Sydney, Australia: Sydney Harbour Bridge

There are two parts of Sydney that must be the most photographed spots in the city. One is the Opera House, which probably ranks first. But the other is the Harbour Bridge. Not every tourist comes back with plenty of shots of both of them from different angles, but they are in the definite minority.

Before the bridge, ferries had the job of carrying people from one side of Sydney to another. The bridge was used to change all that. The steel through arch bridge was completed in 1932. The design led the natives to call it "The Coathanger." It was the largest bridge of its type in the world until 2001, when Vancouver came up with a slightly longer one. 

There are a number of ways to use the bridge. There is a pedestrian sidewalk on one side. Take it from someone who crossed it that way - it offers some very good views of the harbour. Cars naturally cross from one side to the other all the time. The bridge does have the capability to change the number of lanes going in a certain direction, so that morning and night traffic can be regulated better. Trains go across it. It's also a nice sight for a boat passing under it. 

As you may have heard, the bridge is also used as a spot for climbing. That experience is described in another entry here, but it's unforgettable. The age of the structure is apparent when walking through it, as some of the beams look a little rusty.  

Sydney just wouldn't be the same without the Harbour Bridge.