Visitors who step into one of the Ledge boxes at the Willis Tower in Chicago can see for 50 miles across four states. A protective coating on the glass cracked on Wednesday, May 28, but officials say visitors were never in danger. Click through this gallery to see more daring viewing platforms around the world:
Willis Tower, Chicago —
Visitors who step into one of the Ledge boxes at the Willis Tower in Chicago can see for 50 miles across four states. A protective coating on the glass cracked on Wednesday, May 28, but officials say visitors were never in danger. Click through this gallery to see more daring viewing platforms around the world:
courtesy skydeck willis tower
Visitors to the Dachstein Stairway to Nothingness must first cross Austria's highest bridge, which is 328 feet (100 meters) long and straddles a drop of 1,300 feet (396 meters). Then they face 14 steps that descend from the cliff face surrounded by glass walls.
Dachstein Stairway to Nothingness, Austria —
Visitors to the Dachstein Stairway to Nothingness must first cross Austria's highest bridge, which is 328 feet (100 meters) long and straddles a drop of 1,300 feet (396 meters). Then they face 14 steps that descend from the cliff face surrounded by glass walls.
courtesy derdachstein.at
The Alpspix Viewing Platform features two steel beams, both of which measure 79 feet (24 meters) in length. Visitors brave enough to walk to the end of the glass-walled platforms can look 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) down into the valley.
Alpspix Viewing Platform, Germany —
The Alpspix Viewing Platform features two steel beams, both of which measure 79 feet (24 meters) in length. Visitors brave enough to walk to the end of the glass-walled platforms can look 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) down into the valley.
courtesy Benedikt Lechner
The skywalk extends 624 feet (190 meters) into the Kinzua Gorge. Glass panels allow visitors to peer into the gorge below.
Kinzua Skywalk, Pennsylvania —
The skywalk extends 624 feet (190 meters) into the Kinzua Gorge. Glass panels allow visitors to peer into the gorge below.
courtesy kinzua skywalk
Located on the roof of the CN Tower's restaurant at a height of 1,168 feet (356 meters), the EdgeWalk in Toronto allows visitors to slip into climbing harnesses and walk around the edge of Canada's tallest structure. There's also a glass floor 1,122 feet (342 meters) above ground level.
EdgeWalk CN Tower, Toronto —
Located on the roof of the CN Tower's restaurant at a height of 1,168 feet (356 meters), the EdgeWalk in Toronto allows visitors to slip into climbing harnesses and walk around the edge of Canada's tallest structure. There's also a glass floor 1,122 feet (342 meters) above ground level.
courtesy cn tower
The Cliffwalk is a 700-foot (213-meter) walkway attached to a granite cliff face above the Capilano River in British Columbia. The highest point is 300 feet (90 meters) above the river.
Cliffwalk, British Columbia —
The Cliffwalk is a 700-foot (213-meter) walkway attached to a granite cliff face above the Capilano River in British Columbia. The highest point is 300 feet (90 meters) above the river.
courtesy capilano cliffwalk
The Shard in London is the tallest building in Western Europe. The View From the Shard is located on floors 68, 69 and 72. The best panoramas are from floor 72, at a height of 800 feet (244 meters). This open-air observation deck offers 360-degree views of the city.
View from The Shard, London —
The Shard in London is the tallest building in Western Europe. The View From the Shard is located on floors 68, 69 and 72. The best panoramas are from floor 72, at a height of 800 feet (244 meters). This open-air observation deck offers 360-degree views of the city.
courtesy view from the shard
The lookout, commissioned by the Norwegian Highway Department as part of a project to improve the appearance of the country's tourist routes, allows visitors to look straight down into the Aurlandsfjord, 2,000 feet (609 meters) below.
Stegastein lookout, Norway —
The lookout, commissioned by the Norwegian Highway Department as part of a project to improve the appearance of the country's tourist routes, allows visitors to look straight down into the Aurlandsfjord, 2,000 feet (609 meters) below.
courtesy nils vik
The Tokyo Skytree is the world's third-tallest structure, with a height of 2,080 feet (634 meters), and has Japan's two highest observation decks.
Tokyo Skytree observation decks —
The Tokyo Skytree is the world's third-tallest structure, with a height of 2,080 feet (634 meters), and has Japan's two highest observation decks.
courtesy tokyo sky tree
The Top of Tyrol viewing platform looks over Austria's Stubai Glacier, providing visitors with spectacular views over 103 peaks.
Top of Tyrol, Austria —
The Top of Tyrol viewing platform looks over Austria's Stubai Glacier, providing visitors with spectacular views over 103 peaks.
courtesy anto wolfgang zajc
The Dachstein Glacier actually comprises eight glaciers, and a visit to this high-altitude, glass-bottomed walkway is a great way to see them all.
Dachstein Glacier Skywalk, Austria —
The Dachstein Glacier actually comprises eight glaciers, and a visit to this high-altitude, glass-bottomed walkway is a great way to see them all.
courtesy derdachstein.at
The best views of Merano, Italy, are from this binocular-shaped viewing platform, high above a huge oak forest and the gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. The viewing platform is just one of several within the gardens.
Trauttmansdorff Viewing Platform, Italy —
The best views of Merano, Italy, are from this binocular-shaped viewing platform, high above a huge oak forest and the gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. The viewing platform is just one of several within the gardens.
courtesy sudtirolmarketing
This steel and glass, horseshoe-shaped walkway extends 70 feet (21 meters) over the lip of the Grand Canyon, almost a mile above the valley floor. Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin was the first person to step onto the Skywalk, which cost $30 million.
Grand Canyon Skywalk, Arizona —
This steel and glass, horseshoe-shaped walkway extends 70 feet (21 meters) over the lip of the Grand Canyon, almost a mile above the valley floor. Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin was the first person to step onto the Skywalk, which cost $30 million.
courtesy arizona tourism