The diagrams illustrate 3 different types of bridges

The diagrams illustrate 3 different types of bridges.
Overall, the design of the bridges differs in terms of their height and the use of piers. Each type is
most suitable for specific locations, such as lakes, rivers or seas.
The arch bridge is constructed to cross small waterways such as lakes, and it has a maximum span of
200 metres. Its height of no more than 100 metres only permits small ships to sail under it. In
contrast, the concrete girder bridge is constructed using piers, which cannot be more than 200
metres apart. However, there is no limit to the number of piers that can be used to cross larger
bodies of water, such as wide rivers. Medium-sized ships can pass under this type of bridge, which
may be 300 metres in height.
Finally, at sea, suspension bridges enable large ships to sail under them, because of the deep water
which they span. The piers can be spaced between 400 and 2000 metres apart - depending on the
topography – up to 10 times the distance between piers of the concrete girder bridge or the arches of
the arch bridge.