御荘湾ロープウェイ, Aerial tramway in Ainan, Japan
The Uchinoumi Ropeway was an aerial tramway that stretched across 1.6 kilometers of cable suspended above the waters of Uchinoumi Bay. The system connected two stations and moved small cabins that each carried four passengers between the base and upper terminal.
The system started operations in 1977 and represented an important addition to the region's transportation infrastructure at that time. It ceased operations in 2006 after improved road connections made the aerial route less necessary for the area.
The ropeway served as a central transportation link for local residents while providing visitors with views of the mountainous landscapes and marine environment.
The ride between the two stations took about eight minutes and offered views during the journey across the bay. The system is no longer operating, but the station structures remain visible at their original locations.
This was the only aerial tramway system in Japan that traveled directly across ocean waters. This rare engineering approach made it a notable example of infrastructure design from that era.
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