Teleférico de Monserrate
The Monserrate cableway is a tourist cable car that operates in Bogotá, the Colombian capital, connecting its city center with the mountain of Monserrate.
History
The Monserrate cableway was built to provide a transport service for the growing numbers of pilgrims who by the 1950s climbed to the shrine at the top of the mountain. At that time the funicular was the only means of transportation.
The cableway system was designed by the Swiss company Von Roll. Its construction began in 1953 and was open to public service on September 27, 1955. Its total cost when completed was 1 million pesos.
Current system
The mechanism used today to operate the system is in perfect state and it has been upgraded many times. The control boards, security and monitoring systems are computerized, what makes it one of the most modern in the world.
The cable cars have changed its colors and design a few times. The first color used was white, then yellow, red, green, further on red again and currently orange.
The car takes 4 minutes to complete its 820 m (2,690 ft) extension from the Circunvalar Station on 26th Street up to the mountain top at 3,152 m (10,341 ft) m above the sea level. It has a capacity of 40 persons. It has never had an accident since its inauguration.
See also
External links
Coordinates: 4°36′11″N 74°03′40″W / 4.60306°N 74.06111°W