The most outstanding cable cars in the world. Cableways. The most unusual cable cars in the world

The organizers of the next two Olympics - London 2012 and Sochi 2014 - compete in the scale of facilities built for these events. And in both cities it was decided to launch cable cars. London will be the first in the British capital, and Sochi claims to be the "twice first" in the world - in terms of length and ability to carry not only passengers, but also cars.

By the way, the first ancient cable cars were used just for transporting goods. During the Middle Ages, the inhabitants highlands began to cross the gorges in baskets. Such crossings are used to this day, for example, in the Himalayas.

Today in the lens are 12 of the most terrible, longest, alpine, old and other outstanding cable cars of the world.

Text: Anastasia Novikova, Forbes

The first of the cable cars in the modern sense was launched in Switzerland in 1866 and delivered tourists to observation deck. In Russia, the debut of the cable car took place in 1871: it was used to transport timber through wetlands. A real construction boom cableways occurred in the second half of the 20th century, when it began to actively develop skiing.

1. Genting Cable Car (Malaysia): The fastest

Genting is a city of entertainment at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level. It is called the Las Vegas of Malaysia: 20 luxury hotels, several amusement parks and even the only legal casino in the country have been built here.

The Genting Empire is the brainchild of the Chinese Lim Goh Tong. When he first voiced the idea of ​​building a high-altitude resort, he was ridiculed: in the late 1960s, the area was covered with virgin tropical jungle. But Tong continued to persevere, and in 1971 the first hotel opened its doors. Then the casino started working, after which crowds of visitors poured into Genting.

In addition to numerous laudatory epithets, Genting also boasts world's fastest cable car. The speed of movement of the suspended cabins is 6 m/s, and travelers overcome 3,380 meters separating Genting from the lower station, which is located in the village of Kuala Kubu Baru, in just 11 minutes.

Most of the route of the cable car, which opened on February 21, 1997, runs over the jungle, and in cloudless weather from a height you can see the monkeys scurrying below.

Fare: RM10 ($3) round trip.

2. Gulmarg cable car (India): the highest mountain

Since 1948, Kashmir has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. The two countries have been sharing disputed territories for more than half a century, which is why the region has long been considered dangerous for tourism.

IN last years fighting in the state of Jammu and Kashmir ceased, and local authorities were able to develop tourism infrastructure. Today the state has a dozen tourist spots, and one of them - Gulmarg - the largest ski resort in the Himalayas.

It was here that in 2005 Sonia Gandhi launched the cable car, which to this day remains highest mountain in the world. The first section of the road began to function in the spring of 1998, and then maximum height the rise was 3,100 m. The second section made it possible to rise to a height of 4,114 m.

The total length of the cable car is 5 km, and the capacity is 600 people per hour. By the way, before the opening of the cableway, skiers were taken to the mountains by helicopters, which made the cost of skiing sky-high in every sense of the word.

Fare: one-time rise - the first phase of 150 rupees ($2.7), the second phase - 250 rupees ($4.6).

3. Sternensauser cable car (Switzerland): the scariest

The most unusual cable car in the world operates in the Swiss resort of Hoch-Ibrig. In order to ride it, you do not need to sit in a booth and keep your camera ready - you need to put on a helmet and fasten your seat belts. The fact is that on the Sternensauser cableway, passengers move under the weight of their own body. The cable car is a cable stretched between several platforms at a height of 75 m above the ground. By the way, it is Sternensauser who is the longest cableway of its kind in the world.

The start of the route is near the upper station chair lift and leads down to the station located in the valley. During the movement, the passenger develops a speed of 70 to 90 km / h, which creates a feeling of free flight. They say that the adrenaline rush during the descent of the Sternensauser is no less than when skydiving.

The only disadvantage of the cable road is that you can ride on it only in the summer. Adults and children who have reached the age of nine, with a height of at least 130 cm, are allowed to descend. Permissible weight passenger - from 30 to 125 kg.

Fare: CHF 70.

4. Cableway to Sentosa Island (Singapore): the most glass

Sentosa Island is located 25 km south of Singapore, and it is said that the future state began with a small fishing village located here. Sentosa today is an island Asian Disneyland, a lure for tourists and a favorite vacation spot for the Singaporeans themselves. There is an amusement park, an aquarium, as well as three kilometers of white sandy beaches.

You can get to Sentosa by public transport and even on foot, but most visitors choose the cable car stretching over the strait. The government of Singapore thought about its construction in 1968, and four years later it was launched. Initially, the cable car had 43 cabins. Today, their number has reached 81, and the local cable car became the first in the world, where cabins made entirely of glass began to walk.

But even this was not enough for the Singaporeans. For the cableway leading to Sentosa Island, they achieved the definition of “first jewelery”: in 2010, seven VIP cabins were launched, the roof and glass sides of which are decorated with Swarovski crystals. Is it any wonder then that the cable car is one of the most expensive ways to get to Sentosa.

Fare: SGD 26 ($18.6) round trip.

5. Tatev cable car (Armenia): the longest

On October 16, 2010, a cable car was launched in Armenia, called the Wings of Tatev. And just seven days later she was brought into the longest in the world.

The first passengers of the cable car, which stretches for 5.7 km over the gorge of the Vorotan River, were Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, as well as one child each from the nearest seven villages.

The construction of the cableway was conceived in 2009 as one of the stages of the "Revival of Tatev" program - a medieval monastery of the 9th century. In 1390, a university was established in it, where both theological and secular disciplines were taught. In 1931, the monastery was badly damaged by an earthquake, and restoration work has not yet been completed.

Until the cable car appeared, it was possible to get to Tatev only along the steep serpentine leading along the cliff at an angle of 45 °, which, moreover, was often washed away in winter. But now tourists and local residents can visit Tatev all year round. The cabins move at a speed of 37 km/h and cover the distance to the monastery in just 11 minutes 25 seconds.

Fare: for local residents - free of charge, for tourists - €6.

6. Ropeway Miskhor - Ai-Petri (Crimea): the longest unsupported span

Translated from Turkish word"yayla" means mountain plateau. In the past, shepherds grazed cattle here, and in even more ancient times, yaylam were given magical significance and stone idols were installed on them. Today, the word "yayla" in Russian is most often used in the Crimea, where one of the most famous is Ai-Petri Yayla. You can get to it by cableway Miskhor - Ai-Petri, during the ascent along which - and it lasts about 15 minutes - tourists have time to enjoy the picturesque panorama of the South-Eastern coast of Crimea - from Sudak to Foros.

The construction of the cable car stretched out for 20 years. It was launched in 1987, and was opened to the general public a year later.

But the Miskhor - Ai-Petri cable car is considered unique. Between its middle and upper stations stretched the longest unsupported span in Europe: there is not a single intermediate tower on two kilometers.

Fare: 120 hryvnia ($15) in both directions.

7. Grenoble cable car (France): the world's first urban

The writer Henri Marie Bayle, better known by the pseudonym Stendhal, wrote about his hometown Grenoble, that every street ends in a mountain. On the slope of one of them is the most famous local attraction - the Bastille.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the authorities of Grenoble thought about how to facilitate access to the Bastille and at the same time secure the capital french alps tourist highlight. This is how the idea of ​​building a cable car was born, which forever changed the face of Grenoble.

On September 29, 1934, a loud horn informed the townspeople about the start of the cable car, which became world's first urban cable car. Very quickly, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it became the symbol of Grenoble, which it remains to this day.

The first passenger cabins were quite traditional: large "cars" that could accommodate up to 21 passengers. But in 1976, they were replaced by engineer Denny Kressel's small six-seat spherical Plexiglas cabins, which were soon dubbed bubbles and space eggs.

Fare: €6.80 round trip.

8. Masada cable car (Israel): the most historical

Masada is an ancient fortress built in the mountains of the Judean Desert by order of Herod the Great in 25 BC. e. Here, surrounded by impregnable rocks, the king created a refuge for himself, where palaces, a synagogue, baths, warehouses of provisions and weapons, and even a water pipe were built.

In 73 A.D. e. Masada was taken by the Romans, who used it as one of their strongholds, and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the fortress was forgotten until 1862, when archaeologists stumbled upon its ruins.

Masada has always attracted tourists, but only after 1971, when a cable car was built to it, did it become one of the most visited historical sites Israel. Before that, it was possible to climb to the top of the cliff only along the so-called snake path, which was used by the rebels in ancient times, and today by archaeologists.

The cable car leading to the top of the plateau is considered the lowest in the world: its lower station is at an altitude of 257 m above sea level, and the upper one is only 33 m higher. The distance to the top of the cabin - there are only two of them on the cable car - overcomes in a few minutes, gradually opening up more and more breathtaking views of the surrounding desert and the Dead Sea.

Fare: 72 shekels ($19) round trip.

9. Prague cable car: the oldest

Exactly 120 years ago, the most famous cable car in Prague was launched, leading to Petřín Hill. Today, she is considered the oldest operating cable car in the world. View of Prague from Petřín Hill:

It all started with the fact that in 1889 the Club of Czech tourists went to Paris and was amazed by the view eiffel tower. A copy of it was built on Petřín Hill, and then they decided to build a cable car to it, which was built in less than a year. The cable car - not suspended, but a trailer on rails, set in motion by a rope - easily lifted 50 passengers to a height of 102 m at a time, and the waterwheel rotated the cables.

In 1916, the Petřín cable car stopped its operation due to the First World War - for a long 16 years. Only in 1932 it was launched again, replacing the water wheel with electric motors and lengthening it to the current 511 m. The second time the cable car stopped in 1965, when landslides destroyed part of the track. The inhabitants of Prague had to wait another 20 years before the famous funicular was able to take them to the top of Petřín Hill again. But since then, it has been included in the city's public transport system and stops only during scheduled inspections.

Lifting cost: 24 CZK ($1.2).

10. Complexo do Alemao cable car (Brazil): the cheapest

The favelas of Rio de Janeiro have long been infamous as the most criminogenic quarters of the city, dangerous not only for tourists, but also for local residents. And the easiest way to get around here is on foot, because the local hills and narrow streets public transport is practically non-existent.

Therefore, the Rio authorities decided to build a cable car over six suburbs of the Brazilian capital, which began operating in July 2011. Construction took a year and a half, and the costs amounted to 210 million reais.

The cable car stretched over the favelas for 3456 m and became the longest urban cable car in the world. 152 cabins run along it, capable of transporting up to 3,000 people per hour.

Local residents are entitled to two free tickets per day to travel to the Complexo do Alemao, and those who exceed this limit will have to pay 1 Brazilian real for the trip - the same as tourists pay.

The cableway, which can significantly facilitate access to the city's sports facilities, gained additional relevance on the eve of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games 2016, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro.

Fare: 1 Brazilian Real ($0.5).

11. Cableway Manhattan - Roosevelt Island: Most Cinematic

Despite the fact that New York is located in a flat area, the Americans decided to lay a cableway here as well.

The cable car that connected Manhattan with Roosevelt Island in 1976 was supposed to function only while subway line F was being completed. But local residents I liked traveling by air so much that the suspension road was not dismantled even after the launch of the subway. The cable car has secured the status of a full-fledged urban transport, and has actually become the world's first air tram.

In 2005, during the strike of transport workers, only the cable car continued to carry passengers. But in the same year there was the first, and in 2006 the second incident, when the cabs of the air tram got stuck over the East River. Passengers had to spend almost seven hours above the water.

After that, the transport workers closed the cable car and started its restoration. Five months later, the cable car was reopened, and all cabins were provided with blankets, water, food supplies, and even a toilet. The aerial tram, which runs from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island, can claim the title of the most cinematic: you can see it in films such as Nighthawks, Leon, and even Spider-Man.

Fare: $2.5 one way.

12. Ropeway in Zhangjiajie Park (China): the steepest

Chinese park Zhangjiajie has long gained popularity among tourists. Firstly, it is here, among the rocks of Wulingyuan, which inspired James Cameron to create the "flying mountains" in the film "", is Mount Tianmen, and in it is the legendary Heaven's Gate Cave.

Panorama (clickable, 1280 x 553 px):

Secondly, you can get to them by a cable car, which numerous travelers once swept along it, dubbed the "most exciting" in the world. It is no coincidence that the local cable car is called the “road to heaven”: on some sections it rises at an angle of 70 °, crashing directly into the clouds. Welcome to Pandora!

The journey to the top takes about 40 minutes, and due to the pressure drop, passengers often get ears in their ears, and the temperature in the cabin drops sharply. Often there is thick fog over the park, which adds mysticism to the surrounding landscapes.

Those who still dare to overcome the distance of 7,455 m will see the world's highest miraculous cave, which arose due to the erosion of rocks. The locals believe that she has supernatural powers. And you can go down from Mount Tianmen by bus along a serpentine, which has exactly 99 turns.

Fare: 48 yuan ($7.6) one way.

It was the second day of our and the first day of our acquaintance with its largest city, its capital - Nizhny Novgorod. We had very little time for this - only today and tomorrow.
Our task for today, on the one hand, is to see Nizhny Novgorod as widely as possible, on the other hand, to spend the day joyfully and festively. After all, today is Victory Day.

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From there we went to a special place. The place where every guest comes Nizhny Novgorod- to the cable car.
Our Nizhny Novgorod odyssey continued.
We got to the cable car quickly - after 3 minutes we were already in place. Wasted time just looking for parking. Yes, it was not easy - the day is a holiday.

Finally, we parked and go to the Nizhegorodskaya station. We get in line. What I was talking about: It's not a good day to ride a local landmark cable car. After the festive celebrations in the center of Nizhny Novgorod, the residents of the city of Bor are returning home. After all, the cable car is entertainment only for tourists, for local residents it is a convenient, high-speed mode of transport.
The cable car appeared in Nizhny recently. It began to be built at the beginning of 2010, and after 2 years the object was commissioned. Thus, the city solved the problem of traffic jams, and also looked for Alternative option transportation of citizens.
Two cities - Nizhny and Bor - are separated by the Volga. Only 3 km., If you count from coast to coast. And the detour is almost 10 times further. Now, thanks to the cable car, it is possible in 12 minutes. get to neighboring city and do it effectively. After all, stunning views of the city, the arrow, endless water surfaces open up from above. This is not a bus or train ride. This is soaring in the air, flying over the Volga!
So let's get to the station. We get in line. She doesn't walk, she crawls.

We've been on our way to our destination for almost an hour. Long, painful. The hour seems like an eternity. Incredibly hot. We are not ready for such a transition to summer temperatures. From overheating, our tightly "packed" child begins to act up. Shouting all the way. Hangs on hands. I myself start to overheat ... We go with Masha side by side standing tent. We buy drinks. The queue is moving. On the way, we buy tickets at the box office. A single ticket for 1 person is inexpensive - 70 rubles. Babies are free.
When we approach the turnstiles, we begin to examine everything around. Here is the line, which, fortunately, is already behind.

Here is the landing area. We carefully look at the example of the previous group, how the process of immersion in the booth takes place.
The cabin is designed for 8 people. People are lined up. When the booth pulls up, you need to quickly, one by one, go into it. According to my calculations, the download takes a few seconds.

Group loading was successful! The door closed. Cabin, have a happy journey!!!

We are next. Here is our apparatus.

The cabin pulls up, we energetically plunge into it. Our company is 7 people. Very comfortably. Let's go with our team. Let's sing and shake, it's great when you find yourself in such unusual conditions with your tandem! The crew of the combat vehicle ...
But it was not there. When the door was already closing, a family of three flew in. I was outraged. We sit crowded, I don’t know why. Are we on the bus at rush hour? Do not relax, do not talk at ease. Elbows are pinched. It is inconvenient to shoot, I constantly get up. Like a herring in a barrel. For what?
Nothing to do. Let's go. Everyone is so excited, constrained, enthusiastic. If someone is interested in the question: "Is it scary on the Nizhny Novgorod cable car?", I answer: Absolutely not!. There is no moment of probability of falling down - something that people with a fear of heights are afraid of. I myself “sick” with this, so I can tell for sure what even the most afraid of heights feels on this cable car.
And now the most important thing is the views of the surroundings from the cable car. Considering that I shoot through thick, dusty tinted glass, the photos are not so bad. Dissatisfied exclamations are often heard that there is nothing special to photograph here along the way, that blurry, faded photographs are obtained due to dark windows. Judge for yourself. Personally, we were not bored. The very fact of flying over the abyss, a surge of emotions, adrenaline - it's great. And if you are still making this trip in a friendly company - generally class!

From Nizhny Novgorod to Bor

Cute picture - roadside picnic.

The Volga is like velvet.

The famous Nizhny Novgorod arrow is the place where the Oka flows into the Volga. Oka - in front on the left, Volga - on the right.

Cabins regularly drove past us.

Volga decently overflowed. Roads, poles, trees - everything is flooded.

12 minutes of excitement is over. Arriving in the city of Bor.

Half an hour in Bor

It is believed that there is nothing to see in Bor itself. That tourists come here for the sake of the process itself - to ride a cable car over the Volga.
When we arrived in Bor, I photographed the following information stands in the station crossing:

In my opinion, to say that there is absolutely nothing interesting in Bor is unfair.
We leave for the city. We look around.

For half an hour in Bor, we managed to take a little walk, and Sophie even took a ride on the attraction.

Way back to Nizhny Novgorod

At the station "Bor" free. We buy tickets and at the transition we go to the landing.

There are only seven people in front of us - the "crew" of one cabin.

We see off those leaving, our booth is on the way.

It's coming, we're loading up. We ride freely, with our own crew. Everyone is happy, happy. I do not post photos of enthusiastic faces. I can't without permission.

do you need a dash in the sentence "rope with a string"? and why? Thank you!

According to the basic rule, a dash is not required, since the predicate is not expressed by the noun in the nominative case. But the exact answer can only be given by knowing the context.

Good afternoon Tell me, please, how to get there by cable car or by cable car? Thank you

Answer help desk Russian language

Correctly: reach by cable car.

Good afternoon, dear literate people! Tell me, please, in the phrase
"list of not submitted documents" particle "not" is written together or separately.
Irina

The answer of the reference service of the Russian language

Correct spelling, because the participle has no dependent words: list of undelivered documents. Wed: list of documents not submitted to the dean's office.

Determine whether a hard or soft consonant is pronounced in controversial cases:
Alternative, Roerich, package, atheism, intervention, deanery, pace, dispensary, term, Cervantes, overcoat, aesthetics, highway, parterre, code, energy, democracy, scheme, grotex, intervision, potential, maxim, hotel, antenna, decade, academy, trend, express, museum, timbre, despot, antithesis, Odessa, motto, Remarque, tunnel, Magdeburg, plywood, Rembrandt, apartheid, international, claim, masterpiece, thesis, millionaire, interpretation, stress, Brecht, interviewer, patronage, daemon.

The answer of the reference service of the Russian language

Use the electronic dictionaries "Gramoty.Ru"!

Good afternoon. Please tell me if a comma is needed in this case: "According to this provision, _ the dean's office provides ..."

The answer of the reference service of the Russian language

The comma is optional (optional).

Do I need to put a comma after the word "customer" in a sentence:
at the request of the customer, rope elements made of polystyle can be manufactured with a weighting agent.

The answer of the reference service of the Russian language

You don't need to put a comma.

Tell me, please, (I write the second time, I think that I will get an answer)
According to ... the examination session, all statements must be submitted to the dean's office.
A. graduation
b. the end

Thank you!

The answer of the reference service of the Russian language

Right: at the end.

"One of them is Kanat Berentaev, deputy director of the Center for the Analysis of Social Problems." Do I need a comma before a proper name here and in similar cases? Thank you.

The answer of the reference service of the Russian language

The comma is not needed.

Good afternoon Can you help me find out the origin of the saying "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven." I heard a version that "camel" in this case is an incorrect translation of the word "rope". But from what language the translation and history are unknown. Thank you. Pauline

The answer of the reference service of the Russian language

These are words from the Gospel.

Urgently! Please answer, is it necessary to quote the expression end of Aleksandrov, which means a rope with knots?

The answer of the reference service of the Russian language

The first of the cable cars in the modern sense was launched in Switzerland in 1866 and delivered tourists to the observation deck. The real boom in the construction of cableways came in the second half of the 20th century, when skiing began to develop actively.
Ropeway in Zhangjiajie Park (China): the most exciting
Chinese park Zhangjiajie has long gained popularity among tourists. Firstly, it is here, among the rocks of Wulingyuan, which inspired James Cameron to create the "flying mountains" in the movie "Avatar", that Tianmen Mountain is located, and in it is the legendary Heaven's Gate Cave.

Secondly, you can get to them by a cable car, which numerous travelers once swept along it, dubbed the "most exciting" in the world. It is no coincidence that the local cable car is called the “road to heaven”: on some sections it rises at an angle of 70 °, crashing directly into the clouds.

The journey to the top takes about 40 minutes, and due to the pressure drop, passengers often get ears in their ears, and the temperature in the cabin drops sharply. Often there is thick fog over the park, which adds mysticism to the surrounding landscapes.

Those who still dare to overcome the distance of 7,455 m will see the world's highest miraculous cave, which arose due to the erosion of rocks. The locals believe that she has supernatural powers. And you can go down from Mount Tianmen by bus along a serpentine, which has exactly 99 turns.

Fare: 48 yuan ($7.6) one way.

Genting Cable Car (Malaysia): the fastest
Genting is a city of entertainment at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level. It is called the Las Vegas of Malaysia: 20 luxury hotels, several amusement parks and even the only legal casino in the country have been built here.

The Genting Empire is the brainchild of the Chinese Lim Goh Tong. When he first voiced the idea of ​​building a high-altitude resort, he was ridiculed: in the late 1960s, the area was covered with virgin tropical jungle. But Tong continued to persevere, and in 1971 the first hotel opened its doors. Then the casino started working, after which crowds of visitors poured into Genting.

In addition to numerous laudatory epithets, Genting also boasts

Most of the route of the cable car, which opened on February 21, 1997, runs over the jungle, and in cloudless weather from a height you can see the monkeys scurrying below.

Fare: RM10 ($3) round trip.

Gulmarg cable car (India): the highest mountain
Since 1948, Kashmir has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. The two countries have been sharing disputed territories for more than half a century, which is why the region has long been considered dangerous for tourism.

In recent years, the fighting in the state of Jammu and Kashmir has ceased, and local authorities have been able to develop tourism infrastructure. Today, there are about a dozen tourist spots in the state, and one of them is Gulmarg, the largest ski resort in the Himalayas.

It was here that in 2005 Sonia Gandhi launched the cable car, which to this day remains

The total length of the cable car is 5 km, and the capacity is 600 people per hour. By the way, before the opening of the cableway, skiers were taken to the mountains by helicopters, which made the cost of skiing sky-high in every sense of the word.

Fare: one-time rise - the first phase of 150 rupees ($2.7), the second phase - 250 rupees ($4.6).

Sternensauser cable car (Switzerland): the scariest
The most unusual road operates in the Swiss resort of Hoch-Ibrig. In order to ride it, you do not need to sit in a booth and keep your camera ready - you need to put on a helmet and fasten your seat belts. The fact is that on the Sternensauser cableway, passengers move under the weight of their own body. The cable car is a cable stretched between several platforms at a height of 75 m above the ground. By the way, it is Sternensauser that is the longest cable road of this type in the world.

The trail starts at the top chair lift station and leads down to the station in the valley. During the movement, the passenger develops a speed of 70 to 90 km / h, which creates a feeling of free flight. They say that the adrenaline rush during the descent of the Sternensauser is no less than when skydiving.

The only disadvantage of the cable road is that you can ride on it only in the summer. Adults and children who have reached the age of nine, with a height of at least 130 cm, are allowed to descend. The permissible weight of a passenger is from 30 to 125 kg.

Fare: CHF 70.

Cableway to Sentosa Island (Singapore): the most glassy
Sentosa Island is located 25 km south of Singapore, and it is said that the future state began with a small fishing village located here. Sentosa today is an island Asian Disneyland, a lure for tourists and a favorite vacation spot for the Singaporeans themselves. There is an amusement park, an aquarium, as well as three kilometers of white sandy beaches.

You can get to Sentosa by public transport and even on foot, but most visitors choose the cable car stretching over the strait. The government of Singapore thought about its construction in 1968, and four years later it was launched. Initially, the cable car had 43 cabins. Today, their number has reached 81, and the local cable car became the first in the world, where cabins made entirely of glass began to walk.

But even this was not enough for the Singaporeans. For the cableway leading to Sentosa Island, they achieved the definition of “first jewelery”: in 2010, seven VIP cabins were launched, the roof and glass sides of which are decorated with Swarovski crystals. Is it any wonder then that the cable car is one of the most expensive ways to get to Sentosa.

Fare: SGD 26 ($18.6) round trip.

Tatev ropeway (Armenia): the longest
On October 16, 2010, a cable car was launched in Armenia, called the Wings of Tatev. And just seven days later, it was entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the longest.

The first passengers of the cable car, which stretches for 5.7 km over the gorge of the Vorotan River, were Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, as well as one child each from the nearest seven villages.

The construction of the cableway was conceived in 2009 as one of the stages of the "Revival of Tatev" program - a medieval monastery of the 9th century. In 1390, a university was established in it, where both theological and secular disciplines were taught. In 1931, the monastery was badly damaged by an earthquake, and restoration work has not yet been completed.

Until the cable car appeared, it was possible to get to Tatev only along the steep serpentine leading along the cliff at an angle of 45 °, which, moreover, was often washed away in winter. But now tourists and local residents can visit Tatev all year round. The cabins move at a speed of 37 km/h and cover the distance to the monastery in just 11 minutes 25 seconds.

Fare: for local residents - free of charge, for tourists - ?6.

Ropeway Miskhor - Ai-Petri (Crimea): the longest unsupported span
Translated from Turkish, the word "yayla" means a mountain plateau. In the past, shepherds grazed cattle here, and in even more ancient times, yaylam were given magical significance and stone idols were installed on them. Today, the word "yayla" in Russian is most often used in the Crimea, where one of the most famous is Ai-Petri Yayla. You can get to it by cableway Miskhor - Ai-Petri, during the ascent along which - and it lasts about 15 minutes - tourists have time to enjoy the picturesque panorama of the South-Eastern coast of Crimea - from Sudak to Foros.

The construction of the cable car stretched out for 20 years. It was launched in 1987, and was opened to the general public a year later. Today in Ukraine there are about a dozen cableways, and most of of which is located in the Crimea.

But the Miskhor - Ai-Petri cable car is considered unique. Between its middle and upper stations, the longest unsupported span in Europe, entered in the Guinness Book of Records, stretches: there is not a single intermediate tower for two kilometers.

Fare: 120 hryvnia ($15) in both directions.

Grenoble cable car (France): the world's first urban
The writer Henri Marie Bayle, better known by his pseudonym Stendhal, wrote about his hometown of Grenoble that every street ends in a mountain. On the slope of one of them is the most famous local attraction - the Bastille.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the authorities of Grenoble thought about how to facilitate access to the Bastille and at the same time provide the capital of the French Alps with a tourist highlight. This is how the idea of ​​building a cable car was born, which forever changed the face of Grenoble.

On September 29, 1934, a loud horn informed the townspeople about the start of the cable car, which became the world's first urban cable car. Very quickly, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it became the symbol of Grenoble, which it remains to this day.

The first passenger cabins were quite traditional: large "cars" that could accommodate up to 21 passengers. But in 1976, they were replaced by engineer Denny Kressel's small six-seat spherical Plexiglas cabins, which were soon dubbed bubbles and space eggs.

Fare: ?6.80 round trip.

Cableway Masada (Israel): the most historical
Masada is an ancient fortress built in the mountains of the Judean Desert by order of Herod the Great in 25 BC. e. Here, surrounded by impregnable rocks, the king created a refuge for himself, where palaces, a synagogue, baths, warehouses of provisions and weapons, and even a water pipe were built.

In 73 A.D. e. Masada was taken by the Romans, who used it as one of their strongholds, and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the fortress was forgotten until 1862, when archaeologists stumbled upon its ruins.

Masada has always attracted tourists, but only after 1971, when a cable car was built to it, did it become one of the most visited historical places in Israel. Before that, it was possible to climb to the top of the cliff only along the so-called snake path, which was used by the rebels in ancient times, and today by archaeologists.

The cable car leading to the top of the plateau is considered the lowest in the world: its lower station is at an altitude of 257 m above sea level, and the upper one is only 33 m higher. The distance to the top of the cabin - there are only two of them on the cable car - overcomes in a few minutes, gradually opening up more and more breathtaking views of the surrounding desert and the Dead Sea.

Fare: 72 shekels ($19) round trip.

Prague cable car: the oldest
Exactly 120 years ago, the most famous cable car in Prague was launched, leading to Petřín Hill.

It all started with the fact that in 1889 the Club of Czech Tourists went to Paris and was amazed by the view of the Eiffel Tower. A copy of it was built on Petřín Hill, and then they decided to build a cable car to it, which was built in less than a year. The cable car - not suspended, but a trailer on rails, set in motion by a rope - easily lifted 50 passengers to a height of 102 m at a time, and the waterwheel rotated the cables.

In 1916, the Petřín cable car stopped its operation due to the First World War - for a long 16 years. Only in 1932 it was launched again, replacing the water wheel with electric motors and lengthening it to the current 511 m. The second time the cable car stopped in 1965, when landslides destroyed part of the track. The inhabitants of Prague had to wait another 20 years before the famous funicular was able to take them to the top of Petřín Hill again. But since then, it has been included in the city's public transport system and stops only during scheduled inspections.

Lifting cost: 24 CZK ($1.2).

Cable car Complexo do Alemao (Brazil): the cheapest
The favelas of Rio de Janeiro have long been infamous as the most criminogenic quarters of the Brazilian capital, dangerous not only for tourists, but also for local residents. And the easiest way to get around here is on foot, since public transport practically does not go through the local hills and narrow streets.

Therefore, the Rio authorities decided to build a cable car over six suburbs of the Brazilian capital, which began operating in July 2011. Construction took a year and a half, and the costs amounted to 210 million reais.

Locals are entitled to two free tickets per day to the Complexo do Alemao, and those who exceed this limit will have to pay BRL 1 for the trip - the same as tourists pay.

The cableway, which can significantly facilitate access to the city's sports facilities, gained additional relevance on the eve of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro.

Fare: 1 Brazilian Real ($0.5).

Cable cars have become such a popular means of transport that they are being built specifically for the Olympics. Ropeways were originally designed exclusively for the transport of goods. They came up with this method, obviously, a resident of mountainous areas. They began to transport the necessary things in baskets through the gorges along the ropes. This method still exists today in the Himalayas.

Speaking of the cable car modern form It is worth noting that the first such vehicle appeared in 1866 in Switzerland. There, the cable car transported tourists to the observation deck.

In Russia, such transport appeared in 1871. With the help of it, a forest was transported through the wetlands. But the real boom in cable cars appeared in the second half of the last century, when skiing began to grow actively. Today there are many cable cars in the world, but we will tell you about the most famous of them.

Genting cable car, Malaysia. This road is famous for being the fastest. The city of Genting itself is located at an altitude of 2000 meters. This is the real Las Vegas of Malaysia, where everything is meant for entertainment. 20 luxury hotels have been built in Genting, there are several amusement parks here. It is in this city that the only allowed casino in the country is located. This whole empire was erected by the Chinese Lim Goh Tong. In the late 1960s, he put forward the idea of ​​creating a mountain resort here. But he was simply ridiculed, because the whole area here was covered with virgin dense jungle. However, the Chinese turned out to be stubborn, and in 1971 the first hotel was opened here. With the opening of the casino here, there have been much more tourists. However, one of the main modern prides of Genting is the cable car - the fastest in the world. It opened here on February 21, 1997. Cabins move here at a speed of 6 m / s. As a result, the path of 3380 meters from the lower station in the village of Kuala Bubu Baru to the city itself is overcome in just 11 minutes. Almost the entire path passes over the jungle. If the weather is clear, you can even see wild monkeys below. The round trip fare is only $3.

Cableway Gulmarg. It stands out for its high position. Since 1948, the Kashmir region has been disputed territory between Pakistan and India. For more than half a century there has been a fierce struggle for these lands. The region itself has ceased to be at least somewhat attractive for tourists. But more recently, hostilities in the states of Jammu and Kashmir have ceased. Local authorities rushed to restore tourism infrastructure. As a result, in Kashmir there are already several dozen popular places for visitors. Among them is the ski resort of Gulmarg, located in the Himalayas. In 2005, Sonia Gandhi launched the cable car here, the highest mountain in the world. The first part of it was launched in 1998. Then the rise was carried out to a height of 3100 meters. The second part has already allowed to rise to the mark of 4114 meters. The total length of the road was 5 kilometers, it allows transporting up to 600 people per hour. But before the opening of such a means of communication, skiers were forced to climb the mountains by helicopters. The cost of skiing was literally sky-high. Now the rise in the first part will cost 2.7 dollars, and in the second - 4.6 dollars.

Sternensauser cable car. Not everyone will dare to ride this road, because it is called one of the most terrible. An unusual cable car operates in the Swiss resort of Hoch-Ibrig. There are no booths here, you just need to put on a helmet and fasten your seat belts. This cableway means that passengers move under the weight of their own body. The Sternensauser consists of a single cable stretched 75 meters above the ground between several platforms. It is also the most long road this kind in the world. The route starts from the top station of the chair lift. From there the road descends into the valley. During the descent, the passenger accelerates to a speed of 90 km / h, which gives the illusion free fall. It is believed that here you can get a portion of adrenaline no less than when falling with a parachute. Only now you can ride on such an unusual road only in summer. Any adult and a child over 9 years old and whose height exceeds 130 centimeters can become a passenger. The passenger must weigh at least 30 and not more than 125 kilograms. The pleasure of the trip will cost 70 Swiss francs.

Cable car to Sentosa Island. This facility is located in Singapore. This road is distinguished by the fact that for the first time they began to use booths made entirely of glass. Sentosa Island is located 25 kilometers from Singapore. They say that it was from the local fishing village that the future state was born. Today, the island has become an Asian Disneyland. Tourists come here with pleasure, and Singaporeans themselves like to relax here. An amusement park and an aquarium have been built on the island. And you can buy white sandy beaches, whose line extends for three kilometers. You can get here by public transport, but many prefer to use the cable car. It is beautifully spread over the cable car. The authorities of the country thought about its construction in 1968, and 4 years later the object was launched. At first, 43 booths moved on the road, but today there are already 81 of them on the line, some of them completely glass. But even this was not enough for the Singaporeans. They also made their cable car a jewelry one. So, there are seven VIP cabins. Their roof and glass sides are decorated with Swarovski crystals. Not surprisingly, the cable car has become an expensive way for some to get to the island. A round-trip trip usually costs $18.

Tatev ropeway. It is located in Armenia. More recently, this cable car entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest in the world. It was launched on October 16, 2010. Official name roads - "Wings of Tatev". A week later, her record was confirmed. The road stretched for 5.7 kilometers over the Vorotan gorge. The first passengers were Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and seven children from nearby villages. The suspension road has become one of the stages of the program for the revival of Tatev, a medieval monastery of the 9th century. Back in 1390, a university was established here, where they taught both theology and secular disciplines. In 1931, the monastery was badly damaged by an earthquake, since then the restoration work has not been completed. Before the opening of the cable car, Tatev could only be reached by a steep serpentine. It ran along the cliff at an angle of 45 degrees. And in winter, this road was also heavily washed out. But now Tatev is available for visiting throughout the year. Cabins travel at a speed of 37 km / h, overcoming the path in just 11.5 minutes. Locals can climb here for free, but tourists will have to pay 6 euros.

Ropeway Miskhor (Ai-Petri). mountain plateau on south coast Crimea is called Yayla. In Turkish, this word means mountain plateau. Once upon a time, shepherds used to graze their cattle here. And even earlier, yaila was given a mystical meaning. Stone idols were installed here. One of the most famous yayla in the Crimea is Ai-Petrinskaya. The easiest way to climb it is by cable car. The ascent lasts 15 minutes, during which tourists can see the picturesque panorama Southeastern Crimea. The cable car is also in demand among local residents. After all, in winter it is the best and fast track to climb snow-capped peak and enjoy skiing and sledding. The suspension road was built for a long 20 years. She began to work in 1987, and a year later a general visit was opened on it. Today in Ukraine there are about 15 such cableways, most of them are located in the Crimea. But Miskhor - Ai-Petri is considered unique. Indeed, between the middle and upper stations there is the longest unsupported span in Europe. For two kilometers of the way there is not a single intermediate tower. You will have to pay about 15 dollars for the trip up and back.

Grenoble cable car. Usually cable cars run outside the city. This one is right in the city. This is not surprising, because even Stendhal wrote about his native Grenoble, that there every street ends with a mountain. On the slope of one of them is the most famous city landmark - the Bastille. A hundred years ago, the municipality thought about how it would be easier for tourists to get there. After all, this could make the capital of the French Alps even more attractive. It was decided to build a cable car, which eventually changed the face of the city. On September 29, 1934, the whistle sounded in Grenoble - the townspeople were given a signal to start a new urban transport. Like the Eiffel Tower for Paris, the road became a symbol of Grenoble, remaining so to this day. At first, passenger cabins were very traditional. These were large carriages that could accommodate 21 passengers. But then in 1976 the appearance of the road changed. Small six-seater cabins of their plastic, invented by engineer Denny Kressel, began to be used. For such appearance they were called cosmic eggs and bubbles. And you can ride the cable car back and forth for 6.8 euros.

Cableway Masada. The journey along this road will turn into a journey into history. Masada is ancient fortress, which was built by King Herod in the mountains of the Judean Desert in 25 BC. It was a shelter surrounded by impregnable rocks. The fortress had palaces, baths, food and weapons depots, a synagogue and water supply. In 73, Masada was taken by the Romans, who turned it into their stronghold. When the Roman Empire fell, the fortress was abandoned and forgotten. They remembered it in 1862, when archaeologists arrived here. These places have always been of interest to tourists, but with the construction of a cable car in 1971, there were even more guests. Previously, the path to the top lay along a narrow snake path, which was used in ancient times by the rebels, and today by archaeologists. Now you can go upstairs using the cable car. It is one of the lowest in the world. The lower station is at an altitude of 257 meters, while the upper one is only 33 meters higher. The whole journey lasts only a few minutes, and there are only two cabins on the cable car. They offer a picturesque panorama of the desert and Dead Sea. The round trip costs $19.

Prague cable car. This road boasts the title of the oldest. It was launched 120 years ago. The city road led to Petřín Hill. And it all started with a trip in 1889 of the Club of Czech Tourists to Paris. There they were amazed by the view of the Eiffel Tower. It was decided to build a copy of the tower on Petřín Hill, and a cable car was built there in just a year. She was not hanging. The trailer moved along the rails with the help of a rope. At one time, 50 people could move to a height of 102 meters. Then the cables of the road were rotated by a water wheel. Due to the First World War, the cable car stopped working for a long 16 years. In 1932 Prague cable car started transporting people again. Now the work was assigned to electric motors, not a water wheel. And the whole path was lengthened, becoming equal to 511 meters. This is how he is to this day. In 1965, the cable car was stopped again - part of the rails was destroyed by a landslide. Prague residents had to wait another 20 years for a new launch. Since then, the famous funicular has been an integral part of the city's public transport, interrupting its work only for sightseeing. The cable car ride will cost $1.2.

Complexo do Alemao cable car. This road is known for being the cheapest. It is located in Rio de Janeiro. The quarters of this city, known as favelas, have long gained a bad criminal reputation not only among tourists, but also among the locals themselves. Public transport there is practically no walking here - after all, the narrow streets are located on the hills. Therefore, the authorities of Rio solved the problem of building a cable car. It passes over six suburbs of the big city countries. The road began operating in July 2011. The construction lasted a year and a half, and it cost the authorities $87 million. The cable car stretched over the slums at a distance of 3456 meters. This is the longest city ​​road in the world. 152 cabins constantly go along it, which are capable of transporting up to 3 thousand people per hour. Local residents have the right to ride twice a day for free, and each subsequent trip will cost the same as tourists - about 50 cents. The cable car gained additional urgency after it became clear that Rio de Janeiro would host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. This form of transport can help facilitate access to some sports facilities.

Cableway Manhattan (Roosevelt Island). This road is rightfully considered the most cinematic. After all, the air tram, following between the two districts of New York, appeared in the tapes "Leon", "Nighthawks" and in "Spider-Man". But the city is located in a flat area. But despite this, the Americans decided to build a cable car here. She connected the Roosevelt Islands and Manhattan in 1976. Initially, it was planned that it would work only during the construction of metro line F. However, the locals liked traveling by air so much that it was decided to leave the cable car after the subway began to work. As a result, the road received the status of a full-fledged urban transport. We can say that it became the world's first aerial tram. When transport workers went on strike in 2005, only the cable car continued to carry passengers. In the same year and the following year, a couple of unpleasant incidents occurred - the cabs of the air tram got stuck on the East River. Passengers spent as much as 7 hours in limbo. This forced the transport workers to close the cable car for a while and carry out its reconstruction. The work lasted 5 months. Now each cabin is equipped with blankets, water, food supplies and even a toilet. A one-way cable car ride costs $2.25.

Cable car in Zhangjiajie park. This Chinese park boasts the steepest cable car. Zhangjiajie has long been loved by tourists. After all, it is here that the Wulingyuan cliffs are located, which inspired director Cameron's idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe flying mountains in the movie "Avatar". The park has famous mountain Tianmen and the legendary Heaven's Gate Cave. You can get to them by cable car. Many travelers call it the most breathtaking in the world after riding it. It is no coincidence that the cable car is called "the road to heaven". After all, in some segments it rises up at a steep angle of 70 degrees. It seems that the booths just crash into the sky. The whole way to the top lasts 40 minutes. The pressure drops are such that many visitors even pawn their ears. And the temperature in the cabin drops sharply when lifting. There is often thick fog over the park, which makes the surrounding beauty even more mysterious. The entire path is 7455 meters. Those who dare to overcome it all will open the highest natural cave in the world. It was created by nature by erosion. Residents of the surrounding area believe that she has supernatural powers. And you can go down from Tianmen Mountain by bus. A steep serpentine for him has exactly 99 turns. The rise will cost here 7.6 dollars.