World's longest suspension footbridge opens in Switzerland spanning 494m across valley
Don't look down
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Your support makes all the difference.The longest suspension bridge in the world has opened in Switzerland.
At 494m long, the new Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge spans a valley on the two-day Europaweg walking trail in the canton of Valais.
Don't look down: the bridge floor is grated metal, offering a view of the drop below.
At its highest point, the bridge is 85m above the valley floor.
And perhaps even more daunting, the bridge measures just 65cm across.
Walkers will see stunning views of the Bernese Alps and the Matterhorn mountain.
The bridge runs between 1,600m and 2,200m above sea level and was built in 10 weeks by Swissrope, with funding from private investors and named after its main sponsor.
For walkers planning a day trip, it takes at least six hours to reach the bridge from the town of Zermatt in the south or Grächen from the north, but only about two hours to walk from Randa.
The Zermatt tourism website says: "The thrill of traversing the precipice is indescribable."
Would the bridge be suitable for any visitor? Advice from Zermatt is: "For hikers with no fear of heights".
They also warn against crossing the bridge during a storm, due to "danger of lightning".
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