People may cross bridges everyday to get to work, some boring and some simply amazing, here are 12 of the most amazing bridges ever built!
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7 – Storseisundet Bridge - The Storseisundet Bridge connects the municipalities of Norway, and it is also the longest of eight bridges that make up “The Atlantic Road” linking the mainland to the islands of the archipelago. It is 850 feet long and stands at a height of 75 feet above the water. Construction of the bridge started in 1989 and took 6 years to build, primarily due to the fact that construction was halted 12 times due to hurricanes. It cost 120 million krone, or almost $1.5 million dollars. The toll bridge was projected to recoup the capital cost to build it within 15 years, but it actually paid for itself in 10.
6 – Rakotz Bridge - The Rakotz Bridge is located in Kromlauer Park in Germany. Built in 1860, the thin, arched bridge, was commissioned by the knight of the local town and built of stone from a nearby quarry. It is known as a Devil’s Bridge, because the people thought the bridge’s sinister looking design must have been built by Satan himself. What is unique about this bridge is that its curved span was designed to form a perfect half circle, and when viewed with its reflection in the lake, appears to form a perfect circle. Visitors can still enjoy the sight of this unique bridge, but none are allowed to cross it, for fear the span may collapse.
5 - U Bein Bridge - The U Bein Bridge, named after the mayor who built it, spans Taungthaman Lake in Myanmar. It is believed to be the longest teakwood bridge in the world. Constructed in 1850, the bridge consists of 1086 pillars that support 482 separate spans that comprise the bridge’s length. The teakwood that was used in the building of the bridge was reclaimed using wood from the old royal palace in Inwa. The bridge also has 9 passageways where the wood can be removed to let barges and large boats through. Despite its age, it is still in use by both locals and tourists today.
4 – Arch Triumph – inflatable bridge - An inflatable bridge was an unusual entrant by a Paris-based architecture group, into a French competition to design a new contemporary bridge across the river Seine in Paris. This bold, yet elegant bridge was specifically designed to differentiate itself from the other 37 bridges in Paris. And the inflatable bridge is no mere footbridge – it actually makes use of giant trampolines to shuttle pedestrians to the other side. It was also designed to be temporary, like the Eiffel Tower, which was supposed to be dismantled 20 years after the 1889 World Expo. The designers of the inflatable bridge can only hope that their bridge will last as long.
3 – Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge - The Kawarau Gorge suspension bridge, located in the Otago Region of New Zealand, has an interesting claim to fame – it was the first bridge to be used as a commercial bungee jumping site. The bridge was built in 1880 to provide access to the Central Otago goldfields, but now is part of the Queentown Trail, which allows pedestrians and bikers to safely cross the Kawarau River. The bridge is still used by the AJ Hackett Bungee Company for bungee jumping and is also listed as a Category I historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
2 - Hanging Bridge of Ghasa - The Hanging Bridge is located high up in the Himalayan Mountains, in Ghasa, Nepal. The bridge spans the Burugdi Khola River valley and was actually built for a very practical reason – to ease the congestion caused by local animal herds. While the bridge appears dangerous at first site, it has stood the test of time, and is currently still in use. Local herders and farmers use it every day to transport their goods and livestock to the local market.
1 - Shaharah Bridge - The Shaharah Bridge, also known as the Bridge of Sighs, is a stone bridge located at the top of the 8,530 foot tall Jabal Shaharah Mountain in Yemen. It was built in the 17th century to connect the village of Shaharah with other villages in the area. It was also designed to be easily destroyed in case of attack by Turkish invaders. The bridge spans a 300 foot deep canyon, high up in the mountains, and is popular with both locals and tourists alike. It can be reached by climbing the many steps carved into the steep mountainside.
