The world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge just opened in the Czech Republic — take a look at the walkway that measures 2,365 feet long and hangs 311 feet over a valley

byAxis Digital •Monday, May 16, 2022

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When you're headed to a ski resort, you're probably expecting to hit the slopes.

But visitors to Dolní Morava may find themselves drawn to another attraction.

The Czech ski resort just opened a new bridge to the public on May 13.

It's called Sky Bridge 721.

Its name comes from the fact that it spans 721 meters, or roughly 2,365 feet, in length.

Source: Dolní Morava

This makes it the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world.

The title previously belonged to the Arouca Bridge in Portugal, which measures 516 meters, or about 1,693 feet, in length.

Source: Reuters

Sky Bridge 721 hangs over a valley connecting two mountains in the Northeast of the Czech Republic, near the country's border with Poland.

A visitor walks as the longest suspension pedestrian bridge in the world, Sky Bridge 721, is seen in the distance in the background.

At its greatest distance from the ground, the bridge is 95 meters high.

That's approximately 311 feet above the ground below.

The walkway is 1.2 meters in width.

That's about 3.9 feet wide.

It took two years to build the bridge.

Construction cost 200 million Czech Koruna.

Source: Reuters

That's roughly $8.4 million.

The bridge is suspended by six main supporting ropes and 60 wind ropes.

Because the bridge is so narrow, traffic on it flows in one direction only.

People crossing the walkway may feel it shake from wind.

One of the first visitors, 59-year-old Theo Scheepens of the Netherlands, told the Associated Press he felt it shake.

Visitors, not including Theo Scheepens, cross the bridge.

Source: Associated Press

"Marvelous, impressive, the bridge moves, so you think something is going to happen," he told the AP. "I wonder what is going to happen when it is windy."

Visitors, not including Theo Scheepens, cross the bridge.

Source: Associated Press

Another early visitor, Austrian blogger Victoria Fellner, told CNN Travel the bridge didn't move as much as she feared it would.

Visitors, not including Victoria Fellner, cross the bridge.

Source: CNN Travel

"I was afraid that the suspension bridge would shake a lot, but it wasn't that bad," Fellner told CNN Travel. "The view is really impressive and you can even see the forest below through the trellis! Luckily I'm not afraid of heights."

Visitors, not including Victoria Fellner, cross the bridge.

Source: CNN Travel

For safety purposes, the footbridge will close if winds reach 135 kilometers per hour.

Source: Associated Press

That's approximately 84 miles per hour.

Eventually, Dolní Morava will allow up to 500 people on the bridge at a time.

Source: Associated Press

For the first two weeks since Friday's opening, however, the limit will be 250 people at once.

Source: Associated Press

Thrill-seekers wanting to cross the bridge must buy tickets in advance online.

A visitor looks out at the longest suspension pedestrian bridge in the world, Sky Bridge 721, as seen in the distance in the background.

Prices for an adult ticket start at 350 Czech Koruna.

That's about $14.70.

The bridge is a 2.5-hour drive from Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

Officials hope the record-breaking bridge will attract tourists.

The Czech Republic closed its borders to visitors during much of the pandemic.

Last month, the country lifted these travel restrictions.

Via PakApNews

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