The world’s shortest international bridge is a small wooden footbridge, just 3.2 metres long and 1.45 metres wide which crosses the border between Portugal and Spain.
When crossing the bridge, not only do you change countries, but you also change time zones – with Spain using CET/CEST and Lisbon on GMT/BST.
El Marco bridge, built in 2008, was funded by the EU and is situated in the Alentejo region of Portugal and connects the small village of Várzea Grande with the neighbouring Spanish village of El Marco in Extremadura.
It is so small that it is meant for pedestrians and cyclists only.
In the warmer months, the Arroyo Abrilongo River, which empties into the Gévora, is so narrow that you could almost jump across it without needing to use the footbridge.
Even before Schengen came into being, removing border checks between Spain and Portugal, locals from either side still crossed the river on a makeshift bridge made from planks.
The residents of the area speak what is known as “portuñol”, a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese, although many inhabitants are fluent in both languages.
Smuggling between the two countries was common: the Portuguese sold the Spanish coffee and towels while the Spanish sold knives and wine in return.
Thanks to the freedom of movement of people and trade through the Schengen Treaty, this is no longer necessary.
Before the bridge’s construction, the title was held by Zavikon Island, a small island located in Canada and connected by a bridge to another small island, which the island’s owner says belongs to the US.
This bridge is three times the size of El Marco.
