516 Arouca, the newest suspension bridge that recently opened at Porto in Portugal is also the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world. At a height of 576 feet above the Paiva River canyon, it promises to send some chills down your spine, not to mention the exhilarating views! By Kumar Shree
The bridge’s location makes it even more interesting as it links the two sides of the Paiva Gorge, which forms a part of the Arouca Geopark, a UNESCO recognised 328 square-kilometre region of geological discoveries. The park attracts a large number of tourists who come here for adventure activities such as hiking, kayaking and rafting.
View this post on Instagram
The park is also known for its eight-kilometre-long wooden walkways and stairways known as the Paiva Walkways, that take visitors around, and at the end of the trail, surprise them with a refreshing glass of wine. Since Porto is known for its local wine, the activity is fairly popular among visitors.
On average, a person might take around five to 10 minutes to cross the bridge, maybe longer if they are scared of heights, and during windy weather. But, the gorgeous views make up for all the effort.
View this post on Instagram
If you are among the more adventurous individuals, you can always add more thrill to the experience by looking down the walkway, which has a metal grid flooring giving away a view of what lies underneath.
Before the 516 Arouca, the 1,621-feet long Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge in Switzerland, which opened in 2017, was considered the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world.
Related: India’s First Vertical Lift Sea Rail Bridge In Rameshwaram To Be A Reality Soon
