Giants of the Asphalt: Inside Africa’s Longest Airport Runway
When people think of aviation hubs, massive terminals bustling with millions of international travelers usually come to mind. However, some of the most fascinating feats of engineering in the aviation world exist far away from crowded megacities. Tucked away in the Northern Cape of South Africa, Upington International Airport boasts a record-breaking feature that sets it apart from every other airfield on the continent: the longest airport runway in Africa.
Measuring Up: The Scale of Upington
At an astonishing 4,900 meters (16,076 feet) long, Upington’s main runway (designated 17/35) is a true marvel of civil engineering. To put that into perspective, it stretches for nearly 5 kilometers (over 3 miles). You could line up more than 40 standard commercial football pitches end-to-end along its length.
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