MOST DANGEROUS BRIDGES IN THE WORLD

 

Every time I look at a bridge, I marvel at the clever engineering minds behind its construction. Bridges are works of engineering invented to allow people and vehicles to traverse fissures, valleys, rough terrains, bodies of water and other obstacles that would otherwise be difficult to cross. The number of bridges in the world today is estimated to be around 600,000.

The ancient Greeks, Romans, Indians and Chinese were bridge builders, along with the Inca civilisation. The world’s oldest bridge that is still being used (according to Guinness World Records) is Turkey’s Caravan Bridge in Izmir. The technology to build bridges has advanced rapidly over the years and there are many amazing bridges all over the world.

1- HUSSAINI HANGING BRIDGE, PAKISTAN

It’s easy to see why the label of one of the most dangerous bridges in the world has stuck to Hussaini Hanging Bridge, which is suspended over the Hunza River in a mountainous landscape in Gojal, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan.

The Hussaini Bridge is often regarded as the most dangerous bridge in the world to walk across.

The Hussaini Hanging Bridge is in the Gilgit-Baltistan area of Pakistan, hanging at a height of 2,600 m (100 ft) and is 194 m (635 ft) long.

The bridge was constructed between 1966 and 1977 to serve the villages around the Hunza valley but has become a tourist attraction.

It was built by the residents of the village using ropes and planks from the surrounding area after the previous bridge washed away in a flood.

The stability of this suspension bridge is questionable, and there are numerous spaces on the bridge’s floor, making it unsafe to walk on while crossing the Hunza River.

 

2- LIVING ROOT BRIDGES OF MEGHALAYA, INDIA

The Living Roots Bridges of Meghalaya are some of the most dangerous bridges in the world to cross.

The Living Root Bridges, commonly found in the Indian state of Meghalaya, are a unique type of bridge formed by tree shaping.

They are made from the aerial roots of the Indian rubber tree by the Khasi and Jaintia tribes, who reside on both sides of the river.

The roots of these trees are wrapped around a framework of bamboo or palm stems and guided across the river, where they are placed into the earth.

Living root bridges can grow to be over 20 m (66 ft) long and are unsafe to walk on due to their slippery nature, yet they are stable constructions that last a long time thanks to the regenerating ability of the trees.

3- HANGING BRIDGE OF GHASA, NEPAL

The Ghasa Hanging Bridge is a long suspension bridge in the town of Ghasa, Nepal.

The 443-ft (135 m) high and 1,128-ft (343 m) long bridge is mostly used to transport animals from one side to the other.

The primary purpose of the bridge was to reduce traffic congestion caused by livestock on the highways.

Despite its appearance as an unsafe bridge, it is still heavily used by pedestrians and farmers herding their animals on a daily basis.

While crossing the bridge may be frightening for some, watching the animals walk across the wobbly suspension bridge is quite an experience.

4- U BEIN BRIDGE, MYANMAR

The locals who cross the U Bein Bridge might disagree with this being one of the most dangerous bridges in the world. Sunset in Amarapura in the Mandalay region of Myanmar is a beautiful time to photograph this bridge.

The U Bein Bridge, in Mandalay, Myanmar, is a wooden footbridge across Taungthaman Lake.

The bridge, which was built in 1851, has 1,086 teakwood pillars that extend out into the lake and is considered the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world.

Although the bridge is largely intact, the teakwood pillars are steadily decaying, and there are fears that it will collapse one day if repairs are not made.

Despite the deteriorating state of this bridge, it is an awesome sight when the sun sets behind it and casts its golden light over the lake. 

                         

5- MONKEY BRIDGES, VIETNAM

Monkey Bridges are some of the most dangerous bridges in the world to attempt climbing if you don’t have the strength or the skills.

Monkey bridges are a unique type of bridge found in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.

Suspended between two to 10 m (6.5 to 33 ft) above the Mekong Delta, these bridges are used to travel between villages by foot.

The bridges are made of one piece of bamboo log with only one railing for support and are built by the residents of the surrounding area.

They are called monkey bridges because most people have to bend over and hold on tight like a monkey while crossing.

These stunning bridges are terrifying and difficult to cross but will present adventure-seekers with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

6- IYA VALLEY VINE BRIDGES, JAPAN

The vine bridges are stunning suspension bridges that hang over the Iya River in Miyoshi, Tokushima, Japan.

At one time, the Iya Valley had 13 of these bridges but only three exist now.

The Iya Kazurabashi, with a length of 45 m (148 ft) and a height of 14 m (46 ft) above the river, is the largest and most famous of the remaining three.

The bridge is built of wood and rope-like vines and is remade every few years.

It’s attached to towering cedar trees at both ends and has steel cables hidden within the vines for added safety.

Walking on these vine bridges will get the adrenalin pumping as you sway with the structure while admiring the views as you cross.

7- PUENTE DE OJUELA, MEXICO

The Puente de Ojuela is a suspension bridge in Mapim, Durango, Mexico, built in 1898.

The 318-m (1,043-ft) bridge has become a popular tourist attraction since 1991 when visitors started joining tours of the Ojuela ghost town.

It’s mostly made of wood and rises 109 m (360 ft) above the canyon floor.

Because it sways and squeaks when crossing, this is one of the most dangerous bridges in the world to cross by foot. And if you’re game, you’ll catch views of the desert canyon through the gaps in the wooden floorboards.

8- MUSOU TSURIBASHI BRIDGE, JAPAN

Musou Tsuribashi Bridge is a suspension bridge located in the southern Japanese Alps.

The bridge, which was constructed in the 1950s, is commonly recognized as Japan’s most dangerous suspension bridge.

It’s 144 m (472 ft) long and is made of wire and thin boards.

Standing at a height of 83 m (272 ft), it is extremely difficult to get to as the only access is to climb a steep mountain using a network of chains embedded in the stone.

As it has not been maintained over the years, many wooden boards have rotted, so crossing this bridge in its deteriorated state would be extremely dangerous and there is a sign warning you not to do so.

9- ESHIMA OHASHI BRIDGE, JAPAN

Eshima Ohashi Bridge, also known as the “Rollercoaster Bridge,” is one of the most peculiar bridges in the world.

Located in Yatsukacho-Eshima, it is Japan’s largest rigid-frame bridge and the world’s third-largest rigid-frame bridge.

It’s 1700 m (1.1 mi) long and stands at a height of 44.7 m (147 ft), connecting the cities of Matsue and Sakaiminato.

                                 

10- QUEPOS BRIDGE, COSTA RICA

The Quepos Bridge, commonly known as The Bridge of Death, is on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, on the road from Jaco to Quepos.

The bridge, which was erected between 1930 and 1940, is extremely narrow as it was previously a railway bridge used to transport goods to the port of Quepos.

This Costa Rica landmark is one of the most dangerous bridges in the world because it looks like it could collapse at any time.