The World’s Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge Opens in Switzerland

The 1,621-foot-long bridge hangs nearly 300 feet above the valley floor in the Swiss Alps.

August 2, 2017 5:00 am

The world’s longest suspension bridge opened in Switzerland on Sunday. Measuring 1,621 feet across, it connects a hiking path across a valley in the Swiss Alps.

At its highest point, the bridge is suspended 278 feet in the air. If it’s any consolation, the tallest pedestrian bridge in the world is about 640 feet, located in Austria.

The Europabrücke (Europe Bridge) is only 25 inches wide, BBC reports. Given the altitude and its grated platform, it’s not recommended for those who have a fear of heights.

Replacing an old bridge taken out by boulders, the Europabrücke was built in just ten weeks using a special cable that prevents it from swaying. The cables weigh eight tons, according to BBC.

The new bridge links two sections of a two-day hiking trail between Grächen and Zermatt. Fringed by Matterhorn and the Bernese Alps, the stunning mountain views are a welcome distraction to those trying not to look down.

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