Beware of those afraid of heights, this list is not for you! Click here for the most dramatic bridges in the world
If you like feeling the adrenaline in your veins, this article is for you! We have compiled a list of bridges that take quite a bit of effort to cross. Here are the ten bridges that give you goosebumps.
Hussaini Suspension Bridge, Pakistan
The bridge in the small town of Hussaini, which lies at an altitude of 2,600 meters in the Gilgit-Baltistán region, makes a glorious start. Residents on both sides of the Hunza River built this suspension bridge using local materials. It has long since lost any semblance of stability, but is still the only means of contact between the people who inhabit both banks. No one knows how long this bridge will last, but the worst thing is that while crossing you can see the remains of the old bridge in the water. Risk-takers will be rewarded with uninterrupted views of the Karakoram mountain range in the Himalayas from mid-river.
Trift Bridge, Switzerland
This bridge made of steel and wood allows you to see the Trift glacier in all its glory and to reach the Trift hut, although you may have to give up beforehand due to your fear of heights. Originally, the gorge could be crossed on the glacier. Since this is rapidly melting, a bridge was first built in 2004, which was replaced by a longer, more stable one in 2009 to enable tourists to cross over safely. At 170 meters, the Trift Bridge is one of the longest steel suspension bridges in the world and leads over the glacial lake 100 meters below. Safely built is good, but one misstep and…
Q’eswachaka Suspension Bridge, Peru
The Incas had a vast system of trails and hand-built bridges of stalks and grass across the Andes. With the arrival of the Spaniards in South America, most of these fell into disrepair and decay. An exception is the bridge of Q’eswachaka, about 100 kilometers from Cuzco. This suspension bridge still exists the same as it did 500 years ago and is rebuilt every year by the people around it from braided grass. So how much do you trust the weed-based technology of a lost civilization?
William Moore Bridge, Alaska, USA
At first glance, this bridge looks very safe, but if you take a closer look, fear is inevitable. The engineers of this daring construction saw a danger in their position. There is an active gradient on one side, so the builders decided to put the entire weight of the bridge on just one side. So it should not collapse immediately in the event of an earthquake. In any case, we don’t want to test it.
Sky Bridge, Russia
In Sochi you will find an extremely impressive pedestrian suspension bridge. It is the longest of its kind in the world, spanning almost a kilometer across the Krasnaya Polyana valley. Apart from the great views, you can enjoy activities as relaxing as bungee jumping or riding the world’s fastest cable car (70 km/h) through the mountains jets.
Monte Nimbus, Canada
Do you want to walk through the sky? In Monte Nimbus you have the dangerous opportunity to do so. First you have to fly in a helicopter, then do some sport climbing (we mean roped parties) and then you can walk (or rather crawl) 60 meters on this bridge (more like steel cables and some planks) that moves like pudding. Don’t worry, you’re secured all the time, but unfortunately bravery isn’t included in the package.
The rope bridges of Taman Negara, Malaysia
While not as high as the previous ones, the various rope bridges in the world’s oldest rainforest, Taman Negara, also cause plenty of thrills. With a total length of 510 meters, this series of bridges almost touches the crowns of the trees that are thousands of years old. And they also sway quite a bit underfoot. However, the panorama and the feeling of floating so high in the jungle are simply unique and you might even meet one or the other jungle dweller…
Carrick-a-Rede Bridge, Northern Ireland
This suspension bridge takes you to the island of Carrick, spanning a 20 meter wide strait at a height of 30 meters. In the past, this bridge was mainly used by fishermen who cast nets on the shores of the uninhabited island to catch salmon. Seabirds use it too. Because more and more tourists used the bridge, but didn’t dare to go back and had to be fetched back by boat, the formerly dizzying bridge was replaced by a safer construction. Overcoming your fear of heights is rewarded by the wonderful air and scenery of Northern Ireland.
The King’s Path (Caminito del Rey), Spain
The King’s Path is a four kilometer long via ferrata in the southern Spanish province of Malaga. It was long closed due to decay and reopened in 2015. Because many climbers went the way despite the ban and had fatal accidents, it is considered the most dangerous path in the world. Although there are many safety precautions in place by now and nothing should happen, you only have to look at the bridges and platforms of this dizzying route over the Guadalhorce River to realize that this is only a trail for completely fearless daredevils.
The Living Bridges of Meghalaya, India
If you don’t trust in man-made things, you could always trust in nature itself. The bridges in the wettest area on earth, the Indian state of Meghalaya, are made entirely of hundreds of rubber tree branches. The Ast Bridge allows the different members of the Khasi tribe to visit each other. This unique technique of growing bridges has been used by the Khasi for centuries. They pride themselves on the strength of their bridges, but who among us dares to cross a rubber bridge 30 meters high?
