大象传媒

Some bridges simply get you from A to B. Others do it in style.

Often, a bridge can become a tourist attraction itself. They can reach extraordinary heights and lengths, and utilise cutting-edge engineering or time-tested indigenous techniques.

大象传媒 Bitesize has taken a look at some of the world鈥檚 most intriguing bridges that you might not have heard of.

A photo of a bridge made from tree roots, in a forest, over a river. It has two platforms for walking across and can be accessed by stairs on the right hand side of the photo.Image source, Bloomberg
Image caption,
The Umshiang double-decker living root bridge, near Cherrapunji, India.

Living Root Bridges, India

The north-eastern state of Meghalaya in India, is one of the wettest places on Earth. Each year during the monsoon season (June to September) this mountainous region can receive up to 6 metres of rainfall, causing rivers and streams to swell with water. Eventually, they become impassable.

For the local Khasi people, this was a problem. But around 180 years ago, they came up with a solution 鈥 creating bridges out of the roots of the Indian rubber tree (Ficus elastica). Canes of bamboo are tied between the trees and across the water. These act as scaffolding for the tree roots to grow along, until they meet in the middle and become entwined. It鈥檚 a process that takes decades to complete but produces durable, stable and sustainable bridges that only grow stronger as they age.

A photo of a steeply curved bridge over a lake. The water is still and the bridge's reflection looks like it forms a whole circle. The surrounding trees are autumnal, with red and orange leaves.Image source, DaLiu
Image caption,
The tall, thin rocks either side of the Rakotzbr眉cke were designed to look like natural basalt columns.

The Devil鈥檚 Bridge, Germany

Known in German as the Rakotzbr眉cke, this stone bridge is stunningly pretty. When reflected in the still water below, it appears to form a perfect circle. In order to preserve the bridge, visitors are not allowed to cross.

This type of bridge can be found throughout Europe, with many examples dating back to medieval times. Typically, devil鈥檚 bridges have legends attached to them about how the devil assisted in their construction, often in exchange for something. They look so precarious that it was felt that something otherworldly must be involved. This particular bridge, however, was built in the 19th Century, having been commissioned by a local knight.

An aerial photo of a pedestrian bridge. The bridge is painted gold and decorated with Vietnamese flags. It is appears to be held up by two giant hands, decorated to look like stone.Image source, NgKhanhVuKhoa
Image caption,
The Golden Bridge offers stunning views of the Tr瓢峄漬g S啤n Mountains.

The Golden Bridge, Vietnam

Sat atop a mountain near the city of Da Nang in central Vietnam, this striking bridge opened in June 2018.

At 150 metres long, the curving golden pedestrian bridge was designed by the architect to mimic a golden thread being held up by a god鈥檚 hands. While these hands may appear to be made of carved, weathered ancient stone, they are actually a combination of steel mesh and decorated fibreglass.

The bridge can be reached by the world鈥檚 longest nonstop single-track cable car ride and it is close to a faux medieval village, built by the French during colonial rule.

An aerial photo of a pedestrian bridge. The bridge is painted gold and decorated with Vietnamese flags. It is appears to be held up by two giant hands, decorated to look like stone.Image source, NgKhanhVuKhoa
Image caption,
The Golden Bridge offers stunning views of the Tr瓢峄漬g S啤n Mountains.
Four men wearing hats and warm clothing stand on or straddle a rope bridge across a canyon, weaving thinner strands of rope into the bridge.Image source, VW Pics
Image caption,
Weavers climb across the Q'eswachaka bridge, attaching smaller ropes around the structure, until they meet in the middle.

Q'eswachaka, Peru

For the past 600 or so years, a rope bridge made of grass has hung over the Apurimac river in the Cusco region of Peru. Following the Incan tradition, each year the bridge is thrown into the water below, where it slowly rots away. In its place, a new bridge is woven and hung.

Members of local communities create the 30-metre-long bridge by weaving together long blades of hardy grass (q鈥檕ya), to form thin cords. To make the grass pliable, it must first be beaten with a stone and soaked in water. The cords are then twisted together to create six strong cables.

These are securely attached to stones on either side of the canyon, and stretched by teams of men to ensure that there is enough . Once complete, the communities celebrate with traditional festivities.

Kazungula Bridge, Botswana and Zambia

At first sight, this bridge may appear relatively ordinary. Built to ease congestion by replacing a slow vehicle ferry service across the Zambezi River, the 923-metre-long bridge links Botswana to Zambia.

What makes this bridge unusual is its shape, which wasn鈥檛 chosen for the aesthetics. Within the river itself, the borders of four different countries meet in various configurations. A curved bridge was necessary in order to avoid straying across the border into Zimbabwe.

Four men wearing hats and warm clothing stand on or straddle a rope bridge across a canyon, weaving thinner strands of rope into the bridge.Image source, VW Pics
Image caption,
Weavers climb across the Q'eswachaka bridge, attaching smaller ropes around the structure, until they meet in the middle.
An aerial photograph of the curved Kazungula road bridge, stretching over the Zambezi River. The bridge is empty of vehicles. A boat is on the river.Image source, MONIRUL BHUIYAN
Image caption,
The presidents of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo all attended the opening ceremony of the Kazungula Bridge in May 2021.
A trench-like bridge cuts through the water of a moat, with trees on the right hand side bank and a steep grassy incline on the left hand side bank,Image source, Monika Kanokova / EyeEm
Image caption,
A pump system is used when the water levels become too high and the bridge is at risk of flooding.

Moses Bridge, the Netherlands

Something of an optical illusion, from a distance it looks like pedestrians on the bridge walk through parted water, which is why it is named after Moses.

In the 17th Century, the Dutch built a defensive system known as the West Brabant Water Line, which enabled them to flood low-lying areas of land. The water would be deeper enough to make it slow and awkward to wade through, but shallow enough that boats couldn鈥檛 be used.

As part of the fortification鈥檚 restoration, a bridge was needed to allow visitors to reach the fortress, Fort de Roovere. However, the architects felt that it didn鈥檛 seem right to design a traditional bridge to cross a moat, given its historical purpose. Instead, they sunk the bridge into the moat, allowing it to blend in.

A trench-like bridge cuts through the water of a moat, with trees on the right hand side bank and a steep grassy incline on the left hand side bank,Image source, Monika Kanokova / EyeEm
Image caption,
A pump system is used when the water levels become too high and the bridge is at risk of flooding.

Six of the world鈥檚 most amazing railway journeys

From the highest railway to one of the longest, these aren't any ordinary train journeys.

Six of the world鈥檚 most amazing railway journeys

The Seven Wonders of the World quiz

From the ancient to the modern, how much do you know about these famous landmarks?

The Seven Wonders of the World quiz

The hidden worlds beneath the UK's feet

Spooky vaults, unseen rivers and caves which sheltered thousands from the Blitz

The hidden worlds beneath the UK's feet