> The Golden Gate Bridge stretches across a strait that connects the San FranciscoBay with which large body of water? And the answer is: the Pacific Ocean.Photo credit: History.comThe Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanningthe Golden Gate, the one-mile-wide strait that connects San Francisco Bay andthe Pacific Ocean. At the time of its opening in 1937, it was both the longestand the tallest suspension bridge in the world.Creation of the Golden Gate Bridge spanned over a period of about four years.The construction was intense and dangerous, yet the chief engineer JosephStrauss made safety a high priority. In the 1930s, the general rule of thumb onhigh-steel bridge construction projects was an expected 1 death per each $1million spent. However, the Golden Gate surpassed expectations with just 11deaths for the $35 million construction. It was the first construction site inAmerica to require the use of hard hats. Strauss also installed a $130,000safety net to save the lives of fallen workers, a fact that ultimately saved 19lives. These survivors dubbed themselves members of the "Halfway to Hell Club."When the massive project met its end, feelings of relief were palpable in thelives of workers, engineers and citizens alike. After facing hurdles andresistance from nearly every corner, the bridge stood tall between the SanFransisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Chief engineer Strauss commemorated theoccasion by dedicating a poem[https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/history-research/bridge-construction/joseph-strauss/#poems] to its completion. The Golden Gate Bridge has since withstood the destructive attempts of mosteverything thrown at it, including each earthquake that has passed through thearea. Impressively, it was closed down only three times in its first 75 yearsfor weather conditions. It remains a cornerstone of American achievement andgreat feat of engineering ingenuity.