There’s a bridge called “El Marco” between Portugal and Spain. With a length of 3.2 meters (10.4 feet), it’s the shortest international bridge in the world. It connects the Spanish municipality of La Codosera (located in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura) with the Portuguese Arronches (in Portalegre District).
El Marco bridge
The construction of the tiny wooden bridge was funded by the European Union. It was built in the first decade of the 21st century by laborers from both Spain and Portugal sides of the stream.
Before El Marco was built, local people installed some metal plates and a handrail in the nineties, on one of its sides, to make passage safer.
In 2008, the Municipal Chamber of Arronches decided to build the current bridge, using funds of the European Union.
The cars cannot use the bridge, given its size. It is used largely by pedestrians, but bicycles and motorcycles can travel over it safely, too.
World’s smallest international bridge
Previously, the title of World’s Shortest International Bridge was erroneously awarded to the bridge that on Zavikon Island, which built in the late 19th century. Zavikon Island (refers to either the larger or the pair of islands) is in the Thousand Islands archipelago on the St. Lawrence River between New York and Ontario, 2 km (1.24 mi) southeast of Rockport, Ontario and about 200 meters (660 ft) north of the international boundary.
In fact, Zavikon Island is completely located in the Canadian territory. A popular but incorrect tale among local guides is that the larger island is in Canada, while “Little Zavikon Island” is in the United States, and the footbridge between them is the “shortest international bridge in the world”.
A popular but incorrect tale among local guides is that the larger island is in Canada, while “Little Zavikon Island” is in the United States, and the footbridge between them is the “shortest international bridge in the world”.
Even the Zavikon bridge was international (it is not), today, El Marco is at least 4 meters (13 feet) shorter than its North American counterpart.
Sources
- “The World’s Shortest International Bridge – you can cross from one country to another in a single hop on this little bridge” on Atlas Obscura
- “Guess where the Smallest International Bridge is” on the Portugal Adventures website
- “El Marco: the little story of the world’s smallest international bridge” on the Diplomat in Spain website
- “Thet world’s smallest international bridge. It connects Portugal with Spain.” on Reddit
- “The World’s Shortest International Bridge” on the Eye on Spain website
- What Is Max-Q and Why Is It Important During Rocket Launches? - January 16, 2025
- Top 10 Tallest Rockets Ever Launched [2025 Update] - January 16, 2025
- Top 20 Countries with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites [2024 Update With Photos] - November 22, 2024
