The Alps Mountain Range , located in the center of Europe, is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world, where millions of people come together every year to, among other things, practice winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding. It must be remembered that this mountain range includes countries such as France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria, in addition to Slovenia, Germany, Monaco and Liechtenstein.
Today we are going to stand in the French Alps, where the highest attraction in all of Europe has just been inaugurated: an amazing viewpoint on the Aiguille du Midi peak in the shape of a glass box. Do you want to discover a little more about this surprising tourist attraction?
At 4,000 meters high
The Chamonix Skywalk is located almost 4,000 meters high. It is a glass-walled structure installed on the upper terrace of the Aiguille du Midi peak (3,842 meters), with a 1,000-meter drop to the nearest rock. As of last Saturday, visitors can step on it, which gives a feeling of being hanging over the abyss.
What does it consist of
Designed by Pierre Yves Chays, this construction has required three years of work, although the final assembly has been quick (it began on September 19). Apparently, the promoters have been inspired by the Skywalk, the large glass walkway overlooking the Grand Canyon , in the state of Arizona, United States.
Thus, the five glass panels are 12 mm thick, and each of them is made up of three layers joined by metal supports. The structure is safe: it can withstand winds of more than 220 kilometers per hour.
The peak Aiguille du Midi
The Aiguille peak already received countless tourists a year to see the views of the Alps. In addition, it is the starting point to jump into free skiing .