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00:00Imagine a bridge hanging above the clouds, or a bridge along which a river flows while cars drive beneath it.
00:09These structures defy the laws of nature and reason, astonish, frighten, and inspire.
00:15Today, you will see bridges that are impossible to forget.
00:18Ready to cross them if only in your mind?
00:21Then hold on tight.
00:23Ahead lies architecture that takes your breath away.
00:26Before we begin, I ask you to subscribe to the channel and leave a like.
00:31It will cost you nothing, and it will help me greatly in promotion.
00:35Enjoy the viewing.
00:38And now imagine, a bridge where it is not cars that drive over water, but water that flows over cars.
00:46Sounds like science fiction? Not at all.
00:48This is reality in the Netherlands.
00:50The Veluomir Aqueduct was opened in 2002 and became a true marvel of engineering.
00:57Its length is 25 meters, its width is 19, and the depth of the water is 3 meters.
01:03The bridge connects the mainland of the Netherlands with the province of Flevoland.
01:09The architects dared to take a bold step.
01:11Instead of the usual junctions and tunnels, they allowed the water to walk across the highway.
01:17Here boats, cars, and even pedestrians can move at the same time.
01:22There is a separate path for them.
01:24The Veluomir Aqueduct is not just an engineering solution.
01:28It is daring artistry of thought worthy of admiration.
01:33It is hard to believe, yet such bridges truly exist.
01:37Real masterpieces of human ambition soar above breathtaking landscapes.
01:42If you are a genuine lover of adventure, be sure to include Rui Bridge in your route.
01:48This impressive 100-meter bridge is stretched 140 meters above a picturesque valley.
01:55Its architecture is inspired by the Rui Skeptor, an ancient Chinese symbol of luck and prosperity.
02:01One of the most striking features of Rui Bridge is its glass segments, which, like magic, attract thousands of tourists every year.
02:11Stepping on the transparent panels, you seem to hover in the air, feeling the breath of nature beneath your feet.
02:17Let us return to the 20th century.
02:25In 1937, a bridge appeared that became a true legend of engineering, the Golden Gate.
02:31It not only became the longest suspension bridge of its time, but also one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States.
02:39This engineering giant stretches 2.7 kilometers, linking the eastern and western sides of San Francisco Bay.
02:48More than 880,000 tons of steel and 1.2 million cubic meters of concrete were used in its construction.
02:56The unmistakable color makes the bridge visible even in thick fog, and in the evening it sparkles with thousands of lights, creating a mesmerizing sight.
03:04The Golden Gate is not merely a landmark.
03:08Large-scale events are regularly held here, including the famous San Francisco Marathon.
03:14It has become a cult hero of Hollywood and a symbol of a dream embodied in metal.
03:21Can a bridge blink?
03:23Yes, exactly that impression is produced by the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in Britain.
03:28At first glance, it resembles gigantic eyelids gently blinking over the water.
03:33Built in the early 2000s, the bridge was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II and immediately received a prestigious award from the Royal Institute of British Architects.
03:46Its design consists of two graceful arches.
03:49One is the deck-carrying pedestrians and cyclists.
03:52The other is the vertical supporting element.
03:55A special hydraulic system allows the bridge to tilt 40 degrees in only 4.5 minutes, providing passage for boats up to 25 meters high.
04:05This is a true bridge of the new generation, connecting the banks with elegance and a style worthy of royal honor.
04:15If you have ever seen on the Internet a frighteningly steep bridge that rises like a roller coaster, it is most likely Eshima Ohashi.
04:23It is often called the scariest bridge in the world.
04:27From a distance, it seems that no car could safely climb or descend such a slope.
04:32In fact, its gradient is only about 6%, perfectly safe for traffic.
04:38The bridge towers above the water, allowing ships to pass freely beneath.
04:42Thanks to its unusual visual effect and optical illusion, it has become a global Internet sensation.
04:48A wheel capable of lifting a vessel weighing 600 tons to a height of 24 meters sounds like science fiction, does it not?
04:59Yet such a structure really exists.
05:02The Falkirk Wheel in Scotland is the world's first revolving boat lift, created to connect two canals at different levels,
05:09the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal.
05:12Its construction was inspired by a Celtic axe, a gigantic gear 35 meters in diameter with two symmetrical arms 15 meters long.
05:22The mechanism works on Archimedes' principle and requires only as much energy as is needed to boil eight kettles of water.
05:29The Falkirk Wheel became not only an engineering marvel, but also a true symbol of Scotland,
05:36so much so that its image appeared on the 50-pound banknote.
05:41Today, tourists can not only watch the mechanism in action, but also ride a special excursion boat,
05:48feeling the vessel seemingly soar in the air.
05:51While many suspension bridges crumble over time, Quezhuaxaca, in Peru, stands as it has for centuries,
06:01losing neither strength nor significance.
06:04And the most amazing thing, it is made entirely of grass.
06:08For hundreds of years, this bridge has connected villages in the Costco region,
06:12serving not merely as a crossing, but as a symbol of culture and unity for the local people.
06:18Each spring, a unique ceremony takes place.
06:20Residents of the entire area gather to untwine the old bridge by hand and weave a new one,
06:27using techniques passed down through generations.
06:30This is not simply engineering.
06:32It is the soul of a people, materialized in bundles of grass intertwined by human hands.
06:40Some bridges cross rivers.
06:42Some connect banks.
06:44The Millau Viaduct in France seems to reach for the heavens.
06:47It is the highest cable-stayed bridge on earth, soaring above the Tarn Valley, one of the deepest in France.
06:55The idea for this grand structure belonged to engineer Michel Verlogeux.
07:00At first, the project proposed descending into the valley.
07:03But then one of the road engineers asked a simple question.
07:07Why descend if we can pass above?
07:10Thus began the story of this majestic bridge.
07:13With its 2.5 kilometers of length and a maximum height of 343 meters, it surpasses even the Eiffel Tower.
07:22Each of the seven piers weighs about 19,000 tons.
07:26An engineering wonder indeed.
07:28Built to replace an outdated route, the bridge greatly shortened travel time between regions.
07:33Today, if you travel to France, be sure to add Millau to your list of sites.
07:39It amazes the imagination no less than the Eiffel Tower itself.
07:44The name sounds sinister.
07:47Devil's Bridge.
07:48You might imagine something gloomy and frightening.
07:51Yet in reality, the Rakotsbrucke in Kromlau Park, Germany, evokes admiration rather than fear.
07:58Legend holds that only the devil could build a bridge thrown across water without a single supporting pillar.
08:05Its curved arch, together with its reflection in the water, creates a perfect circle as if cut from dreams.
08:12It is like a portal to a fairy realm.
08:15This is not merely a bridge.
08:16This is a stone fantasy turned into reality.
08:20It has long become a place of pilgrimage for photographers, dreamers, and those who believe in the magic of ancient legends.
08:28A bridge that seems to have emerged from myth greets you in Da Nang, Vietnam.
08:35This is the Dragon Bridge, a giant steel structure echoing the curves of a majestic dragon soaring above the Han River.
08:42The bridge extends 568 meters, and the weight of the structure approaches 9,000 tons.
08:49Yet the real magic begins at night, when more than 2,500 light-emitting diodes turn it into a glittering wonder.
08:59And on weekends, precisely at 9 o'clock in the evening, an event draws crowds of tourists.
09:05The dragon breathes fire and water, creating a captivating light show.
09:09Do not forget to look at the nearby Love Bridge, where couples leave locks with wishes and names.
09:16Another romantic touch to this fairytale location.
09:20Do you think it is possible to build a real stairway to heaven?
09:25In China, such a project has already been realized.
09:28People call it exactly that.
09:30The Yuxi Expressway amazes with its architectural idea.
09:35Every kilometer traveled raises you 7.5 meters higher, as though the road itself leads to the clouds.
09:42Laid through mountains, tunnels, and viaducts, the highway includes 270 bridges and 25 tunnels.
09:50This is not merely a motorway, but a monument to human courage and engineering skill,
09:56embracing nature without destroying its beauty.
09:58Even more striking is that construction of this grand project took only five years.
10:05Standing at the summit of this road at Yaxi, it becomes clear.
10:09When people dare to dream and to act, nothing is impossible.
10:16Some bridges carry you from point A to point B.
10:21Nanpu Bridge in Shanghai becomes an architectural adventure in itself.
10:25From above, it looks like a perfectly drawn labyrinth spiraling in a mighty coil.
10:30Its length is 8,346 meters.
10:35It has become a crucial element of the transport system,
10:38linking old Shanghai with the rapidly developing Pudong district.
10:43The principal engineering feature is its circular interchange.
10:46This not only gives visual impact, but also reduces the grade of ascent without occupying too much urban territory.
10:54Until 1,991-1 could reach the opposite bank only by ferry.
11:00Rumor has it that the inspiration for such a form came from a nine-year-old boy,
11:05the architect's son, who drew something similar in a notebook.
11:08Who knows, perhaps the most brilliant ideas indeed arise from children's fantasies.
11:15Where else can you see a bridge grown from a tree?
11:18In the Indian state of Meghalaya, in the village of Maolinong,
11:22during the rainy season, roads often become impassable.
11:26But the Qasi people found a unique solution.
11:29They grow bridges from the roots of ficus trees.
11:31Yes, you heard correctly.
11:33Here, the roots are not cut, but guided.
11:36The Umxiang Bridge, for instance, consists of two levels of roots intertwined by hand.
11:43These living constructions can support up to 50 people at once,
11:46and have served people for more than 180 years.
11:49To reach it, you must conquer steep and narrow mountain trails.
11:53Yet the effort is fully rewarded.
11:55This journey feels like stepping into a fairy tale.
11:58Now local residents are growing a third level,
12:00in the hope of attracting even more tourists,
12:03who will appreciate this magic created by nature and human hands.
12:08The sky beneath your feet.
12:11That is what travelers feel when stepping onto Sky Bridge in Malaysia.
12:15This architectural masterpiece hovers more than 700 meters above sea level,
12:20supported by only one steel pylon,
12:23and a system of eight tensioned cables.
12:26The bridge is 125 meters long,
12:28and you can reach it via a picturesque cable car
12:31that lifts you to the mountain peak.
12:34The view from two observation platforms astonishes.
12:37Green tropical forests merge with the azure expands of the sea,
12:42and clouds seem within arm's reach.
12:45Few know that construction of the bridge was a real challenge.
12:49Every element was lifted to the summit by helicopter,
12:52and assembly required jeweler-like precision.
12:55This place is not just a sight.
12:58It is a unique experience that remains in memory forever.
13:04Terrifying shots in the film The Fifth Wave
13:07show the famous tower bridge collapsing.
13:10Luckily, in reality,
13:11it has stood strong and proud for more than a century,
13:14linking the banks of the Thames.
13:16This is not merely a bridge.
13:18This is a symbol of London,
13:20adorned with Victorian Gothic details and majestic towers.
13:23Between them is a high pedestrian span
13:27with a panoramic view of the capital.
13:29The special feature of Tower Bridge
13:31is that its central part rises to let vessels pass.
13:35Even after a century since its opening,
13:37the bridge is crossed daily by more than 40,000 people.
13:42Its image graces souvenirs, postcards,
13:44and, of course, the hearts of all who have ever seen it in person.
13:48Amid the clouds in the mountains of Vietnam,
13:54a magical ribbon seems to float,
13:56the golden bridge.
13:58It is 150 meters long
14:00and is held in the palms of a giant.
14:03That is exactly how its structure looks.
14:06Two gigantic hands support the bridge,
14:10as though fashioned by ancient gods.
14:13It seems the hands are carved from stone,
14:16but in fact,
14:17they are a frame of steel pipes
14:19covered with metal mesh and fiberglass.
14:22The railings are clad in gilded steel
14:24with titanium inserts,
14:26giving the bridge a noble glow.
14:29The golden bridge was conceived
14:30not only as an architectural curiosity,
14:33but also as a practical solution for tourists,
14:36easing the ascent of a steep slope.
14:38In the end,
14:40it became a true world-class attraction
14:42and a photogenic wonder
14:44that will never be forgotten.
14:47In Uruguay,
14:49there is a bridge seemingly drawn with a compass.
14:51So precise and elegant is its circular silhouette.
14:55Laguna Garzon connects the cities of Rocha and Maldonado
14:58and replaced old, unsafe pontoon crossings.
15:02Its project was developed by architect Rafael Vignoli.
15:05The unique round shape
15:07not only makes the bridge visually attractive,
15:10but also serves a practical purpose.
15:13It slows automobile traffic increasing safety.
15:16At the same time,
15:17the bridge is completely open,
15:19allowing one to enjoy the view of the lake
15:21from any point on its arc.
15:23Besides the roadway,
15:24there is a pedestrian zone with white crossings,
15:26rare for such structures.
15:29This makes the bridge not merely a functional crossing,
15:31but a space for walks,
15:33contemplation and communion with nature.
15:38It seems to disappear into the sea.
15:41Yet in fact,
15:42it is a powerful link between two countries,
15:44Denmark and Sweden.
15:46The Urusund Bridge connects Copenhagen and Malmö
15:49and consists of three outstanding parts.
15:52An eight-kilometer bridge section,
15:54a four-kilometer underwater tunnel,
15:56and the artificial island of Paberholm.
15:58This island is not just the technological pivot
16:02between bridge and tunnel.
16:04It is also a nature reserve
16:05with more than 500 species of plants
16:08and diverse fauna.
16:10Created entirely by human hands,
16:13it has become a living corner of nature
16:15amid engineering might.
16:18Since its opening,
16:19the bridge has played a huge role
16:21in bringing the countries closer.
16:22If earlier the ferry journey took about an hour,
16:25the road now takes only 20 minutes,
16:28by train as well as by car.
16:30Architecture,
16:31ecology,
16:32and convenience
16:32all in one ingenious project.
16:37Imagine walking along a bridge
16:39laid among rocky cliffs
16:41with a 40-meter chasm opening beneath you.
16:44This is Basté,
16:45a stone bridge
16:46in the picturesque region
16:47of Saxon, Switzerland.
16:48Its length is 76.5 meters
16:51and it consists of seven stone arches
16:54linking majestic pinnacles above the gorge.
16:58From here,
16:58you behold views of the Elbe Valley,
17:01Green Meadows,
17:02and the village of Rathen.
17:04It feels
17:05as though you have stepped into a romantic painting.
17:09Basté inspired German poets,
17:11painters,
17:12and travelers
17:12as early as the 19th century.
17:15It does not merely connect rocks.
17:16It connects person with nature,
17:19past with present,
17:20art with reality.
17:24Have you ever dreamed of standing right in the sky,
17:27feeling the ground drop away beneath your feet?
17:30That is exactly the sensation
17:32the Skywalk,
17:34a transparent glass platform
17:36projecting 20 meters
17:38over the rim of the Grand Canyon,
17:40delivers.
17:42Situated 1,220 meters
17:44above the Colorado River,
17:45you literally
17:46hover above the abyss.
17:49The floor of eight layers
17:50of special glass
17:51can bear the weight
17:52of 70
17:53Boeing 747 airplanes.
17:56Yet despite
17:57its strength,
17:58the experience on this bridge
18:00remains thrillingly frightening.
18:02The view of the canyon,
18:03the winding river,
18:04and endless horizons
18:05will impress
18:06even the most seasoned travelers.
18:08This is not merely
18:09an observation deck.
18:11It is a leap
18:12into infinity,
18:13made on firm,
18:14yet transparent ground.
18:18Sometimes nature creates bridges
18:20no less impressive
18:21than those of humankind.
18:23One example
18:23is the natural bridge
18:25in the eponymous park
18:26of Kentucky.
18:27It is thousands of years old,
18:29yet it looks as though
18:30it was created
18:31with deliberate intent.
18:33The span of the arch
18:34is 78 feet,
18:36and its height
18:36is 65 feet
18:38above the ground.
18:39This natural wonder
18:40has become the park's
18:41main attraction
18:42and annually draws
18:43thousands of visitors.
18:46A trail of 0.75 miles
18:48allows you to climb
18:49to the very top
18:50of the arch
18:50to feel what it is like
18:52to walk across the sky.
18:54For those not ready
18:55for a hike,
18:56the sky lift operates.
18:58At the summit,
18:58atop the arch,
18:59an awe-inspiring
19:01and peaceful landscape
19:02opens up
19:03in which you want to dissolve
19:04and forget everything else.
19:06It has outlived civilizations
19:11and still stands.
19:13The Arcadico Bridge,
19:14built more than 3,000 years ago
19:16during the Bronze Age.
19:18It is the oldest bridge
19:19that can still be crossed today.
19:22Yes,
19:22cars once even drove over it.
19:25Constructed of massive
19:26limestone blocks
19:28without cement,
19:29using cyclopean
19:30masonry techniques,
19:31it still commands respect
19:33for the skill
19:34of ancient builders.
19:36Today,
19:36automotive traffic
19:37is forbidden,
19:39but walking across
19:40the ancient bridge
19:40means touching an era
19:42of heroes,
19:43myths,
19:43and Hellenic might.
19:46At first glance,
19:47it is hard to realize
19:48that what you see
19:50is a bridge.
19:51So much does it resemble
19:52a miniature palace.
19:54This is Sio Sepol,
19:56a silent witness
19:57to the golden age
19:58of the Safavid Empire.
20:00Its name in Persian
20:01means 33 arches,
20:03and that is exactly
20:04how many arch spans
20:06are aligned
20:06in a single rhythm
20:07across the Zayande River
20:09in Isfahan.
20:11The bridge served
20:12a double function.
20:13It was not only
20:14an important transport link,
20:16but also acted as a dam,
20:18regulating the water level
20:19in the rainy season.
20:21Built of brick and stone,
20:22it amazes with both
20:23durability and elegance.
20:26Each arch evenly
20:28distributes weight,
20:29creating a reliable,
20:31yet refined,
20:32structure.
20:33Today,
20:34Sio Sepol
20:35is not merely
20:36a historical monument,
20:38but a place
20:38where lovers,
20:39artists,
20:40poets,
20:41and travelers meet.
20:42It does not age,
20:44it lives,
20:44as does the city
20:45over which it rises.
20:48At first sight,
20:50it seems simply
20:50a beautiful old bridge,
20:52yet in reality,
20:53the Changyang Wind
20:54and Rain Bridge
20:55is a cultural gem
20:56of China,
20:57built by the Dong people
20:59more than 100 years ago.
21:01Even more astonishing
21:02is how it was made.
21:05The 65-meter bridge
21:07is built entirely
21:08of wooden beams
21:09and tiles,
21:11without a single nail
21:12or drop of glue.
21:14The secret lies
21:15in ancient joinery techniques
21:16based on mortise
21:17and tenon joints,
21:19giving the structure
21:19incredible strength
21:20and flexibility.
21:21architecturally,
21:24the bridge
21:24combines three elements,
21:26passageway,
21:27tower,
21:28and pavilion.
21:29It was originally
21:30intended as shelter
21:31from rain and wind,
21:33but over time,
21:34it became a symbol
21:35of Dong cultural identity.
21:37Its roof
21:38is adorned
21:39with curved lines
21:40and carved wooden details,
21:42creating a sense
21:43of peace
21:43and coziness
21:44amid village landscapes.
21:46In Singapore,
21:49amid skyscrapers
21:51and the bustling rhythm
21:52of the metropolis,
21:53a wave seems
21:54to be suspended
21:55in the sky.
21:56Henderson waves,
21:57one of the most unusual
21:59pedestrian bridges
22:00in the world.
22:01It links the summits
22:02of two hills,
22:04allowing city dwellers
22:05to stroll high
22:06above the ground
22:07as though along a wave.
22:09What makes it unique?
22:11These are the curved
22:12steel arches
22:13that lift the wooden deck,
22:15forming a natural wave shape.
22:17The wooden ribs
22:18are made of rare
22:19balau timber
22:20brought from Southeast Asia.
22:22At night,
22:23the bridge comes alive.
22:25Its curves are illuminated
22:26by hundreds
22:27of light-emitting diodes,
22:29giving it
22:29a fantastic appearance.
22:31This is not merely
22:32a crossing.
22:33It is an art installation
22:3436 meters high
22:36that must be seen
22:37with your own eyes.
22:42The Romans knew
22:43a thing or two
22:44about construction.
22:44The Pont de Gare
22:46is living proof.
22:47Built in the first century
22:48of our era,
22:50it still rises above
22:51the Garden River
22:52and is considered
22:53one of the best-preserved
22:54ancient structures.
22:56Yet it was not merely
22:57a bridge.
22:58It was part of an aqueduct
22:59that supplied water
23:00to Nîmes.
23:02Its total length
23:03reached nearly 50 kilometers.
23:05Its height
23:06is 48 meters.
23:07All of it
23:08was built
23:09without a single drop
23:10of mortar.
23:11Every stone
23:12was fitted
23:13with jeweler-like precision.
23:15Massive arches
23:16are arranged
23:17in three tiers,
23:18creating a spectacular symmetry.
23:21The site has become
23:21a mecca for tourists
23:22and history enthusiasts.
23:24Standing before it,
23:25you understand,
23:27here is a genuine wonder
23:28of engineering
23:29that has withstood
23:30two millennia of trials.
23:32Bridges are not just
23:37constructions of stone,
23:38steel,
23:39and concrete.
23:40They are proof
23:40of human will,
23:42genius,
23:43creativity,
23:44and striving
23:44for connection.
23:46Some are laid
23:47above chasms,
23:48others through water.
23:49Still others
23:50grow from the roots
23:51of trees.
23:53Each of them
23:53is a story,
23:54a story of people,
23:56places,
23:56and time.
23:58Now a question for you,
23:59which of these bridges
24:00impressed you the most?
24:02Perhaps you know
24:03even crazier
24:03and more incredible bridges
24:05in the world.
24:06Write in the comments.
24:07Share your stories
24:08and discoveries.
24:10And remember,
24:11even if a path
24:12seems impossible,
24:13somewhere in the world
24:14a bridge has already
24:16been built
24:16that conquers it.
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