Goteik viaduct, Railway viaduct in Shan State, Myanmar
Goteik is a railway bridge spanning a deep gorge in northern Myanmar, built from stacked steel beams running across multiple levels of trestle towers. The structure reaches a span of roughly 690 meters and stands about 250 meters above the valley floor, surrounded by forested mountains.
An American firm delivered prefabricated steel parts in the late 19th century, which were then assembled on site into one of Asia's highest railway bridges. The construction linked the colonial rail line between Mandalay and the eastern highlands and was repeatedly damaged and repaired during wars.
Villagers in the surrounding hills hear the train whistle long before it appears and use its schedule to mark time during their daily routines. Fishermen and farmers in the valleys below often look up when the train passes across the gorge, leaving a visible trace through the landscape.
The train slows down during crossing and allows passengers to look through the open side windows at the steel struts and the forest far below. Travelers should ride early morning or afternoon to catch the sun over the valleys and the clear view of the mountain ranges.
The bridge piers stand free in space at dizzying heights, so looking down reveals only air and green canopy, with no solid ground beneath. Some of the original rivets from 1900 remain visible and hold the steel plates together, an assembly that has endured over a century.
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