World's biggest bridges revealed after collapse of colossal Baltimore landmark - and how London's historic Tower Bridge is 675 times SMALLER than China's £7billion mega-construction

Bridges stand as iconic symbols of progress and unity, connecting cities, countries and cultures.

While some enable brief crossings over water, others captivate with their remarkable spans, stretching across vast distances.

MailOnline Travel has today plotted the longest, and most famous, of them all on a fascinating interactive graphic.

To put their mighty spans into context, around 675 Tower Bridge's could fit inside the world's biggest in China...

1. Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, China

The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China is the longest bridge in the world, spanning an impressive 102.4 miles (164.8km), according to the Guinness Book of Records. 

That's longer than the distance between New York and Philadelphia or equivalent to half the journey from London to Paris.

The $8.5billion (£6.7billion) crossing is, on average, 100ft (30m) off the ground and took more than 10,000 construction workers to build it before its opening in 2011.

It forms part of the high-speed train route between Beijing and Shanghai and hosts road vehicles in some areas.

2. Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct, Taiwan

Taiwan is home to the world's second longest bridge, the Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct, which reaches 97.8 miles (157.3km) in length.

Completed in 2007, the bridge serves as part of the Taiwan High Speed Rail network and runs from from Zouying in Kao-hsiung to Baguashan in Changhua county.

Both the bridge and train line 'were built to minimise earthquake damage, as the area is prone to seismic activity', says Britannica.

3. Kita–Yaita Viaduct, Japan

Taking third place on the podium for the world's longest bridges is the Kita–Yaita Viaduct in Japan.

The viaduct crossing stretches 71 miles (114.4km) and is used to accommodate the high-speed Shinkansen rail line which connects Toyko with Aomori.

It opened in 1982 with 23 stations and is managed by the East Japan Railway Company.

US - Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is the longest bridge in the US and the longest bridge over water in the world.

The road crossing covers 24 miles (38km) and carries more than 40,000 vehicles each day, supported by 9,500 concrete pilings, says National Geographic.

It opened outside New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1956 and links the urban area of the city with smaller communities on the north shore of the lake.

Europe - Vasco da Gama Bridge

In Europe, Vasco da Gama Bridge earns the title as the longest bridge in operation, spanning 10.7 miles (17.2km) over the Tagus River estuary in Lisbon, Portugal.

The cable-stayed bridge, which opened in 1998, carries six road lanes which accommodate more than 50,000 vehicles each day, according to Viator, with a speed limit of 120kmph (75mph).

It was named 'in honour of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of a sea route between Europe and India by explorer Vasco da Gama in 1498', according to Britannica.

The record for the largest bridge was surpassed by the 'controversial Crimean Bridge which was formally opened by Vladimir Putin in 2018', Britannica says. But the crossing, which spans 12 miles (19km), was damaged by an explosion in 2022 and is temporarily closed.

UK - Bromford Viaduct

The UK's longest bridge is technically the Bromford Viaduct which covers a total 3.5-mile (5.6km) - almost 30 times smaller than the record-breaking Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge.

Perhaps not the most glamorous of crossings, it carries road traffic through part of the M6 between Castle Bromwich and Gravelly Hill, near Birmingham, West Midlands.

Built between 1964 and 1972, it took eight years to complete and features the original Spaghetti Junction.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge would fit along the world's longest bridge around 675 times, measuring just 0.15 miles (0.24km) in length.

The iconic London attraction, which crosses the River Thames, provides an opening 250ft (76m) wide and its twin towers rise 200ft (61m) above the water, according to Britannica.

Despite its short distance, it is used by more than 40,000 vehicles every day, according to local authority Southwark Council.

Golden Gate Bridge

Upon its completion in 1937, the Golden Gate was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world, according to Britannica.

The Californian crossing, which links San Francisco with Marin county, is 1.7 miles (2.7km) long and 746ft (227m) high.

'Although other bridges have since surpassed it in size, it remains incomparable in the magnificence of its setting and is said to be the most photographed bridge in the world,' Britannica adds.

'It carries both U.S Route 101 and California State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) across the strait and features a pedestrian walkway.'

Brooklyn Bridge

Although renowned internationally and frequently featured in movies and television, New York's Brooklyn Bridge spans a mere 1.13 miles (1.83km) in length.

It crosses the East River to connect the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan. More than 116,000 vehicles, 30,000 pedestrians and 3,000 cyclists use the bridge each day as of 2018, according to the NYC Department of Transportation.

At the time of its opening in 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, according to UNESCO.