Crossing a new bridge in Switzerland is not for the faint of heart. That’s because it’s the longest suspension footbridge in the world, stretching 494 meters (1,621 feet) across a valley in the Swiss Alps.
Thick steel cables support the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge’s narrow walkway. These cables connect to anchors driven deep into the cliffs on either side of the valley. Together, they support the entire load, or force, pushing down on the bridge as pedestrians make their way across.
Engineers built the bridge to replace a nearby one that was damaged by falling rocks. The new bridge is in a different location that shouldn’t be vulnerable to the same threat. It allows visitors to cross the valley in 10 minutes, instead of three to four hours by hiking, says Paul Summermatter, who oversaw its construction. What’s it like to cross? “It’s pure adventure,” he says.