Huge projects that changed countries forever. 

The 2004 Summer Olympics officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad and … Athens 2004 marked the first time since the 1996 Summer Olympics that all countries with a National Olympic Committee were in attendance.

The games greatly contributed to the country’s financial decline, with taxpayers in Athens continuing to foot the bill until the debt is paid.

Three Gorges Dam, China

After 17 years in construction, the Gotthard Base Tunnel opened in June 2016. As the world’s longest and deepest railway tunnel, it provides an important route through the Swiss Alps, negating the need to navigate around treacherous winding mountain roads.

Marmaray Tunnel, Turkey

Before the Marmaray Tunnel was opened in 2013, the only transport links between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul were ferries and a couple of bridges.

The 47-mile (76.3km) underwater railway line connects Kazlıçeşme, Zeytinburnu in Europe with Ayrılıkçeşmesi in Asia via the Bosporus strait in just four minutes.

Read also: World’s top 10 places to visit before you die.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, China

The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge is the world’s longest sea bridge, spanning a total of 34 miles (55km). The bridge connects Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai, providing the east and west of the Pearl River Estuary with direct road connections for the first time. Opened in 2018, two years later than planned, the bridge cost $18.8 billion (£15.2bn) to build and is expected to see a substantial increase in visitors from Macau, Zhuhai and western cities to Hong Kong.

Brooklyn Bridge, United States (1883)

It took 14 years and $15.1 million, the equivalent of $384 million in today’s money, to build New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, and by the time it opened in 1883 more than two dozen construction workers had died on the job.

The bridge’s construction enabled easy commuting and supported the economic growth of New York City. An estimated 150,000 people still use the iconic bridge every day.

Öresund bridge, Sweden/Denmark

Before the Öresund bridge was completed in 1999, traveling between Copenhagen in Denmark

and Malmö in Sweden meant relying on weather-dependent ferries.

Stretching out across 4.9 miles (7,845 meters) in total, the bridge has made the journey between

the two cities much quicker by both car and train.

According to the Öresund Committee, it has made a national economic gain of $9.19 billion (£7.46bn)

for both sides, thanks to increased commuting. However, Over 230 million people have now crossed the bridge.

Dubai International Airport, UAE

Dubai’s International Airport which has become one of the world’s busiest airports was opened in 1960.

It’s been extended over the decades, including the construction of Terminal 3 between 2004 and 2008

at a cost of around $4.55 billion (£3.71bn).

The airport is incredibly important for Dubai’s economy, accounting for 27% of its GDP, employing

90,000 people and contributing more than $26.7 billion (£21.7bn) to the economy.

South-North Water Transfer Project, China

Despite high levels of pollution in the country, China’s biggest environmental threat is lack of water.

The Water Diversion Project aims to solve this by transferring 45 billion cubic meters of water to

the north each year.

The project, which began in 2002, is a monumental undertaking that will link China’s four main rivers.

It will take 50 years to complete and its budget has already doubled to $69 billion (£57.1bn).

The project has faced criticism following the relocation of 330,000 people and concerns about environmental damage.

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