Discussion: Bridges of the World July 2026 (page 10 of 18)

Depending on the location, they’re also built for hikers, saving them very long detours.

Hi Muriel,

It's mostly touristy, I think, because going across these two footbridges lets you walk a long hiking trail that partly circles Lake Monteynard. We didn’t do the whole route, but in two trips, we went to "see" both footbridges (a little personal challenge...) from spots where the trail crosses roads. The area’s nice otherwise, but it can get really cold 😕 Puma

In my opinion, for tourism purposes, but I find it so absurd that I was wondering if they didn’t have another use too 🤔

In some countries, they use what are essentially zip lines to cross obstacles like valleys or rivers. Or makeshift cable cars.

This can become a tourist attraction.

I get it now—it’s more than just crossing back and forth over it... though it still seems like a big investment just to shorten a leisure trip.

...

Check this out: https://www.trieves-vercors.fr/incontournables/les-passerelles-himalayennes/

Crossing these footbridges avoids long road detours.

(Maybe also useful for herders... and hunters, too!!)

Cheers.

...

All those suspension bridges and walkways don’t make me want to cross them at all... I honestly get vertigo just looking at them 😵

Me too, but at the same time, I’m fascinated by that call of the void, and I always end up taking the risk when I come across these spots. Even if it means having to sit down and scoot forward or backward on my butt or crawl.

Well, I don’t have your courage... I can’t even set foot on them 😵‍🦼

In some countries, they use kinds of zip lines to cross obstacles (valleys, rivers). Or handmade cable cars.

This can become touristy.

In this case, these structures first serve the local populations (just like Tibetan bridges). Tourist appeal comes later.

Depending on the location, they’re also built for hikers, saving them very long detours.

Maybe in France, where they’re apparently free, as we can see in Puma’s photos... But definitely not in Thailand... 😢🥾 where it’s far from cheap...

Those poor hikers—of which I was one not long ago—need all the help they can get! Still, I’d be curious to know how many locals actually use these footbridges... 😢🥾

In some countries, they use kinds of zip lines to cross obstacles (valleys, rivers). Or handmade cable cars.

This can become tourist attractions.

In this case, these structures first serve the local populations (just like Tibetan bridges). The tourist appeal comes later.

Absolutely! I’m actually digging through my photo archives for "bridges" to share here

In some countries, they use kinds of zip lines to cross obstacles (valleys, rivers). Or handmade cable cars.

This can become tourist attractions.

In this case, these structures first serve the local populations (just like Tibetan bridges). The tourist appeal comes later.

In some Tibetan accounts, I’ve read that they used to cross "impassable" rivers and torrents with yak caravans (one by one!!!). Alexandra David-Néel mentions this too.

All those suspension bridges and walkways don’t make me want to cross them at all... I honestly get vertigo just looking at them 😵

Me too, but at the same time, I’m fascinated by that call of the void, and I always end up risking it when I come across these spots. Even if it means having to sit down and scoot forward or backward on my butt or crawl.

Well, I don’t have your courage... I can’t even set foot on them 😅‍🦽

At this point, it’s not courage anymore—it’s stupidity since I know I’ll be hit with uncontrollable vertigo

Here's one already...

Another one...



Sometimes they break... And you crash into the raging river.



Other times you're luckier, but... You end up stuck, alone, in the middle of the river.

In the case of the Trift Suspension Bridge (Switzerland), it was built to address the melting of a glacier.

(170 meters long - 100 meters of void)

It seems a man once walked on water, but that was a long time ago. 😇

On a glacier, it was possible for everyone.

The bridge was built high up because what remains of the glacier could collapse into the lake, causing a tsunami. 🤪

The Randa Suspension Bridge (Switzerland) was built after a hiking trail saw a drop in visitors. The previous bridge was closed due to rockfalls. Hikers had to descend into the valley (500 meters of elevation loss) and then climb back up to the same level. Faced with this extra difficulty, they chose other routes.



(494 meters long - 85 meters of void)

Today, these two bridges themselves have become hiking destinations.

Not necessarily easy, especially the second one... (650 meters of steep positive elevation gain!)

The footbridge leading to the summit of Scex Rouge (still in Switzerland) was installed solely to attract tourists, both in summer and winter, to Glacier 3000. A huge hit with Indians and Middle Easterners—absolutely no effort required to get there! 😏

Somewhere in Bolivia (suspended bridge, not touristy or for hikers)



Wooden bridge in the Brazilian Pantanal



They’re not always in such good shape...



Sometimes you even have to improvise repairs to cross...🤪

argentique

Old-school film cameras

So many gorgeous bridge photos! Are the pontoons included too? For my second photo, I’d like to highlight the bridges of Rishikesh for their unique history (Lakshman Jhula history). However, I’m not sure if the photos fit the theme well enough. To capture the whole bridge, you often need some distance.





What do you think?

And you? Based on the comments about Canadian bridges, what’s your take? Share your own analysis—I bet you’ll find a great photo that fits the theme! 😊

I think the lit-up bridge could work. The second one is definitely too far away. For the first, I’m on the fence. I really like it, but I might be biased.

Hello

I’d like to highlight the bridges of Rishikesh for their unique history

This is the second time you’ve mentioned that the bridge has a story to tell—one that would inspire a photo, if I understood correctly. And I was wondering, in the context of this photo contest on the theme of bridges around the world, whether it’s the bridge that should tell its story or the photo that should tell a story *about* the bridge.

Yes, you’re right. It’s my storytelling bias showing 🙂. I’ll switch gears

Are all these footbridges built for a practical purpose, or are they just for tourists?

More and more of them serve no real purpose. Why build this one between two hills in Chamrousse just to "overlook" the pretty Lac Robert? It’s just spoiling the landscape... Couldn’t you walk from one hill to the other on the ground? There’s a trail down there on the right. Too tiring?🙁