Gday...

1611  -     The first copy of the King James Bible is printed. 

1829  -     The city of Fremantle, Western Australia, is founded as Captain Fremantle hoists the Union Jack. 

1933  -     The Loch Ness Monster is formally introduced to the world. 

1942  -     The Japanese launch an invasion force from Rabaul, intending to capture Port Moresby, and precipitating the Battle of the Coral Sea.

1969  -     British ocean liner, the Queen Elizabeth 2, departs on her maiden voyage.

2008  -     The longest bridge in the world, the 36 km Hangzhou Bay Bridge, opens. 

The longest bridge in the world is currently the 36km-long Hangzhou Bay Bridge across the East China Sea. The record-breaking bridge, which opened on 2 May 2008, is an S-shaped stayed-cable bridge with six lanes in both directions. The bridge includes a service centre and large roundabout in the middle of it with a visitors' centre for day trippers. Flashing lights of different colours are placed at regular intervals, to keep drivers alert.

The bridge serves a strong economic function. It has shortened the journey time from the port of Ningbo to the economic centre of Shanghai by 120 kilometres, which equates to several hours of travel, stimulating further regional growth. It is also the final link in the motorway which connects Beijing and the north to the booming eastern and southern seaboard, including wealthy Hong Kong and Shenzen.

Construction of the Hangzhou Bay Bridge began on 8 June 2003, and finished on 26 June 2007. The longest sea-crossing bridge in the world, it cost 11.8 billion yuan, or US$1.70 billion, but is expected to last 100 years.

Cheers - John