PHOTO: Hiking along the trift glacier and suspension bridge in the Swiss Alps of Switzerland.(Courtesy of Swiss Tourism)

People have been building bridges since the dawn of travel, and in that time we’ve started getting a little clever with the way we traverse water, canyons and great heights.  Like all walkways, these bridges exist basically to get you to your destination. But the devil is in the details, and in this case it is how they get you there that makes all the difference. 

From slithering structures to tilting walkways, there is more than what meets the eye when crossing the paths of these captivating walks in the sky.

Here are 10 extraordinary bridges that will make your journey across them unforgettable.

Switzerland: Trift Suspension Bridge

If you are afraid of heights, you may want to cast your fears aside to brave this pulse-pounding560 feet walk.  Suspended 100 meters in the air, not only will you need to hold on tight because of the steady winds that sway the bridge, but the greatest challenge will be endeavoring the long mile-high span of the Swiss Alps with your eyes completely open in order to capture the natural beauty that lays below. It’s terrifying, but it’s completely worth your efforts.

Accessible by a cable car and gracefully hanging in the heart of the Trift Glacier, this courageous attraction is an adventure for the bravest at heart.

Netherlands: The Moses Bridge

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to part the Red Sea like Moses?  Although this may seem almost impossible, the experience of crossing the Moses Bridge comes pretty close.  Rightfully named after the beloved prophet, the Moses Bridge splits a moat into two, allowing visitors to walk in between it on their way to a 17^th century fort.

It was constructed by using Accoya wood, which is treated with an anti-fungal coating that keeps the bridge able to withstand the forces of the water.  It also creates a mystical allusion from a distance, making this passageway unique in displaying a bit of antiquity and modernity at the same time.

France: Aiguille du Midi Bridge

Although this bridge is not one of the longest, it is one of the highest and scariest.  Keeping your eye on the prize, the French Alps, will reward your courageous efforts with exquisite views of the mountain range’s jagged cliffs. 

Accessible by cable car, the bridge ascends more than 9,000 feet in the air before visitors are able to take the adrenaline-pumping skywalk at over 12,000 feet.

Norway: Da Vinci Bridge

Connecting the past to the present, this architectural beauty was first envisioned by da Vinci in 1502, but remained inconceivable during this time.  For merely 500 years, the bridge’s sketches were buried within the pages of its Da Vinci’s sketchbook, until the Norwegian artist Vebjørn Sand recovered its original layout and with a few changes, created a special design for the walkway which was constructed out of Norwegian pine. 

At 300 feet long, this bridge remains one of the most architecturally advanced passages carved out of history, as one man’s unimaginable plan transforms into a Dutch treasure.

Christmas Island, Australia: Crab Bridge

Not only do chickens cross the road, crabs do too.  Especially on Crab Bridge, during their migration to Christmas Island’s coast.  During October to November the bridge becomes flooded with millions of red crabs on their way to breed.  Once they have reached the beach, the crabs mate; the eggs of the females are then released into tiny holes by the sea to hatch; and soon after the babies join their family on the journey back to the island’s inland.

Once migration is in process Crab Bridge, cars are not allowed on the bridge, but it is open to pedestrians. That is, if you don’t mind having loads of crabs gnawing at your feet on their way to do their business.

England: Gateshead Millennium Bridge

If you’re lucky you may catch the eye of this innovative tilt bridge. Created by the architectural firm Wilkinson Eyre, visitors and locals alike flock to this architectural gem in hopes of seeing its tilting technique. When boats pass, the bridge resembles an eye blinking at a 40-degree angle, which fairly dubs the bridge “The Winking Eye.” 

Cyclists and pedestrians can still travel along the Gateshead Millennium Bridge’s walkway, making it one of the most elaborate passages in the world.

Austria: Aiola Island Bridge

The Aiola Island Bridge is one of a kind, offering much more than a link between two distinct places or a road poised above water.  It was designed to be an “artificial joint” connecting nature to city life while creating a playground for children to play, a sunbathing spot as well as a place for a sip of coffee or a drink. 

The Aiola Island Bridge is also a showstopper at first glimpse, gleaming in a cutting-edge façade that only adds to its inventive significance as the Mur River majestically flows below.  

China: Yongle Bridge

You no longer have to wait in a long line at the amusement park to ride a Ferris wheel because China’s Yongle Bridge offers visitors the opportunity to hop aboard its Tianjin Eye, a Ferris wheel that hovers directly over the bridge.  At a peak of 394 feet, you can see China’s surroundings and bask in all of its glory for at least a half hour — the amount of time it takes for the Tianjin Eye to make a complete rotation. Bring a snack.

Singapore: Henderson Waves Bridge

Resembling a slithering creature due to its curvy shape, the Henderson Wave Bridge is one of Singapore’s most dynamic structures.  It is elevated at 36 meters above the ground and spans about 274 meters long, which makes getting to the other side a unique adventure.  Especially since its connects the Mount Faber Park to the Telok Blangah Hill Park, only adding to the stunning panorama of the city’s flora and fauna.

At night, the bridge is illuminated by LED lighting powerful enough to stop the traffic below and anyone walking by.

London: Rolling Bridge

There is something about seeing a bridge curl up like a potato bugthat makes people want to stop and stare in amazement.  You'll do the same once you are in the presence of London’s Rolling Bridge, situated above the Grand Union Canal.  This 39-foot walkway, constructed out of timber and steel, retracts to allow boats to pass through the canal safely, opening up like the fiddlehead of a fern once it passes. 

So if you just so happen to be in this area on a Friday at noon, watch closely as this bridge transform into a giant wheel right before your eyes.