10 of the World’s Most Terrifying Bridges

1. Hussaini Hanging Bridge, Pakistan

This bridge, known as the most dangerous bridge in the world, is absolutely traumatic to look at. It is only a bridge in the most metaphorical sense: a rope with a few rotten pieces of wood attached that connects two sheer rock faces.

2. Kuandinsky Bridge, Russia

This Siberian span, covered in ice and snow for most of the year, has the golden trifecta of dangerousness: it has never been repaired; it has no guardrails or other safety features; and it is rotting by the year. In a nod to its condition, the Russian government advises people to drive the bridge with your windows open so the strong winds don’t blow the cars into the frozen Vitim River below (which should really be called the Victim River). A few daredevils who brave the bridge must do on-the-spot repairs themselves if they hope to cross safely.

3. The Trift Bridge, Switzerland

The longest pedestrian bridge in the Alps spans the stunning Lake Triftsee and the offers spectacular views of the Trift Glacier. If you are afraid of heights, it will make you break out in hives. Modeled after Nepali rope bridges, this span subtly swings between two mountain faces, hovering 300 feet over the valley floor, and giving you a monster case of vertigo.

4. Glass Skywalk, Tianmenshan National Forest Park, China

If you thought the Trift Bridge sounded bad, you might want to stop reading now. This monster features a glass floored span over a 984-foot vertical drop. It’s the world’s longest glass bottomed bridge, and probably holds the record for the most puke ever produced on a bridge.

5. Confederation Bridge, Canada

It’s the only bridge on the list that is modern and actually looks like it is in good repair. But if you’re afraid of heights or queasy over water, white-knuckling it over this 8-mile span can definitely freak you out. It is 131 feet over freezing and sometimes choppy waters and gives you a feeling of utter desolation just looking at it.

6. Old Hanging Bridge, Afghanistan

This rickety old bridge is all that is between you and dangerous rushing waters that sometimes come up over the slats and if the water doesn’t knock you over, it sure doesn’t help that the old wood becomes slippery as ice. There’s no guardrail so enjoy your broken ankle in the middle of nowhere.

7. Titlis Cliff Walk, Engelberg, Switzerland

Europe’s highest suspension bridge is not for the faint of heart. The bridge is 9,000 feet above sea level, and 1,500 feet above a glacier in the Swiss Alps. You know it’s dangerous because a media representative for the TitlisEngelberg resort told CNN it is “100 percent safe and impossible to fall from the bridge.” I believe something similar was said about the Titanic not sinking.

8. Quepos Bridge, Costa Rica.

This decrepit old bridge is narrow and missing a few slats. It doesn’t even look like it can hold a posse of pedestrians, but cars are allowed (one way only). The bridge rattles from the traffic and it hasn’t been repaired since 1940.

9. The Monkey Bridges of Vietnam.

Not a specific bridge, but the entire idea of these bridges is terrifying. They consist of bamboo and string, and the handrail is low, so pedestrians are hunched over a bit like monkeys. In any case, for those who aren’t used to them, you’re 100% guaranteed to fall right off.

10. Rope bridge in Tsingyde Bemaraha National Park in Madagascar.

The rope bridges in Tsingy de Bemarah are considered some of the most dangerous in the world. This bridge is wide enough for only one person to cross at one time, and sways back and forth over the deep chasm below that is full of razor-sharp limestone towers that are shaped like swords. It’s a great place to go if you want to pretend to be Indiana Jones.