The 5 "water bridges" that will leave you stunned

1. Driving underwater: the Veluwemeer Aqueduct

Crossing the N302 road, near Harderwijk, in the east of Holland, the Veluwemeer aqueduct is located. Its purpose is to connect the continental Netherlands with Flevoland, the largest artificial island in the world. It opened its locks in 2002, and with its 19m wide and a length of 25m serves as a passage for ships of small draught as it only has 3 m depth. If you are a pedestrian, you also have the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful views offered from each side of the river.

I give you its position on a map for those (like me) who do not have a picture of Holland as accurate as to know its location by heart.

2. The Magdeburg Bridge, water over water!

Then we can admire the "Wasserstrassenkreuz" or Magdeburg Water Bridge (in Kanalbrücke Magdeburg, in the Land of Saxony-Anhalt). With a length of 918m, it connects the Elbe-Havel channel with the Mittelland channel, passing through the Elbe river. It took around 7 years (1997-2003) to build the canal, it is located in Germany and it is defined as the largest bridge of this type in the world. An interesting fact to know is how much material was needed to build this bridge, that adds up to the astonishing amount of 68,000 m³ of concrete and 24,000 metric tons of steel.

3. Falkirk Wheel

This jaw-dropping wonder is in central Scotland. It is nothing less than a boat lift whose aim is to connect the Forth and Clyde channel with the Union channel and thus avoiding the 11 locks which were previously necessary to connect them both. This lift saves 24m in height which, to give you an idea, is the equivalent to an 8-storey building. The following video shows how this rotating giant lifts boats from one channel to another (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tBH9SE-Kw8)

4. Ringvaart Haarlemmermeer Aqueduct

Located in Holland, Netherlands. It dates from 1961 becoming the oldest aqueduct in the Netherlands. It is also known under the name of the Circular Channel of the Haarlemmermeer polder

5. Pont du Sart Aqueduct, Belgium

Navigable aqueduct near the city of Houdeng-Goegnies, in Belgium. With a length of 498 meters and 46 meters wide, this concrete giant weighs around 65,000 tons that lay on top of 28 concrete piers of 3m of diameter each.

Source of the pictures:

·         http://asusta2.com.ar/tag/puente-de-magdeburg/

·         http://blogs.lainformacion.com/futuretech/2013/03/15/puentes/

·         http://imgday.com/images/veluwemeer-aqueduct-near-harderwijk-the-%20%20netherlands/#more-7948

·         https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puente_acu%C3%ADfero_de_Magdeburgo

·         http://discoverytumundo.blogspot.com.es/2013/05/interesante-puentes-de-agua-acueducto.html