Urban life spans: which cities have the most bridges?

Numerous cities around the world are blessed with bridges—road bridges, footbridges, railway bridges, and viaducts. Some stand as truly striking in their design and architectural merit, while others are more simple in form and function. And, of course, there are many historic bridges noted for their rich, cultural heritage. All, though, serve a function, to ease the flow of motorized and pedestrian traffic. But where can you find the greatest number of these unique spans in a single urban environment?

Click through and find out which cities have the most bridges, and learn of the location of the place they call the "Bridge Capital of the World."

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Seoul -

The 27 bridges that straddle the Han River linking the Seoul area with other areas of Gyeonggi province provide the South Korean capital with a series of geometric wonders that serve as illuminated points of focus after dark.

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London -

A total of 35 bridges span the River Thames in London, the United Kingdom's capital city. These include the world famous Tower Bridge, completed in 1895.

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Sydney -

Included in the 40 bridges comprising road bridges and pedestrian bridges found in Sydney is the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge. Completed in 1932, it's one of only two bridges in Australia that can be legally climbed, the other being Brisbane's Story Bridge.

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Miami -

There are 42 bridges that connect Miami to the Florida Keys. The Overseas Highway, which links the city to Key West, is one of the most spectacular drives in the United States. Miami features other bridges, but those that span the Keys are quite unique.

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Lyon -

Lyon, the second-largest city in France, features 45 bridges and footbridges. Arguably the most beautiful of these is Passerelle du Palais-de-Justice.

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Stockholm -

Stockholm is spread across 14 islands and is connected by 57 bridges. There's water everywhere, and that's why the Swedish capital is also called the "Venice of the North."

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Saskatoon -

The unassuming Canadian city of Saskatoon is often cited as "The City of Bridges," home as it is to 80. Those that connect the city across the South Saskatchewan River are of particular note and include University Bridge, built in 1916.

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Bruges -

Bruges is blessed with more than 80 bridges, the most attractive and historic of which are found in the city's Old Town. Among the most photogenic is Bonifaciusbrug (Boniface Bridge).

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Seattle -

Seattle in the US state of Washington is home to a total of 124 bridges, including its famous Interstate Ninety floating pontoons that carry traffic over Lake Washington.

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Paris -

Overall, the French capital numbers around 144 bridges in the city. But it is the 37 that span the Seine that stand out, in particular Pont Neuf, Pont Alexandre III, and Pont du Sully.

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Washington, D.C. -

The US capital has just over 200 bridges, many of which are functional and unremarkable. However, the seven major bridges across the Potomac River, the six that span the Anacostia River, and those scattered along the length of Rock Creek Park are of architectural merit. The Frederick Douglass Bridge, named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass, is of particular note.

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Prague -

The Czech capital is home to more than 250 bridges and footbridges, 31 of which span the Vltava, the country's longest river. The medieval Charles Bridge is one of Prague's most popular visitor attractions.

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Chicago -

Of the 300 bridges and viaduct structures found in Chicago, 37 are operable movable bridges set along the Chicago and Calumet rivers. Chicago is the third-most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles.

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St. Petersburg -

There are at least 342 bridges in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. Several of them are technical and aesthetic masterpieces, for example the wonderfully named Divorced Annunciation Bridge, which is overlooked by St. Isaac's Cathedral.

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Venice -

There are 417 bridges in Venice, and 72 of those are private. The most famous is the Rialto Bridge. The capital of northern Italy's Veneto region, Venice has no roads, just canals.

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Pittsburgh -

Pittsburgh can claim no less than 446 bridges within its city limits, among the highest number found anywhere in the United States. Twenty-eight bridges alone span the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers.

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Los Angeles -

According to the Department of Public Works, there are 450 bridges in Los Angeles. Among these is the Sixth Street Bridge, which has appeared in numerous films, TV shows, and music videos.

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Moscow -

The Krymsky Bridge was built in 1938 as the first fixed crossing over the Moskva River. Today, Moscow boasts over 450 bridges, with 35 spanning the river, including the colorful Bogdan Khmelnitsky road and rail bridge (pictured).

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Tokyo -

Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, counts at least 500 bridges in the metropolis. One of the most recognized is Rainbow Bridge, which also serves as a popular tourist attraction.

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New York City -

New York City owns, operates, and maintains upwards of 800 bridges, the most iconic of these being the Brooklyn Bridge. Built in 1883, it crosses the East River and connects Manhattan with Brooklyn.

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Osaka -

One of the most rewarding ways of admiring Osaka's Dotonbori entertainment district is to pause on one of the many footbridges that cross the canal. The liveliest zone runs from Dotonboribashi Bridge to Nipponbashi Bridge, in Namba. In all, 808 bridges are set across this sprawling Japanese city.

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Rome -

Rome is believed to have as many as 900 bridges, including 330 made of stone, 34 crafted from timber, and 54 aqueduct bridges. Of these, more than 30 unite the two banks of the

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Hong Kong -

Most of Hong Kong's 1,400 bridges cross roads. Those that span water include Stonecutters Bridge. Connecting Nam Wan Kok to Stonecutters Island, the bridge at one point was the second-longest cable-stayed span in the world.

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Boston -

There are at least 1,400 bridges in the Greater Boston Area. The city's principal span is the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Charles River. It's one of the widest cable-stayed bridges in the US—indeed, the world.

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Amsterdam -

There are anywhere between 1,200 and 1,500 bridges in Amsterdam. No one is quite sure of the exact number. One of the most popular cities in the Netherlands, Amsterdam is a maze of canals and waterways.

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Vienna -

Vienna has more than 1,700 bridges—four times as many as Venice! The Austrian capital is sliced through the middle by the Danube, and many of its bridges span multiple channels of the river.

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Berlin -

Berlin is one of the most water-rich cities in Germany, so it's no surprise that it counts at least 1,700 bridges within the metropolitan area. Among these is picturesque Oberbaum, a double-deck bridge that crosses the Spree River and is symbolic of Berlin's unity.

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Hamburg -

It is estimated that Hamburg in Germany has between 2,300 and 2,500 bridges inside its city limits, the most found anywhere in Europe, according to Guinness World Records. The oldest is Zollenbrücke, built in 1663.

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Chongqing -

Not for nothing is Chongqing known as the "Bridge Capital of the World." No less than 10,000 bridges are set in this Chinese city—the highest number found anywhere on the planet, again according to Guinness World Records. Pictured is just one of them, Twin River Bridge.