If you’ve ever driven across a perfectly safe, perfectly solid bridge in North America and found yourself breaking out into a cold sweat, you might just be afraid of heights. However, you also might be touched with a little case of **gephyrophobia**- that is, the irrational fear of bridges. People who suffer from this tend to avoid bridge routes for fear that the bridge will collapse, or that they’ll fall off the side. Keeping that in mind, have a look at these 23 bridges and decide for yourself: Are you gephyrophobic, or are you just a run-of-the-mill scaredy-cat?Shikoku is the smallest Japanese island, and it is home to three vine bridges. Originally made from two single vines, the bridges have been reinforced – but they’re still quite wobbly and slightly terrifying.
This bridge is actually part of a hotel in India, but that doesn’t make it look any less harrowing.
This tattered bridge hangs over Pakistan’s Hunza River. Luckily, it is no longer in use.
Spanning 50 meters above the Daedunsan Provincial Park’s the Mountain Suspension Bridge is at the end of a steep red staircase. The bridge itself is extremely high, and winds make it rock back and forth in a slightly terrifying way.
If these Indonesian children can cross this bridge on their way to school, so can you. Right?
This is one of the Alps’ longest and highest pedestrian suspension bridges. It connects hikers to an area that was once made inaccessible by glaciers.
This bridge forces hikers to not only cross it, but climb up it as well. I’m sure we’re not alone when we say “no thanks!”
Located in Pirenopolis, this obstacle course, including some insane bridges, are not for the faint of heart.
Just take a moment to check out this photo and try to comprehend how brave this photographer/hiker is. Damn.
Not every sketchy bridge is in the middle of a jungle in a developing country. This pulse-quickening traverse hangs above a healthy amount of alpine air in Austria.
This mountain boasts the largest via ferrata – or protected climbing path- in the world. Structures like this are supposed to make climbing safer, but looking at this photo, it’s hard to believe.
Originally, this entire bridge was made of squeaky wood. Luckily, a German engineer decided to upgrade it in the 19th century, and outfitted it with steel cables.
Despite it’s churning and treacherous conditions, some Chinese people use nothing more than two thin ropes to cross it.
These bridges are created every year by sherpas to ensure the best possible paths up and down Everest. However, the always-updated construction of these bridges is small consolation for the fact that the surroundings are so treacherous.
This 3/4-mile-long teak bridge has no handrails, and was built more than 200 years ago.
There are protective ropes on either side of this bridge, which is small consolation for the fact that the plank you walk on is less than a foot wide. To add insult to injury, you are also 100 feet over the forest floor.
These bridges are made from single bamboo log and one handrail. The name comes from the stooped monkey-like posture you have to maintain when crossing so you don’t fall into the water.
Originally built in 1889, this suspension footbridge is narrow, and extremely shaky. In fact, the cedar planks bounce on their steel cables as you venture across.
This short bridge might be small in stature, but it takes a huge effort to get there. The journey requires taking a cable car that climbs 9,200 vertical feet in just 20 minutes.
Despite the fact that this bridge has had zero accidents attached to it’s name, many visitors who cross it don’t have the courage to turn around and do it again. Because of this, many people cross the bridge once, and return to the starting point by boat.
This pedestrian bridge is located about 10,000 feet above sea level, making it Europe’s highest suspension bridge.
Pulau Langakawi is an island in the Malaysian state of Kedah, and its home to this amazing bridge. You have to take a cable car to reach it, and once you’re there, you can literally walk through the mountain peaks.
This bridge is made of wood and has plenty of missing rungs. One wrong step could mean disaster. However, it’s so beautiful that it might be worth the risk.
