I love bridges! I've always been interested in them. Maybe it started back when I was seven years old and heard about the moving of the London Bridge to Arizona, piece by piece...how cool is that! Or my fascination whenever I go over a really high bridge and see the great view from it. Or seeing some new innovation in bridge design or a good-looking bridge, be it in the daylight or at night. If you haven't already done so, please read through "THE SERIES EXPLAINED" section below and then work on this fun, informative, and easy puzzle.
HELPFUL HINT: When looking at the links, click right mouse button and open up links in either another tab or window. This way you'll still have the main cache page to view.
THE PUZZLE
This is the third in a series of caches about bridges. This set is old and historic bridges. Bridges are listed with the newer ones first, though the exact construction era for some of these are still uncertain.
The final coordinates for this puzzle are determined by finding the following answers.
Coordinates are: N43 AB.CDE W77 FG.HIJ.
A: Bastei Bridge
Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany
In 1824 a wooden bridge was constructioned to link several rocks for visitors.
In 1851 the wooden bridge was replaced by the present one made of sandstone.
A is the second digit (in meters) of the depth of the ravine that the sandstone bridge spans.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastei
As a bonus, here's a short video of the bridge and its surroundings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWLShdJeg64
B: Puente Nuevo Bridge
Ronda, Spain
A bridge built in 1734 was poorly constructed and in 1741 the entire bridge collapsed.
From 1751 to 1793 the currently standing bridge was built. Its central arch has a chamber that was used for a variety of purposes, including a prison.
B is either digit in the number of meters in the bridge's total length.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puente_Nuevo
C: Frankford Avenue Bridge
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Built in 1697, it is the oldest surviving roadway bridge in the U.S. It underwent reconstruction work in 1893 and in 2018.
In 1683 the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a law requiring the building of bridges along the King's Highway. They were to be completed in 18 months and built by male inhabitants of the area. Those who failed to appear were to be fined 20 shillings.
C is the third digit in the year that George Washington crossed this bridge on the way to his inauguration in New York.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankford_Avenue_Bridge
D: Stari Most Bridge
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Three bridges have existed at this location:
(1) Wooden suspension bridge hung on chains. It "swayed so much that people crossing it did so in mortal fear".
(2) 1566: Construction of a new stone bridge completed. It stood for 427 years until it was destroyed on November 9, 1993 in the Croat-Bosniak War.
(3) 2004: Rebuilt bridge opened July 23. It was decided to reconstruct it as similar as possible with same materials and same technology.
Since 1664 a diving competition is held annually when the bridge has been open.
A Turkish rock band wrote a song about the sorrow after the destruction of the bridge. D is the last digit in the year the song was written.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stari_Most
E: Tarr Steps
Exmoor National Park, Somerset, England
Age unknown. Some believe it to be built around 1400 AD; others believe it dates back to the Bronze Age (3200-600 BC).
This is a clapper bridge (from Medieval Latin "claperius" which means "pile of stones"). Constructed with large unmortared slabs of stone resting on one another, the bridge is only 39 inches above the normal water level. Tarr Steps is the largest example of this type of bridge.
E is the width, in feet, of the largest slab.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarr_Steps
F: Charles Bridge
Prague, Czech Republic
Original bridge at this location was the Judith Bridge ( construction: 1158-1172). It was badly damaged in a flood in 1342.
Charles Bridge construction started under the orders of King Charles IV in 1357 and completed in 1402. Originally called Stone Bridge but since 1870 it's been called Charles Bridge.
F is the first digit in the number of statues and statuaries that decorate the bridge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bridge
G: Gaztelugatxe Bridge
Gaztelugatxe, Spain
Gaztelugatxe is an islet on the coast of Biscay belonging to the municipality of Bermeo, Basque Country (Spain). It is connected to the mainland by a man-made bridge. On top of the island stands a hermitage (named Gaztelugatxeko Doniene in Basque; San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in Spanish), dedicated to John the Baptist. It dates from the 10th century, although some discoveries indicate that the date might be the 9th century.
G is the first digit in the number of meters above sea level where the church sits.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaztelugatxe
H: Alcántara Bridge
Extremadura, Spain
This stone arch Roman bridge was built between 104 and 106 AD by order of the Roman emperor Trajan in 98 AD.
The bridge has been damaged several times from war and repaired/rebuilt throughout its history.
H is the second digit in the height, in meters, of the bridge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcántara_Bridge
I: Pons Fabricius
Rome, Italy
Built in 62 BC to replace a wooden bridge destroyed by fire, Pons Fabricius is the oldest Roman bridge in Rome, Italy. It still exists in its original state and has been in continuous use ever since it was built.
I is the first digit of its longest span, in feet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pons_Fabricius
J: Arkadiko Bridge
Peloponnese, Greece
Built ca. 1300-1190 BC. It is still in use by local people.
The corbel arch bridge is made in the typical Mycenaean manner of Cyclopean stones. The sophisticated layout of the bridge and the road indicate that this bridge and other similar ones were specifically constructed for use by chariots.
J is the last digit in the height, in feet, of the bridge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkadiko_Bridge
Check your answers on Certitude, where you will also get useful and informative details about the final location.
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.
THE SERIES EXPLAINED
To share my interest in bridges I've created this series of 12 caches. For each cache you'll look up information for 10 bridges. The bridges are from around the world, and no bridges are repeated throughout the series. So 12 caches with 10 bridges...120 bridges for you to enjoy!
The caches will be released throughout the winter months, allowing you to spend some time sitting nice and cozy in your pajamas & bunny slippers, researching the answers and watching videos or viewing photographs about each bridge. And I even give you links to where you can find the answers! Once you've solved it though you'll need to take off the bunny slippers, bundle up and go find the cache.
I've tried to make the hides as winter accessible as possible for the location. Happy caching!