The world is
filled with some amazing and scenic arches. Some of them are man-made and
others have been formed naturally over the years. These are some of the world’s
best.
1.
Arc de Triomphe; Paris, France
This is probably
one of the most recognizable arches on the planet. Actually, we can thank
Napoleon Bonaparte for it as he commissioned it to honor himself and his
soldiers back in 1806. It’s now one of Paris’s top
tourist attractions. If you visit the Arc, make sure you take the
underground tunnels to reach it as the streets are way too busy and chaotic to
cross.
2.
Reno Arch; Reno, Nevada, USA
This famous arch
first appeared back in the 1920s. The glowing sign welcomes visitors to the
western city. The sign is adorned with the city’s popular slogan, which is,
‘Reno, The Biggest Little City in the World.’ The slogan was actually the
winning entry of a contest and was worth $100 to the winner many years ago.
3.
Stari Most, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Stari Most
translates into ‘The Old Bridge.’ It had been standing proudly for over 400
years, but was destroyed in the 1990s as war hit the former Yugoslavia. With
help from UNESCO, the bridge has been rebuilt, including the wonderful arch which makes it so recognizable
and attractive.
4.
New River Gorge Bridge; Fayetteville, West Virginia, USA
This used to be
the biggest arch bridge in the world. The huge steel bridge looks right at home
here as it overlooks the beautiful lush trees and river below. The bridge also
attracts many visitors to it on Bridge Day, which is an annual event in which extreme
athletes will base jump from it and others are allowed to walk across it.
5.
Arco Naturale; Capri, Italy
This natural arch
lies in front of the Mediterranean Sea and dates back to Paleolithic times. It
was formed over the years by natural erosion
of the rock. It started out as the opening to a cave which has now eroded into
the seas. It’s still a popular attraction centuries later in Capri.
6.
St. Louis Gateway Arch; St. Louis, Missouri, USA
This stunning arch
is one of the most recognizable in America. It was designed by Eero Saarinen,
who was an architect of Finnish-American descent. He came in first place during
a country-wide design contest to capture the nation’s exploratory spirit in a
monument. It’s easily St Louis’ most famous landmark and attracts thousands of
visitors a day in the summer.
7.
Kintai Bridge; Iwakuni, Japan
This amazing
Japanese bridge was originally built in the 1600s and it has been standing in
one form or another since then. The current bridge was erected in the 1950s
after World War II. The structure is quite stunning, especially during the
year’s cherry blossom season.
8.
Delicate Arch; Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, USA
This western
American park is home to about 2,000 naturally-made
arches. However, the top attraction is the fantastic sandstone piece
called Delicate Arch. The rock looks to be bright orange when the sun strikes
it, giving it a glowing experience. You can hike to the arch where you’ll get
some breathtaking views of the park.
9.
Los Arcos del 3er Milenio, Guadalajara, Mexico
hese huge yellow
arches grace this Mexican city in the neighbourhood of Jardines del Bosque. The
work of art was designed by Sebastian, who was a Mexican sculptor well known
for his geometric works that were larger than life.
10.
Xian Ren Qiao (Fairy Bridge), Guangxi Province, China
This picturesque
natural bridge is carved out of limestone and sits next to the Buliu River.
It’s about 25 miles northwest of the city of Fengshan. The Natural Arch and
Bridge Society lists the opening span at 400 feet, which makes it the largest
span in the world. You can reach the bridge by water as you sail down the river
from the charming village of Buliu.
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