Eshima Ohashi Bridge: The most terrifying bridge in Japan
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This steep bridge in Japan will present you with a once-in-a-lifetime experience as it looks like vehicles could slide off them!
Yes, we are talking about the famous Eshima Ohashi Bridge in Japan that offers an adventurous or terrifying ride, depending on which way you prefer to look at it. For many people, looking at the vehicles moving upon this bridge will make you think they are about to lose control any minute!
The bridge, also known as Rollercoaster Bridge is built on a rigid concrete frame and is the largest bridge in Japan. It’s the third-largest in the world. The bridge is built over Nakumi Lake connecting the city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture and Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture.
The construction of this bridge was initiated in 1997. The bridge was envisaged this way because the architects wanted to ensure that it will be tall enough to facilitate the easy movement of huge trade ships on the lake.
Eshima Ohashi was built in place of a drawbridge that used to be there. In its time, traffic used to stall the movement of vehicles for over 7-8 minutes when big water vessels were passing through the lake underneath the bridge. Moreover, only vehicles that weighed less than 14 tonnes were allowed on the bridge. Owing to this, the number of vehicles travelling over the bridge was restricted to around 4000 a day.
With about a mile in length and 44 metres in height, this is one of the largest bridges in the world. It is in fact, called as the Rollercoaster Bridge owing to its unique design which makes it look steeper than it is from either side.
Nakumi Lake is one of the largest lakes in Japan, and it is a saltwater lake. During the winter season, over 200 migrant birds find their way to the lake. Among them are the Tufted ducks, White-naped cranes, White-fronted geese and Tundra swans that fly all the way from the northern parts of Japan and Siberia to the lake.
Visitors and tourists come in large numbers to gaze at these beautiful birds on the lake. There are also two large Islands on Nukami Lake - Daikon Island and Eshima Island.