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The Arouca Geopark in northern Portugal is about as breathtaking a landscape as you can imagine. You’d struggle not to feel at least a tinge of vertigo in these hilly, rocky, densely forested parts.
But a new attraction that straddles the Paiva River valley will offer an even more bracing perspective on those ridiculously epic (and Unesco-protected) surroundings. The 516-metre-long Arouca bridge, which opened this week, is now the world’s longest pedestrian bridge – and gridded floors and railings mean you can take in the views from all sides.
Photograph: 516 Arouca
The bridge comprises a steel main structure, supported by two V-shaped concrete towers. It rises 175 metres above the valley, a popular site for outdoor activities like whitewater rafting and kayaking. A ticket to the bridge (€12 for adults, €10 for children and over-65s) also gets you access to the Passadiços do Paiva: a eight-kilometre-long network of wooden pathways that wind through th
Longest suspension foot bridge opens in Portugal Reuters, Arouca Reuters, Arouca
Hugo Xavier became one of the first people to cross the world s longest pedestrian suspension bridge when it opened on Thursday near his tiny hometown of Arouca in northern Portugal. Oh.here we go!, the 42-year-old said anxiously as he gathered enough courage to step onto the see-through metal grid pathway of the 516-metre-long (1693-ft) bridge alongside his equally jittery partner and a tour guide.
Hidden between rock-strewn mountains covered with lush greenery and yellow flowers inside the Unesco-recognised Arouca Geopark, the bridge hangs 175 meters above the fast-flowing River Paiva.
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Portugal Inaugurates world s Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge; See Breathtaking Pics
The world s longest pedestrian suspension bridge, Arouca 516, has opened in northern Portugal and was officially inaugurated on May 2.
Image: AP
The world s longest pedestrian suspension bridge has opened in northern Portugal and was officially inaugurated on May 2. The Arouca Bridge is 516 meters long and it hangs 175 metres above the fast-flowing Paiva River. The narrow footbridge connects Aguieiras Waterfall and Paiva Gorge and it is the latest adventure offering in the Arouca Geopark, which is known for its extreme sports.
According to The Guardian, before Sunday’s official opening ceremony, people from the nearby town were allowed to walk over the megastructure’s see-through metal grids. Hugo Xavier was the first person to make the crossing. After reaching the other side of the footbridge, Xavier said that he was a little afraid, but it was so worth it. He ca