Titlis Cliff Walk

The Titlis Cliff Walk is a pedestrian bridge along the cliff of Mount Titlis in the Swiss Alps. Built at around 3,000 metres (10,000 ft) above sea level, it is believed to be the highest-elevation suspension bridge in Europe.[1][2] It broke the record held by Salbit Bridge, also located in Switzerland.[3] The bridge spans a distance of around 100 m (320 ft) but is just 1 m (3 ft) wide.[1]

The Titlis Cliff Walk

The project was designed as a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Engelberg–Gerschnialp funicular railway in January 1913. It was officially opened on 7 December 2012 during a snow storm, leaving dignitaries from 15 countries unable to see more than just a few metres; the public opening occurred a day later.[1] On a clear day, those on the bridge are able to see the glacier 460 m (1,500 ft) below them along with the Uri Alps and parts of Italy.[4]

Constructed over a period of five months, the bridge was built when weather conditions permitted. It was designed to withstand winds that reach over 190 km/h (120 mph) as well as significant snowfall, with a spokesman for Titlis Engelberg ski resort explaining that it can cope with around 450 tonnes (500 short tons) of snow. Much of the material used in construction was transported on cable cars, with larger sections being delivered by helicopter.[1]

At a cost of around £1 million, it is hoped that the bridge will become a significant tourist attraction, particularly during the warmer months.[1][2][4] In the first two weeks of it being opened, around 500 visitors crossed the bridge.[3] Media reports called it the "world's scariest bridge" and Switzerland Tourism called it "a high-adrenaline kind of new adventure".[1][2][4][5] The ski resort spokesman claims that the bridge is "100 percent safe" and explains that it is "really impossible to fall from the bridge".[1]

See also

References
  1. Pawlowski, A. (11 December 2012). "Europe's highest suspension bridge opens in Swiss Alps". NBC News. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  2. "Titlis Cliff Walk: Europe's Highest Suspension Bridge Opens (PHOTOS)". Huffington Post. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  3. Cha, Frances (18 December 2012). "Cold, terrifying and incredible: Europe's highest suspension bridge opens". CNN Travel. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  4. "Don't look down! World's 'scariest' and highest suspension bridge opens 1,500ft above a glacier in the Swiss Alps". Mail Online. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  5. "Europe's highest suspension bridge opens in the Swiss Alps". Mail Online. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2013.

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