Bridges can be a majestic representation of human achievement and some of them are impressive to look at. But there are few that may even worry the most extreme adventurers. While these are remarkable landmarks, you may think twice before setting foot on them. We’re going to show you the most dangerous bridges from around the world. Check these out!
1. Seven Mile Bridge, Florida
The Seven Mile Bridge is a famous American bridge located in Florida. For a brief time in 1982, when it was built, it held the record for the longest concrete bridge in the world. To this day, it remains one of the longest on the continent. What’s scary about this bridge is that it’s very long, but also its high exposure to hurricanes. This is the reason why the first version of the bridge didn’t last very long.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Florida Keys, Monroe County, Florida; it crosses the Mosser Channel and it unites the Knight’s Key with the Little Duck Key
- Height & Length – 65 feet high, 6.765 miles long
- Design – made of box-girder and concrete
2. The Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, Ireland
The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a very small touristic bridge in Ireland. Originally, this bridge was used by fishermen for their salmon nets. Some courageous tourists do stunts here. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge leads to Carrick Island with natural scenic beauties. The current version of the bridge dates back to 2008. Sometimes, the walk back scares the visitors so much that they just take the boat.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Ballintoy, County Antrim; connects the mainland to the Carrick-A-Rede island
- Height & Length – 30 meters high, 20 meters long
- Design – made of rope
3. Deception Pass Bridge, Washington
Deception Pass Bridge is a bridge in Washington you can either drive or walk on. The pedestrian lane offers a spectacular, yet scary view of the wild waters underneath. The passage opened in 1935 and it was built for trade and economic purposes.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Oak Harbor, Washington; over Deception Pass and Canoe Pass, linking Whidbey Island with Fidalgo Island
- Height & Length – 180 feet high, 1487 feet long
- Design – 2-lane arched steel construction
4. The Immortal Bridge, China
The Immortal Bridge is a very popular bridge located in China. It is one of the tallest and oldest in the world. It is believed that this natural bridge has been formed in the Stone Age. The Immortal Bridge is formed out of 3 large stones and some smaller ones. Chinese people believe the main stones represent birth, renaissance, and death. The scary yet beautiful thing about this bridge is the abyss that lies in its south. Hiking on the Yellow Mountains, where the bridge is located, is a very popular activity.
Interesting Facts
- Location – on top of Mount Tai, Shandong Province
- Height & Length – 1,505 meters high; a few meters long
- Design – made of three big rocks and some small ones
5. Pulau Langkawi Suspended Bridge, Malaysia
This rather recent construction (2004) is suspended 100m into the air on just one pylon. The scariest element to this bridge is that from that pylon, it swings! From here, you can see a complete panorama of the wild jungle, the Andaman Sea, and Taruto Island. The parts were assembled by helicopter. This Sky Bridge holds the record for the longest curved suspension bridge in the world.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Pulau Langkawi Island, Gunung Mat Chinchang Peak, Kedah; over the Gunung Mat Chinchang
- Height & Length – 2,300 feet above sea level, 410 feet long
- Design – cable-stayed curved bridge for pedestrians with 2 triangular platform
6. Trift Suspension Bridge, Switzerland
Dating since 2004, the Trift Suspension Bridge is the longest pedestrian bridge located in the Swiss Alps. It was originally built for hikers to reach a hut blocked by a glacier. The experience of crossing the bridge was intensified by the wind which used to cause it to swing. Since 2009, stabilizing cables have been added to prevent that. But the adrenaline rush is also delivered by the gondola ride and the passing of the river gorge. This is something hikers must do to reach the Trift Bridge. Around 20,000 people visit the construction yearly.
Interesting Facts
- Location – close to Gadmen, Switzerland, in the Swiss Alps; over the Triftsee
- Height & Length – 100 meters high, 170 meters long
- Design – pedestrian cable suspension bridge
7. Capilano Suspension Bridge, Canada
Capilano Suspension Bridge is a bridge with tradition. Originally built in 1889, this bridge leads you to the Treetops Adventure Park. It is designed for passengers alone and it gives you an adrenaline rush when, as you step on it, see the cedar planks moving. Visitors have the chance to take in a spectacular view of the forest. Around 800,000 people visit it per year.
Interesting Facts
- Location – North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; over the Capilano River
- Height & Length – 230 feet above the river level and 450 feet long
- Design – wire cable suspension bridge
8. Aiguille du Midi Bridge, France
Aiguille du Midi Bridge may not be terrifyingly long, but it’s located in the highest point in Europe – the massif of Mont Blanc. The glass floor is quite scary since you can see through to the abyss. To get to the bridge, you have to take a 1955 cable car. It’s known to perform the highest vertical ascent – 9,200 feet in 20 minutes. The name of the bridge literally means “Needle of the Noon”. Needless to say, the view is breathtaking.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Aiguille du Midi, Mont Blanc, close to Chamonix
- Height & Length – very short but located 12,500 feet above sea level
- Design – iron bridge with glass floor
9. Vitim River Bridge, Siberia
There aren’t many people who take on the challenge of crossing the Vitim River Bridge. This bridge is a former railway, located very close to the water but which can barely fit one car at a time. Being in Siberia, the wooden bridge is covered in ice most of the year, which makes it very dangerous, especially since there are no railings.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Eastern Siberia; over the Vitim River (tributary to Lena River)
- Height & Length – 50 feet above water, 1,870 feet long
- Design – made of wood, a former railway track
10. The Old Bridge of Konitsa, Greece
Konitsa’s Bridge dates since 1871 and it’s a beautiful rendition of the old Greek bridging technique. It has a steep slope, but it’s not very high or very long. Then why is it so scary? Right under the arch of the bridge, there is a bell. When it starts ringing, it means that it is too dangerous for passengers to cross it, because of the wind coming from the valley.
Interesting Facts
- Location – near Vikos–Aoös National Park; over the Aoos River
- Height & Length – 40 meters high, 20 meters long
- Design – stone bridge with one arch
11. Puente de Ojuela, Mexico
The Ojuela Bridge is more than one century old, but it only became a tourist attraction in 1991. It leads to the mining ghost town of Ojuela. Ojuela Bridge was recently reinforced with steel, but the widely separated wooden planks still make scary squeaky sounds as you walk. Also – you might experience a little swing while crossing it.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Mapimi, Durango, on Ojuela goldmine
- Height & Length – 360 feet above the canyon, 1043 feet long
- Design – pedestrian suspension bridge made of wood and steel
12. Hussaini Hanging Bridge, Pakistan
Nothing about the Hussaini Hanging Bridge looks safe. The rope is rotten, the planks have wide gaps between them and passengers will experience a lot of swinging while crossing it. As you walk on it, you can notice what is left of a destroyed bridge on the side. The bridge was designed as a pedestrian connection to the Upper Hunza. Once you calm your nerves, you can enjoy the nice view.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Hussaini, Northern Pakistan; over the Hunza River
- Height & Length – It is unknown as the bridge was destroyed in a monsoon storm in 2011.
- Design – pedestrian bridge made of rope and wooden planks
13. Mackinac Bridge, Michigan
The Mackinac Bridge is a strong, majestic bridge and the fifth-longest one in the world. At first sight, nothing is unsafe about it. But suspension bridges are susceptible to any weather changes. If the wind is very strong, the bridge could move as much as 35 feet, and then back again. Trucks were blown away on this bridge because of the wind. Mackinac Bridge is designed for both passengers and cars.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Interstate 75, Northern Michigan, Straits of Mackinac; connects Mackinaw City to St. Ignace
- Height & Length – 168 meters high, 8,038 meters long
- Design – suspension bridge made of cable and steel
14. U Pain Bridge, Myanmar
The U Pain Bridge is one of the longest wooden bridges, supported by very shaky wooden posts and with no handrails. It’s as old as 2,000 years and it’s used by people on a daily basis to go to the other bank of the Taungthaman Lake. The sun setting on U Pain Bridge is spectacular.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Mandalay, over the Taungthaman Lake
- Height & Length – 15 feet high, 3/4 miles long
- Design – pedestrian wooden bridge supported by roughly 1,000 posts
15. Monkey Bridges, Vietnam
The Monkey Bridges actually look like only monkeys can cross them. They are very tight, light, and shaky. In fact, these bridges were called this because you have to assume a monkey posture when you walk on them, so you don’t fall over. For tourists, they definitely look like a challenge, but for locals, this is just part of the daily routine.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Mekong Delta, Southern Vietnam
- Height & Length – they are made by locals so they are short and not very high
- Design – older ones are made of bamboo logs and a rope handrail, newer ones are made of concrete
16. Royal Gorge Bridge, Colorado
The Royal Gorge Bridge is one of the highest suspension bridges in the world and the highest in North America. The scariest thing about the bridge is the gorge underneath it, which is also known as the Grand Canyon of Arkansas. The 90 stories high dates since 1929, but it didn’t feature stabilizing wind cables up until 1982.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Fremont County, Colorado, near Cañon City; over the Arkansas River
- Height & Length – 955 feet high, 1,260 feet long
- Design – steel suspension bridge with a wooden walkway
17. Sidu River Bridge, China
At the time of the construction, Sidu River Bridge was the highest in the world. For those afraid of heights, the huge gorge underneath can look quite scary. It’s less known though that Sidu River Bridge wasn’t built for transportation, so it’s not supposed to be able to carry cars. It’s simply a tourist attraction.
- Location – Badong County, Hubei, China; close to Yesanguan, over Sidu River
- Height & Length – 496 meters high, 1,222 meters long
- Design – suspension bridge with pilot cables
18. Hanging Bridge of Ghasa, Nepal
The Hanging Bridge of Ghasa was built to ease the traffic of shepherds and their animals. The bridge is very tight and extremely shaky. Sharing the experience of crossing this bridge with a bunch of animals can increase the thrill. The extensive use of this bridge on a daily basis left it in questionable condition.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Kushma, Nepal
- Height & Length – 70 meters high, 137 meters high
- Design – suspension bridge made of rope and wire
19. Kakum Canopy Walk, Ghana
Kakum Canopy Walk is basically a very narrow wood plank, with some steel bars and rope put together over the abyss. Those brave enough to walk on it will experience some bouncing and swinging. This is enough to give you an adrenaline rush, but don’t forget to count on birds and monkeys to come into your path too. It can be both beautiful and scary. The bridge is located on a jungle portion that is mostly for climbers.
Interesting Facts
- Location – Kakum National Park
- Height & Length – 100 feet high, 1,000 feet long
- Design – rope footbridge connecting 7 trees
20. Iya Valley Vine Bridges, Japan
The three Iya Valley Bridges were made originally of vines alone, creating a true jungle experience for the visitors. Later, they were reinforced with wire. But with only small wooden planks with big spaces between them, these bridges require a bit of courage to be crossed. On top of that, there’s the swinging and bouncing. The location is secluded and very wild. It used to be a hiding place for thieves and refugees.
Interesting Facts
- Location – on Shikoku Island, near Tokushima; over the Iya-gawa River
- Height & Length – 46 feet high, 148 feet long
- Design – vine and wire suspension bridge with handrails
