10 Extreme Airport Runways You Won't Believe Exist

6. Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport - Madeira, Portugal

Madeira Airport Runway
Wikimedia

Renamed in 2016 after Madeira's most famous footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Madeira Airport has a runway like no other.

Back in 2000 the runway was extended over the water using 180 columns to hold it up. This makes it appear like it is built on stilts.

The unusual runway borders the ocean on one side and hills on this other. This means it is susceptible to high winds and turbulence, making it one of the most dangerous runaways to land a plane in Europe

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Jen has been a writer and video editor at WhatCulture for over 10 years. She has a BA Hons in History from Newcastle University and in a past life worked at Beamish Open Air Museum and was a corporate trainer (BTC Award in Education and Training). Jen joined WhatCulture to discuss all things Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World, as well as her love of all things movies. She has worked closely with Universal and Disney, giving WhatCulture readers breaking news and exclusives. Her knowledge of Disney parks has lead her to be published by The Sun. If you've ever completed a Disney movies or Friends quiz on WhatCulture it was probably written by Jen. Jen's love of all things Universal's Halloween Horror Nights brought her to WhatCulture's Horror Channel as a video editor. Her video edits can be found across WhatCulture's Film & TV and Horror channels, along with WhatCulture's Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts.