Bridges can serve not only as a means of crossing a river, valley or road; very often, bridges are cultural and architectural landmarks of a city or even an entire country. For many years, architects and engineers have created amazing constructions. Some of them are Guinness World Record holders, and others are popular tourist destinations.
Sputnik presents a photo gallery of some of the most amazing bridges from all over the world.
The 260-meter long Storseisundet Bridge in Norway is designed in a manner which creates an illusion of a spring-board for those who approach it. Local residents have dubbed it "the Drunk Bridge" as it shape changes depending on the angle of view.
Above: The Storseisundet Bridge, Norway.
Above: The Storseisundet Bridge, Norway.
"Pont de Singe", which in French means "Monkey Bridge", is a floating wooden bridge created by a French artist. Located over a lake in the Japanese garden at Tatton Park in Cheshire in northwest England, the rope bridge itself is suspended in the air by three large helium balloons.
Above: The floating bridge in Tatton Park, England.
Above: The floating bridge in Tatton Park, England.
The Devil's Bridge is an arch bridge over the Arda River, in Bulgaria. It is 59 meters long and has three arches. It was built between 1515 and 1518 by the Ottomans.
Above: The Devil's Bridge, Bulgaria.
Above: The Devil's Bridge, Bulgaria.
This bridge connects mainland Spain with Gaztelugatxe, an islet on the coast of Biscay belonging to the municipality of Bermeo.
Above: The San Juan de Gaztelugatxe Bridge, Spain.
Above: The San Juan de Gaztelugatxe Bridge, Spain.
The Xiying Rainbow Bridge is a pedestrian walkway located in Magong, Taiwan. The bridge is lined with a neon band that projects the rainbow colors on the water’s surface at night.
Above: The Xiying Rainbow Bridge, Taiwan.
Above: The Xiying Rainbow Bridge, Taiwan.
The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval stone arch bridge over the Arno River in Florence, Italy. Built in 1345, it is the oldest bridge in Florence and the only to have preserved its initial design.
Above: The Ponte Vecchio, Italy.
Above: The Ponte Vecchio, Italy.
The Langkawi Sky Bridge is a 125-meter curved pedestrian cable-stayed bridge in Malaysia. The bridge deck is located 660 meters above sea level. The bridge is suspended by eight cables from a single 81.5-meter-high pylon.
Above: The Langkawi Sky Bridge, Malaysia.
Above: The Langkawi Sky Bridge, Malaysia.
The Bridge of Peace is a 150-meter bow-shaped pedestrian bridge over the Kura River in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Designed to resemble a sea animal, the top of the bridge shimmers with an interactive display at night, generated by thousands of white LEDs.
Above: The Bridge of Peace, Georgia.
Above: The Bridge of Peace, Georgia.
The Moses Bridge was built in the Netherlands during the reconstruction of a 17-century fort. It was named after Prophet Moses who led the Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea.
Above: The Moses Bridge, Netherlands.
Above: The Moses Bridge, Netherlands.
The Liberty Bridge is a 333.6-meter bridge across the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary. It was built between 1894 and 1896.
Above: Liberty Bridge, Hungary.
Above: Liberty Bridge, Hungary.
Puente Nuevo is an 18-century 98-meter-high bridge over the Guadalevin River, in Southern Spain. The construction started in 1751 and took 42 years. There is a chamber above the central arch that was used for a variety of purposes, including as a prison.
Above: Puente Nuevo, Ronda, Spain.
Above: Puente Nuevo, Ronda, Spain.
The High Trestle Trail is a 40-meter-high and 770-meter long trestle bridge in the US state of Iowa. It was originally built to carry rail traffic, but then was rebuilt to carry also pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
Above: The High Trestle Trail Bridge, the US.
Above: The High Trestle Trail Bridge, the US.
Constantine is the capital of the Constantine Province, in Algeria. It is often referred to as the "City of Bridges" due to the numerous picturesque bridges connecting the mountains the city is built on. The Bridge Sidi-M'Cid is a suspension bridge with a length of 168 meters. It was built in 1912.
Above: The Bridge Sidi-M'Cid, Algeria.
Above: The Bridge Sidi-M'Cid, Algeria.
The Dragon Bridge is a 666-meter-long bridge over the Han River in Da Nang, Vietnam. Da Nang has several really cool bridges but none cooler than the Dragon Bridge which actually breaths fire at night on the weekends.
Above: The Dragon Bridge, Vietnam.
Above: The Dragon Bridge, Vietnam.
The Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain in Seoul holds the Guinness World Record as the bridge with the world’s longest fountain, with a length of 1,140 meters.
Above: The Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain, South Korea.
Above: The Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain, South Korea.
The Bridge of Sighs, also known as the Bridge of Shaharah, was built in the 17th century. The bridge is 20 meters long and around three meters wide. It is suspended 200 meters above a gorge.
Above: The Shaharah Bridge, Yemen.
Above: The Shaharah Bridge, Yemen.
The Infinity Bridge is a public pedestrian and cycle footbridge across the River Tees in northeast England. Its name derives from the infinity symbol formed by the bridge and its reflection in the water.
Above: The Infinity Bridge, England.
Above: The Infinity Bridge, England.
Residents of the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya do not need to construct bridges. Living root bridges are made from the aerial roots of trees, such as Ficus elastica. For 500 years, they have grown a large number of living bridges, with a length of over three kilometers. A living root bridge sustains the weight of 50 people and is flood-resistant.
Above: A living root bridge, India.
Above: A living root bridge, India.
Known as the Roman Bridge of Cangas de Onis, a municipality in northwest Spain, this humpback bridge is one of the best-known symbols of the Principality of Asturias. It is believed to date back to the end of the 13th century.
Above: The Roman Bridge, Cangas de Onis, Spain.
Above: The Roman Bridge, Cangas de Onis, Spain.
A moon bridge is a highly arched pedestrian bridge associated with Chinese and Japanese gardens. It originated in China. This moon bridge in Taipei was built in 1979 and is one of the most popular places among its residents.
Above: The Moon Bridge, Taiwan.
Above: The Moon Bridge, Taiwan.
Stari Most (Old Bridge) is a reconstruction of a 16-century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks and is also considered on the most exemplary pieces of Islamic architecture in the Balkans.
Above: Stari Most, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Above: Stari Most, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Charles Bridge is a famous historic bridge that crosses the Vltava River in Prague. Its construction started in 1357 and was finished in the beginning of the 15th century. The bridge is 621 meters long and nearly 10 meters wide. It is decorated with a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style.
Above: The Charles Bridge, Czech Republic.
Above: The Charles Bridge, Czech Republic.
The Devil’s Bridge (Rakotzbrücke) was built back in 1860 in the Azalea and Rhododendron Park Kromlau landscaped park in Saxony. Because of the unique accuracy of its construction, the bridge and its reflection merge into a perfect circle, regardless of the point of observation.
Above: Rakotzbrücke, Germany.
Above: Rakotzbrücke, Germany.
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian and cycling bridge over the River Tyne in England. It is sometimes referred to as the "Blinking Eye Bridge" or the "Winking Eye Bridge" due to its shape and its tilting method. The bridge has two arches. In order to allow small ships and boats to pass underneath, the two arches rise, making one arch with a height of 25 meters.
Above: The Gateshead Millennium Bridge, England.
Above: The Gateshead Millennium Bridge, England.
Originally built in 1889, Capilano Suspension Bridge stretches 137 meters across and 70 meters above Capilano River, in Canada. It is one of the Vancouver’s most popular tourist attractions.
Above: The Capilano Suspension Bridge, Canada.
Above: The Capilano Suspension Bridge, Canada.
