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On the morning of August 14, a fierce thunderstorm struck the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, Italy, sending the decades-old structure tumbling to the ground.
In the years leading up to the collapse, engineers had warned that the bridge might not be structurally sound, but the timing was ill-fated. Just as the bridge's maintenance company began to embark on repairs , the storm derailed their efforts.
Read more: 7 of the most dangerous roads in the world
Determining whether a bridge is "safe" is a complicated question. In the United States, one of out every ten bridges is considered "structurally deficient," meaning it's in need of significant maintenance or repair. That includes the Brooklyn Bridge , which carries more than 100,000 vehicles each day.
While it's difficult to tell if a bridge is dangerous just by looking at it, a few bridges are downright terrifying to cross no matter their stability.
We've rounded up some of the scariest bridges in the world, which are notable for their stomach-churning heights, rickety guardrails, and steep slopes that seem to defy engineering logic. Take a look.
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At 410 feet long, it's the longest curved bridge in the world.
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Royal Gorge may have lost its title as the world's highest bridge , but it's still the tallest in the US.
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"I felt it swaying as the gusts of wind came up and wrapped around the peaks," one travel blogger wrote.
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Visitors can also travel to the summit of the mountain, which is more than 12,000 feet tall.
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As its name suggests, the bridge has a transparent walkway .
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The bridge appears incredibly steep from certain angles, but the incline for drivers is somewhat gradual .
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A spokesperson for the nearby Titlis Engelberg ski resort told NBC News that it was "impossible to fall from the bridge."
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The bridge is only open to pedestrians .
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An American high school student died in 2010 after climbing over a railing.
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The bridge may look terrifying, but it's able to hold more than 43 million tons of weight.
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The bridge is relatively short around 66 feet.
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The walkway is actually a series of seven bridges that stretches across multiple tree tops.
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It's been dubbed the most dangerous bridge in the world.
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Animals are a common sight on the bridge , but pedestrians are also welcome to cross.
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Daredevils can take the plunge from more than 140 feet above theKawarau River.
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The bridge has been around fornearly 120 years.
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At 4,700 feet above ground, the glass skywalk offers a chilling view of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
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The bridge opened in 2016 , so its construction is fairly new, but visitors must be brave enough to walk above a 164-foot-deep gorge.
See Also:
SEE ALSO: The most structurally deficient bridge in every US state
