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Jawdropping pics of the world’s most picturesque elevators that cling to mountains and soar above the sea

Incredible structures stretch thousands of feet into the air, giving tourists amazing panoramic views

THESE are some of the most extreme elevators in the world.

The incredible structures rise thousands of feet into the sky, giving tourists heart stopping views of mountains, lakes and wildlife.

 The Bailong Elevator is the tallest lift in the world
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The Bailong Elevator is the tallest lift in the worldCredit: Rex Features

The world’s tallest lift can be found deep in central China.

The Bailong Elevator can climb to a massive 1,070 feet in just two minutes and cost £13 million to build.

The huge lift, which is higher than the shard is the tallest and the heaviest outdoor lift in the world, according to People’s Daily Online.

It has also claimed three titles in the Guinness Book of World Records.

 The incredible lift can be found in the Zhangjiajie Forest Park in China
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The incredible lift can be found in the Zhangjiajie Forest Park in ChinaCredit: Rex Features

The elevator is the tallest lift, the tallest double-deck sightseeing elevator and the fastest passenger elevator with the biggest capacity.

The incredible lift is in the heart of the Zhangjiajie Forest Park in China.

The National park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is thought that James Cameron used the area as inspiration for the floating islands in the 2010 hit film Avatar.

 The Hammetschwand Elevator is thought to be the tallest in Europe
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The Hammetschwand Elevator is thought to be the tallest in EuropeCredit: Alamy
 Tourists jet up to the viewing platform in a glass elevator
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Tourists jet up to the viewing platform in a glass elevatorCredit: Alamy

The Hammetschwand Elevator in Switzerland boasts that it is the highest outdoor lift in Europe.

The glass elevator shoots tourists 500ft into the air, giving visitors panoramic over the city of Lucerne.

The incredible journey shows off the clear blue waters of the city’s lake.

At the top, tourists can step onto a viewing platform to take in the fresh breezes.

 A special lift can transport tourists to the top of St Louis' famous arch
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A special lift can transport tourists to the top of St Louis' famous archCredit: Alamy

Missouri visitors can ride up a 630-foot-high arch which boasts impressive views of the city of St Louis.

The St Louis Gateway Arch sits on the west bank on the Mississippi river, dwarfing the rest of the city’s skyline.

Four million visit the iconic structure every year, but only one million people make it all the way to the top.

The space-age Mercedez-Benz Museum Elevator in Germany looks more like it belongs in a science fiction film.

It forms part of the modernist museum devoted to the car manufacturer and transports tourists back to the 19th century, found on the top floor.

The sleek metal elevator fits with the minimal modern design of the Stuttgart museum.

 This space-age lift can be found in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Germany
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This space-age lift can be found in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in GermanyCredit: Alamy
 This incredible contraption would be more suited to a science fiction film than a museum
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This incredible contraption would be more suited to a science fiction film than a museumCredit: Alamy

Visitors only have a small slit of a window to peer through as they rise through the exhibition.

Tourists flock to the AquaDom in Berlin for an immersive aquatic experience.

The extraordinary lift goes straight through the centre of an exotic fish tank in the Radisson Blu hotel in the German capital.

It is thought to be the largest cylindrical tank in the world and cost £9 million to make.

The 82-foot tank lets visitors get up close and personal with 1,500 fish.

 The lift at the Radisson Blu hotel in Berlin goes inside a massive fish tank
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The lift at the Radisson Blu hotel in Berlin goes inside a massive fish tankCredit: Alamy
 Tourists can get up close and personal to 1,500 fish
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Tourists can get up close and personal to 1,500 fishCredit: Alamy

The Lacerda Elevator, Brazil’s first lift, towers above sparkling blue coastline.

The impressive Art Deco structure was built in 1873 and is a popular tourist draw in the state of Bahia.

The historic lift is still being used today.

 19th century lift, the Lacerda Elevator, is still in use today
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19th century lift, the Lacerda Elevator, is still in use todayCredit: Alamy
 Visitors can be elevated up to enjoy beautiful views of the Brazilian coastlline
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Visitors can be elevated up to enjoy beautiful views of the Brazilian coastllineCredit: Alamy

In hilly Lisbon, tourists can get an eagle-eyed view with the Santa Justa Lift.

The intricate gothic tower rises above the other buildings in the capital, standing at 148 feet.

Built in 1905, the lift was originally used to connect the lower and higher levels of the city.

But the old lift is constrained by size and can only let 29 people up at a time.

The ornate decoration around the elevator is lit up at night.

 Ornate Portugese lift, the Santa Justa elevator, was used to connect the lower and upper sections of the city of Lisbon
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Ornate Portugese lift, the Santa Justa elevator, was used to connect the lower and upper sections of the city of LisbonCredit: Alamy
 The incredible elevator is lit up at night
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The incredible elevator is lit up at nightCredit: Alamy

By far one of the most familiar of the extreme elevators, the Eiffel Tower lift climbs a staggering 948 feet.

Tourists have to take two lifts to finally reach the top of the Parisian monument.

The tower is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the French city, bringing in seven million visitors each year.

 Seven million people cram into the lifts of the Eiffel Tower every year
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Seven million people cram into the lifts of the Eiffel Tower every yearCredit: Alamy
 The subtle lift in the Louvre brings space-age technology to the ornate palace
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The subtle lift in the Louvre brings space-age technology to the ornate palaceCredit: Alamy
 Visitors stand on top of the cylinder and are brought down to the lower levels of the museum
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Visitors stand on top of the cylinder and are brought down to the lower levels of the museumCredit: Rex Features

But people afraid of heights can take the stairs to the first floor.

The elegant lift in the Louvre can makes it seem like one of the museum’s staircase is floating in the air.

The giant cylinder subtly disappears into the ground to transport art lovers to the lower floors of the museum.

 The lift to the top of the Rockefeller Building boasts a light show to entertain visitors
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The lift to the top of the Rockefeller Building boasts a light show to entertain visitorsCredit: Alamy
 Tourists can see exactly what is going on in the lift shaft as the elevator has a glass ceiling
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Tourists can see exactly what is going on in the lift shaft as the elevator has a glass ceilingCredit: Alamy

Tourists have to step onto the massive cylinder, which then disappears into the Parisian palace.

While romantic visits to the top of the Empire State Building were popularised by the movie Sleepless in Seattle, the Rockefeller Building lift is an experience in itself.

To get to the top of the rock, tourists have to go into a lift with a glass ceiling.

This gives visitors an unparalleled insight into the inner workings of how the lift works.

As they zoom up 800 feet into the air, visitors can look up at the illuminated inner workings.


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