The Seven Bridges of Paso Mayor facts for kids

The Seven Bridges of Paso Mayor is a special railway bridge in Argentina. It crosses the Sauce Grande River. You can find it where the Coronel Rosales and Coronel Pringles areas meet, in the south of Buenos Aires Province.

A Look Back: The Bridge's History

View of The Seven Bridges

This bridge gets its name because it's made of seven parts. Six parts look like a "cage" structure, and one part is "open." It's located near a place called Paso Mayor, right by the Sauce Grande River.

The bridge was finished in 1908. It was an important part of the Rosario Puerto Belgrano Railroad. This railway line went from north to south. It crossed southern Santa Fe Province and western Buenos Aires Province. This was different from most British railways at the time, which usually went towards Buenos Aires City.

Trains used this bridge for the last time in 1977. After that, the southern part of the railway line was closed by a government decision.

In the 1990s, the railway line and its properties were given to a private company. The company that owns the rights now is called Ferro Expreso Pampeano S.A. However, they have never used the southern part of the line, including this bridge.

How the Bridge Is Built

Internal view of the bridges.

West view.

The bridge has strong supports at each end, each about 266 meters long. These supports have two side parts, like wings. Each section of the bridge rests on six pillars. These pillars stand in what used to be the riverbed.

The whole bridge structure was built very carefully. This includes all its parts, like the top and bottom beams, diagonal supports, and connecting pieces. Here are some important things about how it was made:

• All parts could be easily reached. This made it simple to check, clean, and fix them.
• The sections were built to be balanced and even.
• The way the bridge rests on its pillars is separate from the stone work.
• Special systems were used to make sure water flowing past the pillars wouldn't damage the bridge's lower parts.

Becoming a Historical Treasure

In 2010, the local council in Coronel Rosales decided something important. They declared the Seven Bridges of Paso Mayor an "Architectural, Historical and Cultural Heritage." This means it's a special building with a lot of history and cultural value.

Then, in 2012, the government of Buenos Aires Province also recognized it. They declared it a provincial historical heritage. This makes sure the bridge is protected and remembered for its importance.