Verzasca Dam

Hidden among the towering mountains of the Central Alps, the Verzasca Dam (also known as the Contra Dam) looms quietly in the background of the small resort town of Locarno, Switzerland. Constructed in the 1960s, the dam was originally meant to provide hydroelectric power to the Verzasca Valley region. But what makes the dam special is not just its impact on renewable energy, but rather the fact that every year thousands of adrenaline junkies jump off it—attached to bungee cords, of course.

The dam is featured in the 1995 James Bond movie GoldenEye. In order to infiltrate a Soviet chemical weapons facility, Pierce Brosnan's Bond bungee jumps off the dam in the movie's opening action sequence. Shortly after the film premiered, the owners of the dam began leasing out the space to a commercial bungee jumping operator and now anyone can test their 007 status. However, the jump is not for the faint of heart! It measures in at 220 meters (721 feet) and is the third-tallest bungee jump in the world.

For a little over 250 Swiss Franc, any brave soul can plunge into what seems like certain doom all while taking in the surreal view of the Swiss Alps throughout the journey. And for their more sensible friends and family members, there is a viewing platform right next to the bungee station that lets folks capture the once-in-a-lifetime moment on video.