in the longest span.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akashi_Kaiky%C5%8D_Bridge
BONUS VIDEO: Short video about the bridge with some close-up shots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuxM4fdcekU
D: Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge
Shanghai to Nanjing, China
The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is the longest bridge in the world, measuring 102.4 miles (164.8 kilometers). Construction took four years, cost about $8.5 billion, and employed 10,000 people.
D is the first digit in the number of miles in the section that is over open water across Yangcheng Lake.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danyang%E2%80%93Kunshan_Grand_Bridge
BONUS VIDEO: Some more views of the bridge, mostly flyovers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXEMVVM5kvk
E: Hartland Bridge
Hartland, New Brunswick, Canada
The Hartland Bridge is the longest covered bridge in the world, measuring 1,282 feet (391 meters). Before the bridge, the only way to cross the Saint John River was by ferry. The bridge opened in 1901, but wasn't covered until 1922, as part of the repairs due to damage from river ice in 1920.
E is the number of piers that the seven small Howe Truss bridges are joined together on.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartland_Bridge
F: Zavikon Island Bridge
Thousand Islands, USA/Canada
The Zavikon Island Bridge spans two islands...one in Canada and one in the United States, making it the world's shortest international bridge. Both islands are owned by the same person; one island holds the house and the other island is the backyard. However, the claims of two countries have been disputed by some for years...but it makes for a fun attraction!
F is the first digit in the length of the bridge, in feet.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/zavikon-island
G: Chapel Bridge (aka Kapellbrücke)
Lucerne, Switzerland
The Kapellbrücke is the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe. The footbridge is unique in containing a number of interior paintings dating back to the 17th century, although many of them were destroyed along with a larger part of the centuries-old bridge in a 1993 fire. It has subsequently been restored.
G is the first digit in either the initial length of the bridge or the current length (both in meters).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapellbrücke
H: San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
California, USA
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge's eastern span replacement is the widest in the world, at 258.33 feet. It consists of 10 general-purpose lanes. The replacement was prompted by sesmically unsound portions of the bridge. Cost was $6.5 billion, which was a 2500% cost overrun from original estimate of $250 million.
H is first digit in the magnitude of earthquake that the new bridge is meant to withstand.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_span_replacement_of_the_San_Francisco%E2%80%93Oakland_Bay_Bridge
BONUS VIDEO: Four minute time-lapse video of the bridge construction. 42,000 hours in four minutes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDUIYZKlknk
I: Royal Gorge Bridge
Cañon City, Colorado, USA
The Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest bridge in the United States, at 955 feet above the Arkansas River. "Highest" is the distance from the deck of the bridge to the surface below the bridge. I've been to this bridge and the funniest thing I remember from it was the tongue-in-cheek sign shown in the last picture below...that would be a lot of fishing line...LOL!
I is the last digit in the main span (between towers), in feet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Gorge_Bridge
BONUS VIDEO: A one-minute compilation of photos and video snippets of the bridge and the surrounding area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XxGUVpKctg
J: Duge Bridge
Liupanshui, China
The Duge Bridge is the highest bridge in the world, at 1,854 feet above the Beipan River. The eastern tower is amongst the tallest in the world, at 883 feet.
J is the third digit of the longest span, in feet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duge_Bridge
Check your answers on Certitude, where you will also get useful and informative details about the final location.
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.
THE SERIES EXPLAINED
To share my interest in bridges I've created this series of 12 caches. For each cache you'll look up information for 10 bridges. The bridges are from around the world, and no bridges are repeated throughout the series. So 12 caches with 10 bridges...120 bridges for you to enjoy!
The caches will be released throughout the winter months, allowing you to spend some time sitting nice and cozy in your pajamas & bunny slippers, researching the answers and watching videos or viewing photographs about each bridge. And I even give you links to where you can find the answers! Once you've solved it though you'll need to take off the bunny slippers, bundle up and go find the cache.
I've tried to make the hides as winter accessible as possible for the location. Happy caching!