The world is filled with breathtaking structures that seem to outdo each other. Architects and engineers around the world definitely strive to be outstanding in their projects of today. Here are seven of the greatest civil engineering projects in history.
1. The Great Pyramid
This phenomenal feat of ancient engineering still impresses us thousands of years after its construction. For 3,800 years it was the tallest man-made structure on earth. Some of the larger blocks weigh up to 80 tons and were somehow moved 500 or so miles to the construction site. The workforce needed to build it was estimated to be about 30,000.
2. The Great Wall of China
The word “great” is definitely not an exaggeration in this particular case. Construction of the Great Wall was started in the year 475 B.C. and was intended to protect China from the marauding Huns. It was worked on for an incredible 2,000 years as different sections were built, re-built and merged to create the wall as it stands today.
3. Aqueduct of Segovia
Going back to 50 A.D., this ancient project is all the more impressive considering the fact that they lacked the modern construction equipment that does so much of the heavy lifting today. Located in Segovia, Spain, this massive project includes 167 arches as part of its structure and was able to transport water some 11 miles from the Fuente Fria River to the city.
4. Brooklyn Bridge
Incredibly, this project was completed way back in 1883. At the time of its completion, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at 3,460 feet in length. It was also the first bridge project that made use of explosives and an underwater suspension system called a Caisson.
5. Panama Canal
Creating what is essentially a man-made river was a massive undertaking that required 60 million pounds of dynamite and 40,000 workers who moved enough dirt to bury the entire island of Manhattan under a layer of earth 12 feet deep. It stretches an incredible 47 miles to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and was completed in 1914.
6. Hoover Dam
Although we may not hear all that much about hydroelectric power these days, it was important enough in the past to construct massive dams like Hoover Dam to generate electricity. This massive project was completed back in 1936, making it an incredibly impressive project given the equipment that was available at the time.
7. Golden Gate Bridge
This one goes back in history a bit but is still considered an incredible engineering accomplishment. It was completed in 1937 and it connects the city of San Francisco and Marin County, California. It took strands of wire 80,000 miles long to create the massive cables that hold the bridge up. It also required the use of 600,000 rivets and has withstood high winds and earthquakes during its 77-year life.
