(TAN): The longest pedestrian suspension bridge of the world is set to open in Portugal this fall. The bridge, 516 Arouca, so named because it is 516 meters (1693 feet) long, is located in the town of Arouca, an hour south of Porto, CNN reported.
The bridge that will connect Aguieiras Waterfall and Paiva Gorge, is a Tibetan-style hanging bridge, held up by steel cables and two huge V-shaped towers. The river Paiva flows 176 meters (576 feet) below the pathway’s three-foot-wide open metal grid. The railings are rigid netting, while the deck is constructed of 127 four-meter-long modules.
Designed by Portuguese studio Itecons, the bridge is the latest adventure offering in the Arouca Geopark, known for its extreme sports. With the fast-moving Paiva river visible through the open grid beneath the feet, the bridge is surely not for the faint-hearted.
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516 Arouca took three years to finish, with construction completed in July 2020. It replaces the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge (spanning 1,621 feet) in Switzerland, that boasts views of the Matterhorn, Weisshorn and Bernese Alps, for the title.
An official opening date has not been announced yet, nor the ticket prices.
