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Highest Bridge in the World BASE Jumping Competition

Description:China held its first-ever BASE jumping challenge event on the world's highest bridge in Anshun City, southwest China's Guizhou Province on Saturday. The 2012 China Anshun Balinghe Bridge Parachuting International Challenge drew a field of 30 world-class parachute jumpers from 15 countries. After jumping off the bridge, competitors would reach free falling speeds of up to 55 miles per hour before opening their parachute with just about 300 feet left to coast. BASE jumping which stands for four categories of fixed objects - buildings, antennas, spans, and earth. Due to the limited altitude, jumpers have been left with only about five seconds of free falling time before opening their parachute. The time frame is considered to be barely enough to establish any aerodynamic control of their bodies. With a span of just over 3500 feet and a total length of just under a mile and a half, the Balinghe Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge with 375 meters or 1230 feet of clearance above the river. (1:12)

Source: IBTimesTV

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