Jomoud's Fotothing

Our holiday trip
Day 4

The only way from Upper Michigan into Central Michigan is via the Mackinak Bridge (promounced Mackinaw).

Due to security concerns, photography on or closer to the bridge is no longer permitted.


The Mackinac Bridge is the one of the world's most beautiful bridges and the longest suspension bridge in the Americas, with a total length of 8,614 feet (569 meters) suspended. It is currently the third longest suspension bridge in the world. Much of the beauty comes from the setting at the Straits of Mackinac. The Straits link Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The 5 mile (8.05 km) long Mackinac Bridge (Big Mac) links Michigan's Lower and Upper peninsulas.
The Mighty Mac opened to the public (and the ferries were shut down) on November 1, 1957, uniting the communities of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.
The main bridge cables are made from 42,000 miles (67592 km)of wire weighting 11,840 tons (10,741,067 kg). The towers reach 554 feet (169 meters) above the water surface and 210 feet (64 meters) beneath the surface to bedrock. To accommodate temperature changes, high winds and changes of weight on the Mackinac Bridge, the deck can move right or left as much as 35 feet (10.5 meters) at the center span. Normal movement is much less, and not obvious to vehicles crossing the bridge. A total of 31 expansion joints allow movement at the length as segments change with the temperature