Cableways ... Well, of course, almost every modern person has heard at least once in his life about this rather rare form of transport. Why are ropeways in demand? Is it only due to its unusualness? According to experts, this is primarily due to the fact that they solve the main problem, delivering passengers to their destination where other vehicles are completely useless. Moreover, all this happens in a fairly short time without pollution and the creation of traffic jams.
Section 1. Cableways of the world: general information
Purely theoretically, their device is quite simple. Through a certain mechanism, it is possible to carry out movements in space, while using a traction or non-supporting-traction rope or cable, which extends between the supports. During the operation of the cable car, trolleys, wagons, cabins or chairs are able to move above the ground.
By the way, few people realize that modern cable cars are quite functional. They can carry up to 2 thousand people per hour. And freight ropeways provide cargo transportation up to 1 thousand tons per hour.
The longest cable car in the world (96 km) is considered the construction of which was once carried out in Sweden. Initially, it functioned only as a cargo, and it was built specifically to make it easier for the local population to move the extracted iron ore to the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia from Lapland. Now part of it (just over 13 km) is used to transport numerous tourists and local people.
The second longest ropeway today operates in Gabon (its length is 76 km). Through it, delivery of manganese ore is carried out. This is a very impressive engineering structure:
- the length of its wire rope is 155 km;
- more than 850 towers;
- 2,800 buckets;
- cable operation is carried out using 6 thousand guide rollers.
And in third place was the cableway in Armenia, commissioned in 2010 by order of the government - Tatevskaya (length - 5.7 km).
Modern travelers note the presence of this type of transport in Nizhny Novgorod (Russia), New York (USA), Portland (USA), London (Kingdom of Great Britain) and Hong Kong (China). They were specially built to carry passengers and improve transport interchange of the world's largest administrative centers.
Section 2. Popular cableways of Ukraine
This state can easily be classified as a champion in the number of designs of such a plan. In total there are 12 of them, and most are considered passenger.
Perhaps one of the most sought after can be considered one of the Crimean. Yalta ... The cable car located here is certainly known to every traveler who has visited the peninsula. Construction began in 1967. But only after 20 years, all work was finally completed, and members of the selection committee were lucky to become its first passengers.
The construction of this road section is unique - it is the longest unsupported section of this kind in Europe. The lifting angle is 46º.
At the middle station, passengers pass control of tickets and transfer to top-level wagons, which will allow them to be at an altitude of 1153 m. It should be noted that such a trip is worth it to devote some time to it and spend the requested amount of money. A beautiful panorama opens from above: a section of the Crimea from Gurzuf to Foros is visible from here in full view.
Section 3. Famous cable cars of Russia
The Russian Federation, thanks to the characteristic features of its relief and the vastness of its territory, boasts about 40 roads of this kind.
Sometimes, by the way, the cable car (Gelendzhik - indisputable confirmation of this) turns from a vehicle into an entertaining attraction. Why? Imagine, from the observation deck (600 m above sea level) offers a beautiful view of the endless sea and the majestic mountain peaks. However, in cloudy and inclement weather it is still better to refrain from such a trip. Impressions will still not be so bright, and gusts of wind can even scare.
Today, the length of the road in Gelendzhik is one thousand meters. A trip along it takes about 15 minutes. By the way, having bought a ticket, you can not only take the cable car, but also, having risen, take a walk in the park and ride a Ferris wheel.