Marvel at the 10 longest bridges in the world

Travel and Leisure magazine has just unveiled 10 bridges that have earned the title of 'longest' for each of their distinctive features: the longest suspension bridge, the longest inhabited bridge, or the longest floating bridge...

Let's take a look at the Top 10 longest bridges with their own unique features:

1. The world's longest suspension bridge:

The title of the world's longest suspension bridge belongs to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Kobe, Japan. This bridge is located near the epicenter of the Hanshin earthquake (which occurred in 1995, claiming 6,000 lives, with a Richter magnitude of 7.2)

The bridge authority states that the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge can withstand earthquakes of up to 8.5 Richter scale, stand firm against winds with speeds of 280 km/h, and tsunami waves of 4.5m/s.

The total length of the bridge reaches 3,910m, with the main towers standing 297m above sea level, slightly shorter than the Eiffel Tower in Paris by about 23m. The bridge has 6 lanes. After 10 years of construction costing up to 4 billion USD, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge was inaugurated in 1998, connecting Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture to Awaji Island and linking the main island of Honshu to Shikoku.

2. The longest inhabited bridge in the world - Kramerbrucke Bridge, Erfurt (Germany)

In addition to serving as a thoroughfare, the Kramerbrucke Bridge is also home to several households. This bridge spans the Breitstrom, a tributary of the Gera River. Initially, there were about 62 houses on the bridge, but currently, only about 32 houses remain. The homeowners have turned them into grocery stores, selling souvenirs to tourists.

This bridge, measuring 79m long, was built in 1325 and has served as inspiration for similar bridge designs today, such as the Ponte-Vecchio Bridge in Italy.

3. The longest entirely overwater bridge - Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, USA

In 2011, the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China, with a length of 42.5km built over the sea, surpassed the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in total length.

However, in reality, the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is only 25.7km long over water. Therefore, the council decided to amend the title, awarding the longest overwater (continuous) bridge title to the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in the USA (38km long).

The Jiaozhou Bay Bridge connects Hoàng Đảo district, Thanh Đảo city, and Hồng Đào island. The bridge is located in Sơn Đông province, eastern China.

4. The world's longest rope suspension bridge - Taman Negara Canopy Walkway Bridge

This bridge is nestled deep within the tropical rainforest in Malaysia.

This bridge spans 460m in length, with a height of 50m above the ground. The main components of the bridge are planks, nets, and rope connections.

Visitors to this suspension bridge will experience a thrilling sensation while marveling at the breathtaking scenery of the tropical rainforest with its rich flora and diverse wildlife.

5. The world's longest floating bridge - Evergreen Point Bridge in Seattle

This floating bridge spans 2,310m, part of Route 520, connecting the Seattle area to the eastern suburbs via a floating road over Lake Washington. The lake is approximately the size of 33 soccer fields. The bridge was constructed by Governor Alber D. Rosellini Bridge in the early 1960s.

However, the bridge is currently aging over time, and authorities plan to replace it with a larger, longer, and more modern floating bridge in the future.

6. The world's longest arch bridge is located in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, southwestern France

Pont de la Liberation is made of bricks and reinforced concrete with mostly small stones and mortar. The bridge, over 100 years old, spans 96m, crossing the Lot River, exuding an elegant, ancient charm.

7. The world's most 'peculiar' bridge - Hartland Bridge, New Brunswick, Canada

This bridge also holds the title for the longest roofed bridge in the world. This 390m long bridge was inaugurated in 1901 by the Hartland Bridge company, then later sold to the government. Dubbed the 'most peculiar' bridge in the world, its mostly peculiar and outdated roofs are quite functional in the icy climate of the region. In addition to lanes for vehicles, it also has a pedestrian walkway. This walkway was added in 1945.

8. The world's longest steel bridge - Dan Duong Bridge, Côn Sơn, China

The bridge spans 164.8km, connecting Shanghai to Nanjing.

Running along the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway, the Dan Duong Bridge was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's longest steel bridge in 2011.

This steel bridge also traverses the Yangtze River, mostly functioning as an elevated railway, similar to the El bridge in Chicago.

9. The world's longest 'ice' bridge - Beaufort Sea Road Bridge in Alaska

The bridge (with a length of 109.4km) spans across the Beaufort Sea, the North Pole oil fields, and the ice lakes of Alaska. Additionally, it is one of the world's most dangerous bridges, often seen on reality TV shows like Ice Road Truckers.

10. The world's longest natural bridge, located in Guangxi, China

The 'Fairy Bridge' was crafted by our mother nature. Mostly composed of limestone, this 122m long bridge crosses the Buliu River. The 'Fairy Bridge' is also the widest natural bridge in the world, spanning over 130m wide.

According to Tuoi Tre

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Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook