河渡橋, Road bridge in Matsue, Japan.
The Eshima Ohashi is a road bridge that spans Lake Nakaumi, joining the cities of Matsue in Shimane Prefecture and Sakaiminato in Tottori Prefecture. The structure rises to a significant height to allow large vessels to pass beneath it.
Its construction between 1997 and 2004 replaced an older drawbridge that restricted daily traffic to 4,000 vehicles and prevented heavy trucks from crossing. The new design dramatically increased transportation capacity.
The bridge has gained international recognition through social media and advertisements due to its steep appearance when photographed from specific angles.
You can drive across the bridge or view it from designated observation points, especially on the Shimane side. The best photo angles come from spots near the shore where the incline appears most dramatic.
The bridge features notably steep inclines of 6.1 percent on the Shimane side and 5.1 percent on the Tottori side, making it one of Japan's steepest road bridges. This severe angle was necessary to allow sufficient clearance for ships passing underneath.
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