Impressive Suspension Bridges

Suspension bridges are popular tourist attractions all over the globe. They offer panoramic views and the thrill of being suspended thousands of feet above the ground.

Arouca Bridge is a brand-new bridge in Arouca, Portugal. At present it is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world. The bridge was built as a Tibet-style hanging bridge with V-shaped towers and supported by steel cables. It is the latest addition to the UNESCO-recognized Arouca Geopark for outdoor adventures. The bridge stretches above the Paiva River with amazing views of the surrounding gorge and Aguieiras Waterfall. The bridge was designed by the Portuguese research institution Itecons and constructed by Conduril Engenharia, S.A.

Capilano Suspension Bridge is located in Vancouver, Canada. (pictured above) It stretches over the Capilano River gorge, surrounded by dense, evergreen forest. Built in a nature park in North Vancouver, the footbridge was originally built in 1889. Since then the bridge has been updated with sturdy wire cables and cedar planks. It gets decorated with colorful lights during the Canyon Lights celebration.

The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in Northern Ireland was originally created by fishermen to have access to the best fishing grounds during the seasonal salmon run. This knotted-rope bridge connects the small island of Carrick-a-Rede to mainland Ireland. The bridge sways high above the rocky shoreline below. It is still used today even though salmon no longer migrate here and fishermen no longer use it.

The Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge offers amazing views of the Weisshorn and Bernese Alps in Switzerland. You can see alpine forests and meadows. It stretches 279 feet above the Matteral Valley. Its deck consists of transparent wire mesh grating, allowing hikers to look directly down into the ravine below.

Golden Skybridge near Golden, British Columbia, offers visitors a breathtaking view of the Canadian Rockies with snow-capped peaks, wild forests, rocky canyons, and waterfalls. This is a twin suspension bridge with the two bridges connected by nature trails linking the abutting Rocky and Purcell Mountain ranges. This is the highest suspension bridge in Canada.

Highline 179 in Tyrol, Austria, is a Tibet-style suspension bridge with the breathtaking background of the Austrian Alps. The bridge is constructed of metal grating with four supporting cables and connects two of the area’s historic battlements—the Ehrenburg Castle and Fort Claudia.

The Hillary Suspension Bridge in Nepal was named after Sir Edmund Hillary, who, with Tenzing Norgay, was the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest. This metal suspension bridge stretches across the Dudh Koshi River and is among the several suspension bridges that travelers bound for Everest must cross to get to Base Camp. The bridge is surrounded by rocky canyons and strung with prayer flags and Khada Buddhist shawls. Visitors must be careful as the bridge sways with high-altitude winds blowing. This bridge is the last adventurers cross to reach the hillside town of Namche Bazaar, the “gateway to Everest.”

Kushma Gyadi Bridge in Nepal is the highest and longest in the country. It stretches suspended above the Modi River and links the Kushma municipality with the village of Gyadichour. The bridge offers amazing views of the river valley with thick, green forests.

The Langkawi Sky Bridge in Malaysia stretches out above the lush forests of Gunung Mat Chinchang Mountain on Pulau Langkawi Island. This is an ultra-modern suspension bridge with a tower-supported, cable-stay design. Visitors take a cable car up the mountain to reach the main bridge.

Mishima Skywalk in Japan looks out toward Mount Fuji. This is a cable-stayed bridge spanning a forested gorge on the southwestern rim of one of Mount Hakone’s huge calderas. Visitors are treated to breathtaking views of Suruga Bay and Fuji. It is the longest suspension bridge in Japan. Adventure seekers enjoy the zip line running parallel to the footbridge.

The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges in Costa Rica offer tropical views and sway above the rainforest canopy. The bridges are located in Arenal Volcano National Park, a private reserve with six elevated bridges of different lengths and heights. Along the way visitors get a glimpse of both the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal.

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Bridge in China is a swaying suspension bridge with a clear bottom stretching across the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Visitors feel as if they are suspended, floating over the valley below. There are amazing views of verdant forests, giant canyons, and sandstone rock formations.