See Golden Gate Bridge Main Cable Cross-Section, San Francisco, California

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A cross-section of a main cable of the Golden Gate Bridge is located in the southeast Visitor Area. Each of the Bridge's two main cables pass over the two 746-foot towers, resting atop the towers in huge steel castings called saddles. Both main cables are secured at both ends in giant anchorages. Diameter of each main cable (including exterior wrapping): 36-3/8" (0/92 m) Length of each main cable: 7,650 feet (2,332 m) Number of galvanized carbon steel wires in one main cable: 27,572 Width of galvanized steel wire: 0.192 inches (4.87 mm) Length of galvanized steel wire in both main cables: 80,000 miles (129,000 km) Number of bundles of galvanized steel wires in each main cable: 61 Average number of galvanized steel wires in one bundle: 452 Weight of both main cables, suspender cables, and accessories: 24,500 tons (22,200,000 kg) The galvanized carbon steel wire comprising each main cable was laid by spinning the wire, using a loom-type shuttle that moved back and forth as it laid the wire in place to form the cables. The spinning of the main cable wires was completed in 6 months and 9 days.

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