Stunning Bridges In the World
1 Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge – China
When the bridge was first built, it could hold up to 800 visitors at a time. However, it attracted so many tourists that it actually had to close in order to ensure that the bridge could handle all the foot traffic, because its bottom is made of glass.
- Length: 1,411 ft
- Height: 984 ft
2 Trift Bridge – Switzerland
Built in 2004, it was rebuilt in 2009 to ensure the safety of all guests due to its large popularity. It is located in the Swiss Alps and, of course, only supports pedestrians. It is one of the longest and highest pedestrian bridges in the Alps.
- Length: 558 ft
- Height: 328 ft
3 Kazurabashi Bridges – Japan
Made of vines, the bridges used to be the only way that residents of the Iya Valley could connect to the rest of the world. The story behind its construction is not clear. On the one hand, there is a legend that the suspension bridges in the area were built by Daishi, founder of the Shingon Sect of Japanese Buddhism. However, some believe that they were created by Heike refugees who hid in the area after their defeat during the Gempei War (1180-1185).
- Length: 144 ft
- Height: 39 ft
4 Storseisundet Bridge – Norway
From a certain angle, the bridge looks like it leads to nowhere, extending into the sky with no end in sight. It is the longest of the 8 bridges that form The Atlantic Road, or Atlanterhavsveien, which connects the Romsdal peninsula to the island of Averøya in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway.
- Length: 853 ft
- Height: 76 ft
5 Royal Gorge Bridge – United States
Located in Colorado, the Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest suspension bridge in the United States. This bridge held the record for the highest bridge in the world from 1929 to 2001, when it was surpassed by the Liuguanghe Bridge in China.
- Length: 1,260 ft
- Height: 955 ft
6 Vitim River Bridge – Siberia
While the structural integrity of this bridge is a little concerning, the Vitim River bridge is also dangerous for several reasons, including the constant ice that often covers the ground in the area, its small width of only 6 ft, and its lack of rails.
- Length: 1,870 ft
- Height: 50 ft
7 Quepos Bridge – Costa Rica
This bridge is often referred to as the Bridge of Death or the ‘Oh My God bridge’. It is so narrow that traffic can only go one way, and it looks so flimsy that it is hard to believe that large, heavy trucks travel on it on a regular basis.
- Length: Unknown
- Height: Unknown
8 Aiguille du Midi Bridge – France
Located in the Mont Blanc massif, in the heart of the French Alps, the Aiguille du Midi is a popular tourist destination. If you have a particularly daring nature, you can even step on a glass floor after you cross the bridge.
- Length: 1,020 ft
- Height: 12,605 ft
9 Taman Negara Canopy Walkway – Malaysia
The suspended Taman Negara Canopy Walkway runs right through the trees of the National Park. Anyone who’s brave enough to cross it feels like they’re gliding through the top of a forest. The Canopy Walkway is considered the longest in the world.
- Length: 1,739 ft
- Height: 131 ft
10 U Bein Bridge – Burma
Constructed in 1851 using 1,086 pillars, this bridge is a popular tourist attraction in Burma, which unfortunately makes it a hot spot for crime. It is said to be the oldest teakwood bridge in the world, and it was once considered the longest.
- Length: 3,967 ft
- Height: 20 ft
11 Bridge of Immortals – China
This bridge sits in the middle of a mountain range between two giant, jagged rocks, and it’s one of the highest in the world. Before this bridge was built, prior to 1987, residents had to walk over the abyss on an old suspension path. Many unfortunately fell, hence the name “Bridge of the Immortals”.
- Length: A few feet
- Height: 4,330 ft
12 Keshwa Chaca – Peru
This suspended bridge is built according to the technique used by the Incas more than 500 years ago. The locals built this one with rope; they must have used about 10 miles of rope to make it! It is the last Inca rope bridge existing in the region. It overhangs the Apurimac River near Huinchiri, in Quehue District, Canas Province, Peru.
- Length: 148 ft
- Height: 60 ft
13 Ghasa Hanging Bridge – Nepal
This suspension bridge near the village of Ghasa obviously serves the residents of the area, but it is also used for cattle. Cattle is still the main mean of livelihood of the residents. And even though the bridge looks like it could fail at any moment, it is actually very strong!
- Length: 1,128 ft
- Height: 443 ft
14 Puente de Ojuela – Mexico
Completed in 1898, the bridge was designed by Wilhelm Hildenbrand—the same engineer who produced the first designs for New York’s Brooklyn Bridge—and built by the firm of John A. Roebling Sons Company, New York. While vehicles were once able to cross the bridge, it has now been transformed into a road strictly for pedestrians, as a car might not make it across.
- Length: 1,000 ft
- Height: 327 ft
15 Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge – North Ireland
This bridge, made mainly of rope, connects the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede. It was constructed in 1755, nearly 265 years ago, and acts mainly as a tourist attraction. Prior to 2002, the bridge was heavily used by fishermen during the salmon season, but this is no longer the case.
- Length: 66 ft
- Height: 98 ft
16 Hussaini Hanging Bridge – Pakistan
In addition to the bridge’s age—it was constructed in 1968—it is extremely narrow and happens to be missing many of the original wood planks. One misstep could send you tumbling into the Borit Lake below. Many believe that the bridge was badly damaged during a 2011 monsoon storm. It is considered the second most dangerous bridge in the world.
- Length: 633 ft
- Height: Unknown
17 Millau Viaduct – France
Completed in 2004, after three years of construction, the Millau Viaduct is one of the highest cable bridges in the world. It’s taller than the Eiffel Tower! The cost of its construction is around €394 million ($424 million). It is considered one of the greatest engineering achievements of modern times.
- Length: 8,071 ft
- Height: 1,125 ft
18 Moses Bridge – Netherlands
The name of this bridge comes from the prophet Moses, who, like him, split the waters in two. Also known as Loopgraafbrug (trench bridge), it connects Fort de Roovere, a fort of the West Brabant Water Line surrounded by a large moat, to the mainland.
- Size: 538 square ft.
- Cost: $330,325
19 Piyan Mountain Bridge – China
There are about 60 glass bridges in China. One of them is located on Piyan Mountain, northeast of Longjing City. On May 7, 2021, the glass floor of the Piyan Mountain bridge shattered due to gusts of wind blowing at 90 mph, leaving a man trapped on the structure in a more than precarious position.
- Length: 1,411 ft
- Height: 330 ft
20 Ai-Petri Mount – Crimea
This bridge is located in one of the windiest areas of Crimea. On 125 days a year, winds can reach 110 mph. Its summit overlooks the city of Alupka and the town of Koreiz. The name Ai-Petri is of Greek origin and can be translated into English as St. Peter.
- Length: 5,249 ft
- Height: 592 ft
21 Eshima Ohashi Bridge – Japan
The Eshima Ohashi Bridge rises steeply at the start in a 6.1% incline, in the side of Shimane, and a 5.1% incline in the side of Tottori. These strong inclinations are there to allow ships to pass underneath. Built from 1997 to 2004, it is the largest rigid-frame bridge in Japan, and the third largest in the world.
- Length: 5,577 ft
- Height: 144 ft
22 Beipanjiang Bridge – China
Also known as Duge Bridge, the construction of this bridge started in 2011 and finished in 2016. Built over the Beipan River, it connects Xuanwei city, Yunnan and Shuicheng County, Guizhou. It was, as of 2021, the highest bridge in the world.
- Length: 4,400 ft
- Height: 1,850 ft
23 Sanyuan Bridge – China
Originally, the Sanyuan Bridge, which is located in Beijing, China, was built in 1984. However, in 2015, as its support began to weaken, the government ordered its reconstruction. Well, believe it or not, this reconstruction only took 43 hours. And the worst part is that the damage was more important than the workers thought, because they had initially planned to finish the reconstruction in just 24 hours!
Watch this impressive timelapse to see how the Chinese met this seemingly impossible challenge!
- Length: 300 ft
- Weight: 580 tons
24 Rakotzbrücke Bridge – Germany
The bridge was specifically constructed to create a perfect circle when all the water is calm. It is located in the Kromalu Park in eastern Germany. There is a legend that the magic circle formed by the bridge and its reflection are the hands of the devil, hence the nickname Devil’s Bridge.
- Length: 180 ft
- Height: 49 ft at its peak
