U Bein Bridge

The construction was started in 1849 and finished in 1851. Myanmar construction engineers used traditional methods of scaling and measuring to build the bridge. According to historic books about the bridge, engineers measured by counting footsteps. == Design and Structure ==

The bridge was built in a curved shape in the middle to resist the assault of wind and water. The main teak posts were hammered into the lake bed seven feet deep. The other ends of the posts were shaped conically to ensure that rainwater would flow down easily. The joints of the bridge are intertwined. Originally, there were 984 teak posts supporting the bridge and two approach brick bridges. Later, the two approach brick bridges were replaced by a wooden approach bridge. There are four wooden pavilions at the same interval along the bridge. By adding posts of two approach bridges and four pavilions, the number of posts amounts to 1089. There are nine passageways in the bridge, where the floors can be lifted to let boats and barges pass. There are 482 spans and the length of the bridge is 1,209 metres. ==Gallery==

File:U Bein Bridge.jpg|1855 by Colesworthey Grant File:U Bein Bridge, 1855.jpg|October 1855 File:U Bain Bridge1.JPG|November 2005 File:U Bein, Buddhist monks 2, Mandalay, Myanmar.jpg|2008 File:U Bein Bridge, Mandalay, Myanmar.jpg|2008 File:U Bein Bridge - longest teak bridge in the world.jpg|January 2010 File:U bein Bridge.JPG|January 2016 File:Taungthaman Lake at sunset 2, Myanmar.jpg|View over Taungthaman Lake from bridge File:U Pein Bridge Myanmar 04.jpg|Each bridge post is numbered in Burmese numerals File:U Pein Bridge Myanmar 08.jpg|December 2016 File:U Pein Bridge Myanmar 15.jpg|December 2016 File:Men fishing under U Pein Bridge Myanmar 12.jpg|Boys searching for dropped items under the bridge ==References==