Written by CNN Staff

Spanning an awesome 1621 feet and rising as high as 279 feet, the newly opened Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge in Switzerland has broken the record for the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge, according to Zermatt Tourism. The bridge, which has replaced an older bridge that was damaged by falling rocks, was named after its chief sponsor, a psychologist and co-owner of a Swiss winery. Its width, however, is a mere two feet

The two enormous cables that hold the bridge in the air each have a diameter of 173ft and weigh a combined 8 tonnes. The bridge forms part of a hiking route between the towns of Zermatt and Grachen, and includes views of the legendary Matterhorn

Before the construction of the bridge, hikers were forced to make an arduous detour to the valley and back up along the Europaweg trail above Randa - meaning a 1,640ft climb and descent for each section.
The Charles Kuonen Bridge in the Swiss Alps in Randa, Switzerland, opens. At 1,621 feet (494 meters), it is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world.