516 Arouca hangs nearly 600 feet above the ground and is the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. (Image credit: Reuters/Violeta Santos Moura.)
Suspended nearly 600 feet above the Paiva River and spanning almost 1,700 feet (or 516 meters) from end to end, 516 Arouca, the new world record holder for longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Portugal, is decidedly not for the faint of heart. The bridge, located in the Arouca Geopark, about an hour from Porto, draws its inspiration from the ancient Incan rope bridges that spanned chasms and cliffs in the Andes. 516 Arouca is 71 feet longer than the previous record holder, the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge in Switzerland.
Whether you love heights or are strictly earthbound, there’s no denying that the new bridge is an engineering marvel. Portuguese studio Itecons designed the structure, while Conduril managed the construction process, which began in 2018. Construction was completed at a cost of 2.3 million euros.
Would you be willing to take a walk across 516 Arouca? (Image credit: Ponte 516 Arouca.)
Two large upright, V-shaped concrete towers support the bridge’s cables and the metal grids that form its rail and deck. Those brave enough to walk across the span can see straight down to the bottom of the valley. Up to 30 people at one time can cross the bridge, which sways lightly from side to side. If you walk briskly, it takes about 10 minutes to get from end to end, although it’s unclear if…