For those who love water, ships and harbors, Hamburg is hence, a must visit.
Hamburg is practically surrounded on all sides by water.
All this water means an abundance of canals, streams and bridges.
Here are some of the most notable bridges around the city.
Kohlbrandbrucke
The Kohlbrandbrucke was inaugurated in 1974 and is one of the most prominent landmarks in Hamburg.
It is 3940 metres long and the central, cable-stayed part has a span of 325 metres.
From 1974 until 1991 it was the lonest cable stayed bridge span in the world.
Now, it is the second longest bridge in Germany.
Between 1980 and 1995, the bridge was radically restored, this accounted for the laterally projecting cantilevered walkway.
It connects the Elbe Island Wilhelmsburg Moorburg and was inaugurated on March 21, 1973.
With a lifting height of 46 m, it is the largest vertical lift bridge in the world.
These closures take typically about eight to ten minutes.
For shipping, the bridge will open normally during the day (on workdays) every two hours.
The interruption of traffic generally takes 15 to 20 minutes.
Brooksbrucke
The Brooks Bridge leading into the Speicherstadt was inaugurated in 1887.
The bridge is adorned by four statues one at each of its corners.
The original sculptures were destroyed in the Second World War.
The current sculptures were erected in 2001.
It was named after the Lombard pawn shop situated here in 1651.
Next to the Lombard bridge is the Kennedy bridge.
The second bridge was constructed in 1953 because the old Lombard bridge couldnt cope with the increased traffic.
The bridge was originally called New Lombardsbrucke.
It was renamed Kennedy Bridge in 1963 in honor of John F. Kennedy after his assassination.
Both Lombardsbrucke and Kennedybrucke divide the Inner Alster Lake (Binnenalster) and Outer Alster Lake (Aussenalster).
Zollenbrucke
Zollenbrucke is the oldest bridge in the city, dating back to 1663.
The 25-meter-long bridge, with its three different sized arches consists of sandstone blocks.
The railings and lanterns are from the 19th Century when the bridge was widened.
Ellerntorsbrucke
The Ellerntorsbrucke is an arch stone bridge that crosses the Lord grave Fleet.
She served for centuries as a direct route from Hamburg to Altona.
Built in 1668, it is the second oldest surviving stone bridge in Hamburg.
It was built in 1881.
The name of the bridge translates to Comfort Bridge.
It received this name because people on their way to be tried were led over it their last comfort.
The bridge was built in 1843.
Since its completion in 1959, it has served as a road bridge.
The bridge contains a remarkable stone carving that shows two women in conversation.
Sources
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1073187
http://www.europeupclose.com/article/hamburg-germanys-window-to-the-world/#.T4dDRoHXhwQ
http://wikitravel.org/en/Hamburg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburg#cite_ref-35
