The world's scariest bridges – in pictures

The Capilano suspension bridge, in Vancouver, British Columbia, has been a popular attraction among daring tourists since it opened in 1889. The 70m-high bridge stretches 137m across the river below, taking hikers past the tree tops of the evergreens. Photograph: Alamy

Half a kilometre high and linking a valley that's well over 1,000m wide, the Siduhe river bridge in China is a feat of engineering that opened in 2009 making it the highest bridge in the world. Photograph: Wikimedia/Glabb

Located in Kakum national park, Ghana, the canopy walkway is a 40m-high, 350m-long rope bridge that connects seven tree tops in the forest. Photograph: Alamy

If you don't find the Kawarau bridge scary enough, try jumping off it. The 43m-high suspension bridge on New Zealand's South Island is the birthplace of commercial bungee jumping. Photograph: Alamy

It may seem quaint, but the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge on the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland still makes for a hairy hike - though not quite as scary as back in the 70s, when it still only had one handrail. The bridge takes visitors across a rocky gorge to the tiny island of Carrickarede – and once you're there, there's only one way back again. Photograph: Alamy

The Langkawi Skybridge in Malaysia is a 125m-long curved footbridge 700m above sea level, offering visitors spectacular views. It can only be reached by cable car, meaning this is definitely one for those with a head for heights. Photograph: Alamy

The Hanging Bridge of Ghasa in Nepal is one of many unnerving rope bridges you'll find in this mountainous country. It's not uncommon to find local farmers herding their animals across the rickety crossing. Photograph: John Pavelka/flickr

To get to the bridge at the summit of the Aiguille du Midi, near Chamonix in the French Alps, you have to take a cable car ride that takes you up 2,800 vertical metres first. If that isn't enough for you, you might want to check in at the Chamonix Skywalk. Photograph: Alamy

Until 2001, the Royal Gorge bridge in Colorado was the highest bridge in the world. Built in 1929, the 291m-high structure is now a popular tourist attraction, not least because of the fact that it is situated within a theme park. 
Photograph: Alamy