Lifestyle
10 Most Dangerous Bridges You Should NEVER Cross
Human ingenuity seems to evolve in giant steps. The structures that we have come to create can be useful and have diverse uses. One of the most fascinating structures that man has made is the bridge, a structure of significant length that extends from one side of an obstacle (such as a river) to the other that allows people to get to their destination quicker. However, depending on the way it is built and the materials used, its safety and quality vary.
Around the world, many bridges are hanging from overwhelming heights and are of great lengths. They connect one area of a region to the other and are often over idyllic rivers. Depending on the perspective of the person that crosses the bridge, one will see a beautiful view of the scene over which the bridge is built. For those afraid of heights, it is probable that the beautiful view will not be as appreciated.
10. Trift Bridge
Switzerland is one of the countries in the world that possesses a surprising nature. The Swiss Alps are incredibly high and among them is a wonderful architectural piece of art. Such is the case of the Trift Bridge. This bridge is built over a lake of the same name and is located in an area called Gadmen. The bridge’s length is 170 meters, and it is suspended 100 meters above the valley using cables and wooden planks. This architectural piece of art makes this place in Switzerland a real tourist site for thousands of people from different parts of the world.
The construction of the footbridge began around 2004, as the nearby glacier melted and reduced in height, making construction favorable. The first construction of the bridge was not as safe as it could have been, but it turned out to be a structure that attracted many adventurous tourists. As the bridge turned out to be a great tourist success, in 2009, another bridge was built, but this time it was built using safer and sturdier material. It had more pedestrian crossing capacity, and it was built with greater height and length. Indeed, this bridge was a monumental success. The views from the bridge are said to be well worth the walk over it.
9. Capilano Bridge
Canada is a country that has a lot to offer tourists, from outstanding cities to a seemingly untouched wilderness and natural beauty. It has abundant vegetation and water resources throughout. One such is the Capilano River, located in the north of Vancouver in the Province of British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. This pedestrian suspension bridge hangs 230 feet above the river and spans 460 feet. It is estimated that this bridge attracts more than 800,000 tourists a year; which makes Vancouver a great tourist spot in Canada.
The engineer George Grant Mackay, initially built the bridge in 1883. Hemp ropes and cedar planks were used for the construction of the bridge. The implementation of these materials made the bridge a fragile structure, susceptible to damage from the elements and making it somewhat unstable. However, in 1903, the hemp ropes were replaced by a wire, which was much more resistant to the elements. Finally, in 1956, the bridge was completely rebuilt and is a popular tourist attraction. The suspension bridge is now quite sturdy. However, the strong winds that can blow through the area can cause the bridge to sway.
8. Hussaini Bridge
The pedestrian bridge of Hussaini is hanging over the Borit Lake in Pakistan. The Hussaini Bridge is considered the most dangerous bridge in the world due to its steel cable and wood plank structure and its instability. The bridge is located in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, and it represents the only access for reaching villages on either side of the lake without an arduous 2-hour walk through mountainous terrain. The most recent bridge is supposed to be a new bridge, but its construction is much the same as the original. At last report, the bridge was swept away during monsoon.
The bridge is named after Shajraa of Hazrat Imam Hussain, a holy man. Locals believe that nothing bad can happen to them as they use the bridge. Using the bridge verifies their faith. The total length of this bridge is 426.5 feet long and local residents use the bridge every day as they go about their daily chores. Extreme adventure seekers travel to this bridge to see how brave they can be in crossing over the lake. Many simply choose to go out far enough to have their picture taken.
7. Carrick-a-Rede Bridge
The Rope Bridge from Carrick-a-Rede is a bridge located in Antrim County, and it connects Carrick Island with the rest of Antrim County in Northern Ireland. Since 1970, the Carrick-a-Rede Bridge had only a handrail and a few wooden planks that allowed the passage of pedestrians. The bridge was first built by fishermen in 1755, and there have apparently been numerous upgrades since then. Today, the bridge has better materials in its structure.
However, they are not strong enough to make the bridge a firm structure to cross. The bridge is located 100 feet above the ocean, and its length is 65 feet. Only the real daredevils are brave enough to place a foot on it. It is estimated that approximately 200,000 tourists decide to visit the Carrick-a-Rede Bridge every year. Although today, the rope bridge is made of sturdier materials than the original. The experience of tourists crossing this bridge is still terrifying and exciting at the same time. The winds that are generated in the area make the bridge move from one side to another. Also, when walking on the bridge, each step makes the bridge shake, which makes the bridge feel unstable and unsafe.
6. Ojuela Bridge
Ojuela was a town located in the State of Durango in Mexico and is situated between two large hills and a now abandoned gold mine. Because there was a mine in Ojuela in 1882 that was 311 feet from the canyon bottom, a 1043-foot long suspension bridge was built, with a width of about 6 feet. The bridge was built and used for the transportation of minerals that were extracted from the Santa Rita mine in the town of Ojuela. With these measurements, it turned it into one of the longest bridges in the world at the time.
The Ojuela Bridge was built entirely of wood, it is fastened with steel cables, and the cables are fastened to towers that are located in the middle of the bridge. It is a marvel of engineering that the bridge was so large and able to transport tons of ore and dirt. Being a bridge entirely built of wood, it makes the experience of crossing over it not an exercise in stability for those brave tourists who dare to do it. The bridge was restored in 1991 and is now a popular tourist attraction for the city of Mapimi.
5. Monkey Bridges
At the south of Vietnam, in several areas of the Mekong River, there are many structures that allow the passage of people from one side of the river to another. The various bridges along the Mekong River are built exclusively by the local inhabitants of the area. They really do not have a sufficiently stable and well-developed structure for the free passage of people. However, for a long time, these bridges have been an astonishing experience for tourists who visit these unusual structures.
For the construction of these bridges, bamboo stems are used, which are reinforced with ropes. Two stalks of bamboo intersect each other in the form of an X and are placed at the bridge base. At the intersection of them, several other stalks of bamboo reinforce the knot. It is clear that with this structure, these bridges are not the sturdiest for walking on. They can be very fragile and are always prone to destruction. Therefore, the local inhabitants frequently rebuild the bridges in the area. These bridges are built at a height of no more than 4 meters from the river bottom. Seasonal rain makes it necessary to repair the bridges frequently.
4. U Bein Bridge
The U Bein Bridge is located on the Taungthaman Lake, Amarapura Township, in Myanmar. It is the longest teakwood bridge in the world. The base and support are columns that are buried in the bottom of the lake. The local inhabitants near Lake Taungthaman decided to build a bridge that would allow them to go freely from one side of the water to the other during the rainy season. This bridge is only about 10 feet above the lake, and its total length is 1300 yards. Outside of the rainy season, the lake is very shallow or non-existent.
The bridge is regularly used and is a popular site for tourist’s photography. One of the most exciting aspects of this bridge is that it does not have rails and it is wholly made of teak. At the bottom of the lake, several very sharp rocks could be fatal for a person who fell from the bridge. During the dry season, you will also find vegetable gardens planted by the locals. The passage of people riding a bicycle makes the structure to begin to shake, and this makes it clear that it is an insecure and unstable bridge for people.
3. Queshuachaca Bridge
The Queshuachaca rope bridge is located on the Apurímac River in southern Peru. Peru is a country that shares its past with the Inca civilization, and this bridge is the last of the Inca rope bridges. This country has both natural and man-made structures that are truly incredible. The Queshuachaca Bridge or better known as El Puente de las Cuerdas de Los Incas. The length of the bridge is 92 feet, width is 4 feet and it hangs 220 feet above the Apurímac River.
The Queshuachaca Bridge is made only from plant fiber called “ichu.” Being a bridge made from plant fiber, it may seem extremely unstable and each step from people crossing it causes the bridge to wobble from side to side. Being known as the last of the Inca bridges, every year in June, the local inhabitants, descendants of the Incas, repair the fibers that are damaged. This gives it great resistance but little stability. On August 5th, 2009, the Queshuachaca Bridge was declared a Cultural Heritage by the Cultural Institute of Peru. This is another rope bridge that adrenaline junkies like to travel to test their metal.
2. Indo Board Bridge
Indo board bridges are located in Indonesia (e.i. Indo bridges made of boards…), and they are some of the most dangerous bridges in the world and they hang over the many rivers in the country. They are built with cables and wooden planking for footing. Many families and children use these bridges every day to get to their destination, but the weak structure and lack of stable footing make these bridges unsafe and dangerous for people using it. People who cross it can fall into the mighty rivers very easily.
The bridge pictured made it into the news around the world in 2012 when images such as this circulated. They show school children traversing the 533-foot long ruined bridge that connected Ciwaru village to Sagagi village. The children felt they had to use the ruined bridge to arrive at school on time. Their only alternative was walking 5 kilometers both ways. The bridge was destroyed by flooding and residents of the area demanded the local government do something. It took until November that year for them to get a new bridge. The new bridge is sturdy and built of steel.
1. Mount Nimbus Bridge
The Mount Nimbus Bridge is located on Mount Nimbus in British Columbia. This incredible, but the dangerous bridge is situated more than 6500 feet from the Mount Nimbus bottom. It will give the person crossing it either an electrifying or terrifying experience. Its approximate length is 328 feet with an approximate width of 3 feet. The platform of this bridge is made entirely of wood, whose slats are separated from each other and held by a steel cable. The bridge does not have rails; instead, it has steel cables that make it one of the most dangerous, because a false step would mean death.
People who dare to cross this bridge should do so using harnesses and additional protection to prevent the person from falling into the void of Mount Nimbus. Without a doubt, to cross this bridge is an incredible experience. It will surely fulfill any expectations of pitting oneself against the mountain because the only way to the top is by using the bridge. Another quality that characterizes this bridge is the beautiful view that can be seen from the area where the bridge is located. Of course, for those not afraid of heights, appreciation of the view will be incredible.