← Wonders of the World

Chapter 5

Wonders of engineering

Modern engineers have built wonders the ancients never imagined. This chapter covers canals that lift ships across a country, bridges that span the sea and cross valleys higher than the Eiffel Tower, a tunnel under the Channel and dams that light up whole countries. It ends beyond the ground: a laboratory that circles the Earth every 90 minutes, and a 27 km ring underground near Geneva where scientists smash particles together.

10 cards

StoryZap this chapter
See the 10 cards
  1. Canal with locks that lift ships across a countryPanama Canal
  2. Orange suspension bridge across a famous straitGolden Gate Bridge
  3. Undersea rail link from England to FranceChannel Tunnel
  4. Concrete dam that holds back Lake MeadHoover Dam
  5. The world's largest power station, on the YangtzeThree Gorges Dam
  6. Laboratory that circles Earth every 90 minutesInternational Space Station
  7. Bridge in Japan that held the longest-span recordAkashi Kaikyō Bridge
  8. Cable-stayed bridge high over a valley in FranceMillau Viaduct
  9. Huge dam on the Brazil–Paraguay borderItaipu Dam
  10. 27 km ring where particles collide near GenevaLarge Hadron Collider

Image credits

  • Canal with locks that lift ships across a country: Paul Harrison (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0 Source
  • Orange suspension bridge across a famous strait: Frank Schulenburg (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0 Source
  • Undersea rail link from England to France: Billy69150 (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0 Source
  • Concrete dam that holds back Lake Mead: Christian David (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0 Source
  • The world's largest power station, on the Yangtze: Fredlyfish4 (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0 Source
  • Laboratory that circles Earth every 90 minutes: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Wikimedia Commons), public domain Source
  • Bridge in Japan that held the longest-span record: Tysto (Wikimedia Commons), public domain Source
  • Cable-stayed bridge high over a valley in France: W. Bulach (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0 Source
  • Huge dam on the Brazil–Paraguay border: Cmasi (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0 Source
  • 27 km ring where particles collide near Geneva: Chris Mitchell (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0 Source