Capilano Suspension Bridge, Suspension bridge in North Vancouver, Canada.
The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a simple suspension bridge over the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia. Its 140-metre span runs on steel cables about 70 metres above the water, with a flat dark deck laid in short segments. Tall grey wire-mesh panels and a handrail cable line both sides, and the walkway rises slightly toward a small tower at the far end.
George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer, built the first bridge in 1889 using hemp ropes and cedar planks to connect his properties. The current steel structure was installed in 1956, replacing earlier timber and wire rope versions.
The park displays the largest private collection of First Nations totem poles since 1935, telling indigenous stories through carved cedar. Visitors can read the meaning of each figure on panels mounted beside the upright logs.
Access is through a privately operated site that requires an admission ticket, and a free shuttle runs from downtown Vancouver. The bridge may close during high winds, and sturdy footwear is recommended as the planks can become slippery in rain.
Psychologists conducted experiments on the bridge in 1974, studying how physical responses to height affected human attraction and decision-making. The study used the natural nervousness of crossing to measure emotions in a real-world setting.
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