China glass observation deck fun. Extreme observation deck in China. Glass balcony in a Chicago skyscraper

For many years now no one has been surprised by glass walls and roofs. But there are also many structures in the world in which transparent is floor. Most often these are buildings that are related to tourism. And today we will talk about 10 most beautiful and unusual similar cases from all over the world.

Glass balcony in a Chicago skyscraper

On the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower in Chicago is one of the most unusual observation decks in the world. Its most interesting element is the all-glass balcony that protrudes outward. Even the floor in this architectural element is made of strong transparent material, which gives it a special extreme.

For five years it was believed that this glass floor was absolutely safe for visitors. But recently an emergency occurred - the strongest glass in it burst. There were, of course, no casualties. But the company that operates this observation deck in the Sears Tower has taken measures to ensure that this never happens again - it has installed even stronger and thicker glass.

And if the Sears Tower skyscraper was put into operation in Chicago in 2009, then in Moscow there has been an observation deck with a glass floor for several decades. It is located at an altitude of 337 meters in the Ostankino TV tower.

But this is not a balcony. The glass floor on the observation deck in Ostankino is built in separate blocks into a regular floor. Each of these elements is designed to support a weight of up to 10 tons.

Observation deck over the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River

The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular and most visited tourist attractions in the United States of America. And in 2007, a very unusual object opened on one of its slopes - an observation deck Grand Canyon Skywalk.

What makes it unusual is that this horseshoe-shaped structure, hovering over the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, has a glass floor. And people walking along it are essentially walking over a 350-meter abyss of one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Statistics show that about 10 percent of Grand Canyon Skywalk visitors, after seeing this glass floor with their own eyes, refuse to walk on it, even though they have already paid money to enter the site.

Even more terrifying for some visitors is walking along a scenic path in the Tianmen Mountains in Hunan Province, China. After all, about seventy meters of the path pass through a structure with a glass floor. And this is at an altitude of 1.2 kilometers!

However, a few years ago the path in this place was even more terrible and dangerous. After all, the modern tourist path is located on the site of the old path of the monks who lived in these mountains. And they didn’t have any glass floor or safe railings - they walked along separate ledges, clinging to hooks driven into the rock and ropes stretched between them.

The futuristic-looking Apple store in New York became the first building of a huge network that later entangled the whole world. It has spawned many imitations all over the planet. And not only the walls and ceiling, but also the floor are made of glass in this building. True, the latter is slightly foggy so that people on the lower floors cannot “admire” from below the intimate parts of the body of store visitors walking on the level above.

A glass floor inside a building is possible not only in tall skyscrapers or multi-story stores. It is quite appropriate to do it in . Especially if it is located somewhere in the Maldives and stands on stilts in the middle of the warm azure ocean.

One of the buildings of the LUX* Maldives hotel boasts such an interior. In the living room of this bungalow, a coffee table sits on a glass floor, and armchairs and sofas are arranged around it.

There are similar design elements in other hotels in the Maldives. For example, in Water Villa on Nunu Atoll.

The Sky Tower radio tower, like the Ostankino TV tower, boasts an observation deck with glass floor elements located at an altitude of more than 300 meters above the earth's surface. But still, another similar element of the Sky Tower design is more interesting to us.

When ascending to the above-mentioned observation deck in the Sky Tower, the tourist rides in a high-speed elevator, which has part of the floor also made of glass. True, he has to admire not the panoramas of the city of Auckland, but the elevator shaft of the tower.

Even those people who, in principle, are comfortable with heights, are afraid to sit in some cabins of the Ngong Ping 360 cable car in Hong Kong. But they also cannot travel in a trailer flying through the sky, which has strong, bulletproof glass installed instead of the usual floor.

These cabins on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car are called Crystal Cabins, and travel in them costs more than in ordinary cars with a metal floor.

In another Chinese metropolis, Shanghai, the glass floor is not a cable car cabin, but a swimming pool in Hotel Holiday Inn. Moreover, this part of it is a balcony located on the twenty-fourth floor of the building.

This is one of two cases in this review where best views They open onto the glass floor not from above, but from below. A person swimming in such a pool will look like an airplane flying across the sky to others.

The Sundial Bridge over the Sacramento River in the Californian city of Reading is known throughout the world for two facts. Firstly, it was built according to the design of one of the greatest architects of our time - Santiago Calatrava.

Secondly, the surface of this pedestrian bridge is completely covered with transparent glass, which allows you to achieve incredible visual effects both during the day and in the evening.

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Hello. Observation platforms the world always attracts many tourists who want to get some unusual and unforgettable sensations while on their journey. Do you know where the highest observation decks are, where travelers strive to get to get their share of adrenaline?

In French Alps at an altitude of 3842 meters there is a glass cube that hangs over the abyss. Photos from such a height they will be better than from a copter, and you will definitely never forget your sensations. All visitors to this observation deck are given white slippers, but this is without any ulterior motive, simply so as not to scratch the transparent floor.

Price

The cable car in both directions costs 57 euros per person, and after the cable car, you need to walk along the bridge between the rocks and then take the elevator to the cube itself.

The longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world

Where do you think he is? That's right, pride in our country is simply bursting, it is located in Russia, in Krasnaya Polyana. To visit it you need to visit mountain park SkyPark and there you will find this unique structure. Length suspension bridge is 439 m, and it is located at an altitude of 207 meters from the ground.

Only from this point can you see and admire all the beauty of the Akhtyn Gorge and the surrounding mountains. But, you should not be afraid of such a height, being on the bridge, as its creator assures, the bridge is able to withstand hurricane winds and an earthquake of up to 9 points.

In the same amusement park, for extreme sports enthusiasts, there is the Mowgli rope park, where the most challenging adventures await you at an altitude of 107 meters. high swing in the world. And in the near future, you will be able to dine at a restaurant that will be located on the edge of a cliff.

How much does the ticket cost?

Today, to visit the bridge, the prices are as follows: a ticket for an adult costs 1,250 rubles, for children under five years of age and adults over 75 years of age, admission is free, and for children from 5 to 12 years old, a ticket will cost 600 rubles.

Viaduct in the city of Millau in the south of France

This is the highest cable-stayed road bridge in the world. So, when traveling around France, do not forget to take a ride through this attraction. The bridge is 2.5 km long and is part of the road from Paris to the town of Beziers. Almost 400 million euros were spent on its construction, so there is a toll to travel across it, and in about 80 years the bridge should pay for itself.

What's the fare

To drive across the bridge in a passenger car, you need to pay six euros, and lovers of two-wheelers Vehicle(scooter, motorcycle) almost 4 euros.

Petronas Towers Glass Bridge

It is located in Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, where the Petronas towers(their height is 452 m), and the glass bridge is located between these skyscrapers at an altitude of 170 meters. It’s not easy to get here (only 300 people a day), first you need to stand in a queue for many hours, and if luck smiles on you, then for $24 you can safely walk around this glass structure, and also go up to another observation deck on the 86th floor.

Willis Tower of America in Chicago

The tallest skyscraper in the United States, its height is 443 meters, and the observation deck consists of four glass balconies that extend from the building at the 103rd floor level, which can accommodate no more than five people.

In good cloudless weather (visibility up to 80 km), in addition to views of Chicago and its environs, you can still see the territory of four states, such as Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.

What is the price?

As always when visiting such unique places, you need to stand in a long line and buy a ticket for only $16. But the wait is worth the experience.

Skyscraper Lotte World Tower in South Korea

This building is located in Seoul and houses (from the 117th to 122nd floor) the highest stationary, glass observation deck in the world, SeoulSky. From there, in clear weather, you can see the surrounding area for several tens of kilometers.

In addition, in the building itself there are:

The largest aquarium in the world.
The highest altitude swimming pool in the world.
Cinema with the world's largest screen.

How much does the ticket cost?

For a ticket you will have to pay $27 for an adult, $24 for a child. There is also a ticket that allows you to skip the line and costs $50.

The tallest single-support bridge in the world

It is located in Malaysia on the island of Pulau Langkawi, above the gorge at an altitude of 700m. This bridge is supported by just one metal support with the help of eight cables. It has 2 observation decks from which you can take stunning pictures, the main thing is camera do not forget.

Visit price

The ticket costs about $13, and you need to get here by cable car (2.2 km), then another glass elevator, in general, an excellent excursion. By the way, the price also includes a visit:

6D - cinema.
3D - museum.
Planetarium.

Sky Trail in Arizona in the USA

This observation deck is located in the Grand Canyon National Park of America at an altitude of 1219 meters and still hangs 20 meters above the cliff.

What is the price

Tickets for one person will cost $30.

The scariest attraction in the world

You can “tickle” your nerves in China in the Hunan province, where the national park Zhangjiajie. There is the famous “Trail of Fear” at an altitude of 1400 meters. To get to the observation deck, you must first overcome this “path” (or yourself) in the shoe covers that will be given to you. If you still decide to take a walk over the abyss, you can visit the Heaven’s Gate restaurant and temple at the top of the mountain.

Price

To visit the “Trail of Fear” and the temple you will have to pay $37 per person, and a 7.5-kilometer long cable car will help you get to the trail.

Observation deck in the Bavarian Alps in Germany

It is located on the Alpspitz mountain peak at an altitude of 2628 meters and consists of two crossed platforms. One of them is extended 13 meters above the abyss, and the second 11 meters.

Ticket price

For the funicular, with which you will get to the observation deck, you will need to pay 27 euros for an adult and 15 euros for a child. What if your dog suddenly wants to admire the views too? Alpine mountains, then a ticket for your pet will cost 4 euros.

Good to know

And on earth, it is no less interesting to visit the longest tourist one, which is located in China, or spend the night on a floating one, which is located in the Japanese park “Huis Ten Bosch”.

I wish you to visit as many interesting places as possible.

China already has several glass suspension bridges over the abyss and glass walkways along the cliffs. And recently, another transparent glass observation deck appeared, protruding from the edge of the mountain at an altitude of 768 meters above sea level. An extreme terrace near Beijing rises 400 meters above a picturesque valley.

However, crowds of adrenaline junkies know no fear, and the observation deck is already breaking all attendance records. This is the largest platform of this type in the world, which has already become famous throughout the world. Tourists from all over China and beyond come here to admire the unique view and test their willpower.

The Glass Platform is located in the tourist spot of Shilinxia in the Pinggu district near Beijing. The width of the suspension bridge is 32.8 meters. The length is 11 meters longer than a similar design in the USA. On this moment it is the longest observation platform in the world.

The futuristic design fits well into the picturesque gorge - as if a flying saucer had landed here. Stunning views of the mountains and forest are open to brave tourists, but not everyone dares to set foot here. Move around glass floor is not a test for the faint of heart. The glass platform is absolutely safe - it is made of titanium, steel and bulletproof glass that has passed all the necessary tests.

It really can be called a crime if you come here without a camera. Therefore, tourists use every second to take stunning pictures above the abyss. The glass floor and fence give the feeling of flying in the air. It’s worth overcoming yourself and your fears and walking along the circular bridge across the valley, admiring the villages, mountains and forest, and feeling like a part of nature.

By the way, Acrophobia is the fear of heights. When at altitude, a person suffering from acrophobia experiences nausea and dizziness.

Getting to know the most beautiful places the world would not be so memorable if there were no specially equipped observation platforms. Towering over beautiful landscapes or architectural masterpieces, one experiences a completely different sensation compared to walking tours and sightseeing from the ground.

Staying on extreme observation decks with glass floors gives a special thrill to the sensations. The use of special high-strength laminated glass makes such attractions absolutely safe. The feeling of flying over the abyss, weightlessness over dizzying expanses attracts travelers like a magnet.

Stepping onto the transparent floor of the observation deck for the first time, people feel an intoxicating shiver in their knees. Experienced travelers feel much more confident - they are happy to take pictures against the backdrop of magnificent open spaces. To experience such sensations without worrying about their safety - for the sake of such a chance, tourists travel thousands of kilometers to the most remote corners of the planet.

Glass cabin in the Alps

On the top of the Aiguille du Midi mountain, part of the Mont Blanc massif, at an altitude of 3842 meters, a transparent glass cabin was built. The extreme attraction is part of a large tourist complex, to which travelers ascend by cable car. Visitors enjoy magnificent views of the Alpine landscapes. High-strength triplex glass was used to make the observation deck. Cabin cantilevered over the edge mountain slope, withstands wind gusts of 220 kilometers per hour and does not respond to critical temperature changes. Entrance to the observation deck costs visitors $55.

Sky Slide in Los Angeles

An observation deck of an unusual design has been built in Los Angeles. This extreme slide ride with the characteristic name Skyslide is made of the strongest glass 32 mm thick. The 14-meter-long transparent descent offers visitors a magnificent view of the San Gabriel Mountains, Pacific Ocean, Santa Catalina Island and Dodger Stadium. The sky slide is located between the 69th and 70th floors of the tall building California U.S. Bank Tower at an altitude of 305 meters.

The authors of the project set themselves the goal of increasing the attractiveness of the office building. Skyslide copes with its function perfectly: the attraction gained worldwide fame even at the concept development stage. You can feel like a bird soaring over the City of Angels for 8 US dollars. To ride the slide, you must first go to the Skyspace panoramic observation deck - cost entrance ticket is 25 dollars. The “flight” lasts only 3 seconds, but this does not reduce the number of people who want to take part in the attraction.

Glass "loop" in Sichuan Province, China

In the Chinese province of Sichuan, a spacious observation deck has been opened, welcoming visitors at an altitude of 717 meters. The structure with a transparent glass bottom hangs over a rocky cliff. extreme point The “loop” is located at a distance of 27 meters from the edge of the cliff. Investors invested more than five million dollars in construction. Up to 200 people can be on the extreme track at the same time. This is a limit that is very risky to reach, so for now the staff is ensuring that the number of visitors does not exceed 30 people. Admission price is $10. The developers assure the safety of operating such an architectural miracle in seismically unstable China. The structure will withstand shocks during an earthquake with a magnitude of up to 8 points and a typhoon of level 14.

Skywalk: observation deck in Arizona

The Chinese attraction described above is a copy of the American Skywalk observation deck, built in 2007 in the national Grand Park Canyon in northwestern Arizona. The American loop is several meters shorter than the Chinese one. Skywalk is the leader in terms of height - under the transparent base there is an abyss 1219 meters deep. An arched walkway with a glass floor hangs over the abyss.

The observation deck offers stunning views of Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. The attraction is extremely popular among tourists from all over the world. Near the observation deck there is a well-equipped small tourist complex. The thickness of the laminated glass is 10 centimeters. Theoretically, the structure can support a weight of up to 70 tons. In fact, no more than 120 people can be on the bridge at the same time. Construction of the attraction cost about $30 million.

Glass bridge in Hunan province of China

A glass suspension bridge was built over one of the deep Chinese canyons in Hunan province at an altitude of 180 meters. The structure sways under gusts of wind, which makes the extreme sensations intensify many times over. The bridge seems fragile and elegant: the bottom is made of transparent triplex, the fence is made of thin metal rods woven into a mesh. But the feeling of danger is deceptive; the parameters of the bridge are precisely calculated with a large margin of safety. The thickness of the triplex is 24 mm. The attraction replaced the old one wooden bridge, which was stretched over the abyss between two mountain peaks. The project made it possible to maintain and even increase the level of extreme sports, providing visitors complete safety. The length of the glass suspension bridge is 300 meters. Today it is the second longest glass bridge in the world.

Observation room site in Jasper National Park, Canada

An observation deck has been built in Canada's Jasper National Park, offering views of thousand-year-old glaciers from a height of 450 meters. The structure has the shape of an arc hanging over the abyss. The platform is made of high-strength glass and steel. The apparent simplicity of the design actually conceals a deep artistic intent. According to the designers, rust on metal is associated with rocky ledges, and transparent glass symbolizes ice growths. An extraordinary design idea made it possible to harmoniously integrate the structure into the surrounding landscape. Visit extreme attraction costs 32 dollars.

Glass bridge in Chinese national park Zhangjiajie

An impressive glass bridge is located on Tianmen Rock in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Hunan Province, at an altitude of 1,430 meters. The width of the bridge does not exceed a meter, the length reaches 60 meters. Walking along a rocky slope along an absolutely transparent path creates a feeling of weightlessness and moving through the air. The thickness of the laminated glass is 63 mm. Walking through glass path, tourists find themselves on a long cable car, where they continue their acquaintance with local beauties.

Transparent balcony on a skyscraper in Chicago

In the heart of Chicago, Illinois, stands the 110-story Willis Tower. The height of the building is 443 meters. There are four glass balconies on the 103rd floor of the tallest building in the United States. Absolutely transparent structures made of four-centimeter glass can withstand a weight of up to 5 tons. A visit to the attraction costs fans of extreme sensations $15. Glass balconies are very popular among tourists and city residents. Children experience special joy from “flying” over the metropolis - little extreme sports enthusiasts visit Willis Tower in excursion groups.

Longest glass bridge in the world, China

In 2016, another glass bridge opened in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This time, Chinese engineers have created a real record holder - the longest glass bridge in the world. The length of the structure is 430 meters, width – 6 meters. A thick layer of glass separates visitors from the 375 m deep abyss. Up to 800 people can be on the bridge at the same time. In addition to traditional tests of the strength of a glass structure, an unusual experiment was organized: in front of tourists, they tried to break thick glass with sledgehammers, after which a car was driven over the cracked surface. In this way, visitors were shown the highest strength of the structure and its safety even in the event of cracks.

The Planet Neptune company has been developing various areas of glazing for many years. The company's technical potential allows us to implement complex projects for the construction of transparent observation platforms, bridges and balconies. Thanks to such structures, a person can “touch” the tops of mountains and skyscrapers, deep gorges and waterfalls, ancient cities and vast metropolises. High-strength glass structures are one of the most significant technological achievements of our time.

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