The bridge that connects the shores of the Garzon Lagoon in Uruguay may be the most unusual in the world. Although it performs its function flawlessly, many people are surprised by its shape. Namely, instead of crossing the lagoon in the shortest possible path, that is, in a straight line, this bridge crosses the lagoon in a circle.

Traffic on the circular bridge is not organized as in a roundabout, but simply has two lanes, one for each direction. Upon reaching the bridge, the lanes separate and, after describing a semicircle, merge again and continue parallel.

Why (in) a circle?

Unusual and "photogenic", this bridge has been delighting social media users for a decade, and there is always someone who, with a hand-drawn red line across the photo, suggests that even if the bridge were real, it would cross the lagoon.

The bridge was designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects with several goals in mind. The first, of course, was to allow cars to cross the lagoon quickly. Before the bridge was built, this was done using motorized "scaffolds" that could only accommodate one vehicle, so getting to the other side of the lagoon was much slower and more complicated.

The second goal was to preserve biodiversity, and the circular shape proved to be a good solution. Namely, the ring-shaped shadow of the bridge moves with the sun throughout the day, and if the structure were solid in the middle, part of the lagoon under the bridge would be permanently without light. The Garzón Lagoon is also an area of ​​great ornithological importance, home to numerous species of birds, including the Chilean flamingo, as well as endangered amphibians such as Darwin's frog.

The third reason this bridge is circular is for safety. Coming off the access road in a huge curve forces you to slow down, while the flat, clear road encourages many to press the gas pedal all the way down.

And finally, although drivers don't really like it, passengers will enjoy the view of the lagoon more when driving at a slower speed.

The construction of this attractive bridge, which cost more than 10 million euros, began in September 2014, and the bridge was opened to the public at the end of 2015. It is made of more than 450 tons of iron and three and a half thousand cubic meters of concrete. The diameter of the ring is 202 meters, and the bridge is high enough to be able to sail under it.

In addition to connecting the Uruguayan regions of Rocha and Maldonado, the Laguna Garzon Bridge has become a real tourist attraction as well as a favorite recreation spot for residents who can now walk, bike and enjoy a literal 360-degree panoramic view over the lagoon.