The world’s longest stairway is located at Niesenbahn
funicular on the face of Mt. Niesen in Switzerland has 11,674 steps.
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Nicknamed the ‘Swiss Pyramid’ for its triangular shape,
the 3.4 km staircase goes up the side of the mountain with 11,674 steps,
ranging from an altitude of 700 m at the bottom (from the side of the Kander
river in Mülenen) to 2363 m at the top (the terminus near the summit of the
mountain). Its average gradient is a monumental 55%, with a maximum of 65%.
For safety reasons, the staircase is normally closed to
the general public. But one day a year, in June, it is opened up for the
world’s longest single-staircase race – the ‘Niesen Treppenlauf’, otherwise
known as the ‘Niesenlauf’. During the course of this race, up to 500
participants get to climb the monster staircase at record-breaking
speeds. The record for the event is 1 hour and 2 minutes for men, and 1
hour and 9 minutes for women – which is really quite remarkable, considering
that reaching the top is the equivalent of climbing the Empire State Building
more than 7 times.
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