一步跨两国：一座19英尺的微型桥梁
Bridges have long connected countries and cultures. Among them, the El Marco International Bridge stands out as the shortest international bridge in the world. Stretching just 19 feet (about 6 meters), it links the Portuguese village of Várzea Grande to the Spanish village of El Marco. Though tiny, this bridge does more than cross the Abrilongo River — it bridges time zones, histories, and lives.
Crossing the bridge, you’d think you were just crossing a small stream in a rural area of Western Europe, but you couldn’t be more wrong. By taking these few steps over El Marco, you are not only crossing from one country into another, but you are also changing time zones. Spain follows Central European Time (CET), while Portugal uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). A single 19-foot walk across the bridge will transport you to a time period that is one hour ahead. You can think of it as the easiest way of time-traveling.
The bridge received a reconstruction in 2008 through European Union funding. Before its renovation, the bridge was crucial for trade — both legal and illegal. Farmers exchanged goods, while smugglers (走私者) secretly traded Portuguese coffee and olives for Spanish wine and knives. Even after the border controls elimination through the 1996 Schengen Agreement, the bridge remained a lively crossing. Villagers often repaired flood-damaged planks (木板) to keep trade flowing.
Today, the bridge symbolizes unity. Its small size contrasts with its big role in connecting cultures, economies, and daily lives. Apart from the locals who use it to travel between El Marco and Várzea Grande, the world’s smallest international bridge is also a popular tourist attraction. This 19-foot structure proves that even the smallest connections can overcome borders. As one local says, “The bridge isn’t just a path — it’s a handshake between two countries.”
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