All you adventure junkies out there, here is some good news for you!
516 Arouca, the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge, is due to open in the town of Arouca in Portugal this fall. A whopping 516 metres long (and hence the name), the bridge connects the Aguieiras Waterfall and Paiva Gorge and is suspended 175 metres above the River Paiva.
It is located in the eastern part of and is the latest adventure offering in the Arouca Geopark, widely known for its extreme sports.
Designed by Portuguese studio Itecons and constructed by Conduril – Engenharia, SA, the construction of this bridge was completed in July this year while it started three years back.
The design of the bridge is also very unique – it follows a Tibetan-style footbridge architecture, is supported by two V-shaped concrete towers and is held up by steel cables. Its pathway has a three-foot-wide open metal grid while the railings are rigid netting.
“This bridge aims at targeting the interest of different types of people: engineering lovers, nature connoisseurs, people who are fond of extreme experiences,” said the local council, Arouca Municipality, in a statement.
It is estimated that a walk across this will take anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes and one can witness breathtaking panoramic views of the Aguieiras waterfall, Paiva walkways, Alvarenga Bridge, and Paiva Gorge.
While the exact date of the opening of the bridge has not been announced yet, it is expected to open to public by the end of this month.
The record for the longest pedestrian suspension bridge was previously held by the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge in Switzerland, which spans 1,621 feet and opened to public in 2017. That bridge boasts of awe-inspiring views of the Matterhorn, Weisshorn and Bernese Alps.
Clearly, this bridge is not for the faint-hearted! Will you want to walk down this bridge? We can’t wait to do so!! Let us know in the comments section below!
