樋詰橋, Rigid frame bridge in Matsue and Sakaiminato, Japan.
The Eshima Ohashi is a rigid frame bridge that spans Nakaumi Lake between Matsue and Sakaiminato, connecting two prefectures. The structure features curved ramps on both sides that rise steeply before descending toward the opposite shore.
The bridge opened in 2004 and replaced a drawbridge that had previously blocked ship traffic. This eliminated the daily interruptions to car travel that occurred whenever vessels needed to pass through.
The bridge has become famous because of how it appears in photographs taken from certain viewpoints. When pictures are shared online, people are often surprised by how steep it looks compared to how it actually feels when you drive across it.
The bridge carries regular vehicle traffic and has standard width for two-way travel. Visitors should know that the slope appears steeper in photographs than it feels when actually driving across it.
Photographers use telephoto lenses to capture images that make the structure appear steeper than its actual slopes. These photos circulate widely on social media, often giving people a misleading impression before they experience crossing it themselves.
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