Victoria Falls Bridge, International steel bridge between Livingstone, Zambia and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls Bridge rises 128 meters above the Zambezi River gorge, linking Livingstone in Zambia with the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe through its steel arch design. The combined road and rail crossing follows the river just below the falls, where the gorge reaches its narrowest point.
Construction began in 1904 following the design of engineer G.S. Hobson and was completed within 14 months to connect northern and southern regions of the continent. George Darwin presided over the opening ceremony in 1905, fulfilling the vision of a continuous rail network through Africa.
Local guides often share the name Mosi-oa-Tunya with visitors walking across, explaining how the falls produce mist visible from several kilometers away. The crossing offers one of the few places where people experience both countries at once while watching the river plunge into the gorge.
Travelers must pass through border controls at both ends, as the crossing connects two sovereign countries. The walkway across the structure offers direct views into the gorge but can become slippery during periods of heavy spray from the falls.
The steel segments were prefabricated in England and transported by ship and oxcart to the construction site before being assembled across the gorge. The center section was built simultaneously from both sides and met in the middle with a deviation of only a few centimeters.
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