A Walk Above the Trees

I visited the Kinzua Sky Walk, an engineering marvel that was once the world's highest and longest viaduct. The Sky Walk offers stunning views of the Kinzua Gorge and the surrounding Allegheny National Forest. I was impressed by the steel structure that juts 301 feet over the valley, with a long viewing platform made of glass panels, and a spacious visitor center. The history of the viaduct is fascinating - it was built in 1882 to transport coal and oil and was later used for trains. In 2003, a tornado destroyed a portion of the viaduct and the state of Pennsylvania decided to turn the remaining towers into a tourist attraction. I found it remarkable how well the engineers could incorporate the old structure into the new design. I also learned about the biodiversity in this part of Pennsylvania, including the endangered Northern Flying Squirrel and various rare plants. Despite the windy conditions, I enjoyed my visit very much and recommend it highly.