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I’m sure everyone has heard about the sport of base jumping, but not many people know where they can go to enjoy it. Below I am going to write about some of the best places in the world to jump off of buildings, cliffs, and mountains with a parachute. Base jumping is very similar to sky diving; you get hooked up your harness, check your gear and make sure everything is properly secured before getting into position (usually standing on or hanging from something).
The only difference between the two sports is that (1) BASE jumpers use only one parachute, whereas skydivers employ two (there`s a backup reserve in case the first malfunctions); and (2), while skydivers have thousands of feet of ground clearance, BASE jumpers are practically at ground level upon landing.
The sport of base jumping is very dangerous, not to mention illegal in some parts of the world, but it has gained a huge following among adrenaline junkies who crave an intense thrill. Many people go skydiving once or twice just for the experience because it’s safe and there’s less risk involved, but popular places for BASE jumping are brimming with regulars that come back over and over again for the thrilling rush. It takes months of practice before you can even start thinking about being able to do this sport well.
The professionals who jump off buildings usually jump at least 10 stories high so they have ample room to maneuver their parachutes and glide safely to the ground. This sport is definitely hazardous, but even if you’re just a beginner at it, there are places in the world where you can hone your skills without having to worry about getting arrested or seriously injured. I’ve only listed a few of the most popular places for BASE jumping (out of hundreds), but they are some of the best spots for this thrilling sport in the entire world!
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Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France is one of the most popular places to BASE jump in the entire world. It’s not illegal to do it here since there are no signs indicating that you can’t or you will be stopped by security guards if they see you coming. A new trend among people jumping off this historic tower has been to wear cosplay costumes so they can get the most epic jump photos. If you’re thinking about doing this, I would recommend you not wear your Hogwarts robes or giant Mario costume when debuting that parachute in midair because it might attract some attention from the authorities and ruin your day.
Burj Khalifa, Dubai
The Burj Khalifa skyscraper is the tallest building in the world standing at 829.8 m (2722 feet) high. The view from the top of this giant structure is absolutely breathtaking, but that’s not why people are willing to risk their lives by jumping off of it. This place is one of the best places for BASE jumping because there are many different ways to get to the top in case you’re scared of heights, and there are no security guards at the top so you won’t get caught!
Victoria Falls Bridge, Livingstone, Zambia
The Victoria Falls Bridge lives up to its name because it’s literally a bridge over the world-famous Victoria Falls. This bridge is used for bungee jumping and is one of the most popular jump spots in Zambia. It has a breathtaking view where you can watch people bungee jump over the Zambezi River, but if that’s not enough action for you, then maybe BASE jumping off of this bridge will get your blood pumping since it’s illegal to do it anywhere else on this side of the falls.
The Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA
This location has been a hotspot for all extreme sports, including skydiving and base jumping. It’s a little harder to get permission here because there are rangers that patrol the area frequently and they do not look kindly on jumpers. You will be charged for trespassing if you are caught, but it’s still legal to do so as long as you have expressed permission from the Park Rangers. Some of the best spots here include both rims of The Grand Canyon and Maverick’s Point.
Kjerag, Norway
This isn’t exactly a building, but Kjeragbolten in Norway is one of the most famous spots for BASE jumping in the world. This dangerous jump involves jumping off a giant boulder that’s wedged between two mountains with nothing on either side of it so you would have to hope you open your parachute at just the right time and glide down to the ground or face certain death. It’s definitely not something I would recommend trying without proper BASE jumping experience.
Perrine Bridge, Idaho, USA
Perrine Bridge is another popular spot for BASE jumping in the USA with people gathering here during summer months, especially on weekends. When you jump off this bridge into the Snake River, it’s important to remember that this river isn’t very deep at some points, so you will most likely end up hitting the bottom if your parachute fails to open. BASE jumping here is illegal. It’s best to go during the early morning hours when traffic isn’t as high.
The Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites has been very popular for this sport for decades and there’s even a festival that takes place every year in the Italian Alps. It’s considered to be pretty easy to get permission because most of the people doing it are locals. The dangers involved include both low-level jumps and high-altitude ones like off Monte Piana.
Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa
Table Mountain is an absolutely gorgeous place to visit in Africa with some great hiking trails, but it’s also one of the more popular places for BASE jumping around. The jump is 1.086 m which makes it one of the highest jumps you can get legally since they are quite short distance-wise. I would be extra careful when doing this jump because the mountains here are very steep and one wrong move could spell disaster.
The Troll Wall, Norway
This is another jump that involves leaping off a vertical cliff face. The Troll Wall in Norway is over 1100 m high, which makes it one of the highest jumps you can legally do anywhere. The top of this mountain has many different places where anyone can get an epic view of the surrounding landscape and take some awesome pictures. If you are doing this jump, I recommend you only do it if you’re very experienced with BASE jumping because the consequences of slipping up here would be catastrophic.
Navagio Beach, Zakynthos Island, Greece
While the name might not sound too attractive, this beach is one of the best places to BASE jump in Greece. You will need permission (or at least you should) because it is illegal to do so in the area. The ocean views here are some of the most epic in all of Greece and it’s worth trying to do this jump when you visit if you are into that whole BASE jumping thing.
Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Climbers and BASE jumpers alike love Yosemite National Park for its sheer cliffs that are only suitable for the brave (or crazy). Some of the most popular places to do this include El Capitan and Half Dome. The cliffs here range from over 1000 ft high all the way up to 4,000 ft high. People who are not experienced with BASE jumping should steer clear because this is one of the most dangerous places you can jump in the world.
Angel Falls, Venezuela
Angel Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world with its nearly 979m falls. It is considered to be the highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world. There are some obstacle issues because of how crazy this jump would be, but it’s definitely worth trying to do if you are into BASE jumping. The views here are outstanding and you will definitely see some of the most gorgeous things in the world when you are up above this waterfall.
