The Swing at the End of the World

The Swing at the End of the World

The Swing at the End of the World

Atlas Obscura
Your Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders
Nov. 27 2013 10:59 AM

Take a Seat on the Swing at the End of the World

Atlas Obscura on Slate is a blog about the world's hidden wonders. Like us on Facebook, Tumblr, or follow us on Twitter @atlasobscura.

Hike three hours uphill from the Ecuadorean city of Baños and you'll find a tree on the edge of an abyss. The simple wooden structure perched in its branches is a seismic monitoring station in disguise, built to keep an eye on nearby Mount Tungurahua. But that's not the most remarkable thing about this tree -- suspended from a thin branch is the Swing at the End of the World.

The swing, made from two long ropes and a slim stick of wood, arcs into the vast canyon. Take a seat, push yourself into the void, and hold on tight -- there is no harness and no safety net.

Advertisement

Swings and roundabouts:


View La casa del arbol in a larger map

Ella Morton is a writer working on The Atlas Obscura, a book about global wonders, curiosities, and esoterica adapted from Atlas Obscura. Follow her on Twitter.