The most extreme roads in the world. Road in Taroko Gorge, Taiwan. Barton Highway, Australia
Dangerous roads of the world
For some, such roads are a real nightmare, while others are attracted to them by some kind of magical force. Lack of guardrails, slippery sandy slopes, steep inclines, suddenly crossing water streams, mountain passes and other "charms" - that's what these tracks can offer to drivers who lack adrenaline in life.
Those who venture on a risky journey need to pack more courage in the trunk of their car. Without it, it is impossible to conquer the most dangerous roads peace.
Seventh place - Stelvio Pass
The pass is located at an altitude of 2757 meters above sea level and is the largest in Italy and the second largest in the Alps. A 50 km road connects italian region Lombardy with South Tyrol. The path through the Stelvio, which is allowed from the end of May to November, was opened in 1829. Since then, the high-altitude zigzag route has changed little. Many narrow places, steep climbs, descents and 75 turns - this is a real challenge for drivers Vehicle and their passengers. Speeding and inattention behind the wheel more than once led to sad consequences.
Stelvio is a popular track for motorsport fans, and the Girod'Italia cycling race is also held here every year. The pass is a favorite location for Top Gear filming. Among the mountain slopes, famous racers and thrill-seekers test their driving skills.
Sixth place - Karakorum Highway
Previously, this road connecting China and Pakistan was called the Great Silk Road. In 1986, the 20-year construction of the Karakoram Highway, which is 1,300 km long, was completed. Throughout the route, drivers are unlikely to be able to show the wonders of fast driving - the average speed here is about 40 km / h. And this is due not only to the poor condition of the asphalt pavement. Sharp turns, deep cliffs, frequent downpours, as well as snow and stone blockages that occur in these places with frightening regularity.
In 2010, a huge landslide in the Hunza Valley caused flooding that inundated 22 kilometers of the highway. Until 2015, the section of the road passing through Lake Attabad could only be crossed by boat. Today, a network of tunnels has been built around the rubble, the portals of which are often blocked by glaciers that have descended from the mountains.
Fifth place - Guoliang tunnel
The tunnel in China's Taihang Mountains is not only on the list of the most dangerous roads in the world, but also stands out for its incredible history of construction. In 1970, 300 residents of the small village of Guoliang, connected to the outside world only by a narrow mountain staircase, asked the government to build a road. Their application was denied. In 1972, 30 of the village's strongest men, using simple hand tools, began carving a path into the rock.
Five years later, a road appeared that cost the lives of many villagers and became an example of perseverance and hard work Chinese people. The length of the tunnel with 30 light-transmitting windows is 1.2 km, width - 4 meters, height - 5 meters. Now the track, carved into the mountain, not only connects Guoliang with the world, but also serves as a kind of attraction for those who wish to ride along the stone "pipe".
Fourth place - Trollstigen (Troll Ladder)
A breathtaking panorama opens up before the eyes of motorists traveling along the Åndalsnes-Valldal route. Among the majestic mountains, at a 9% slope, a winding path winds, which has become one of the main attractions of Norway. But deep-sea fjords, endless valleys and a sparkling 180-meter-high waterfall should not distract drivers. scenic road prepared a surprise in the form of eleven dizzying turns and narrow sections 3.3 meters wide, suitable for the passage of only one car, the length of which does not exceed 12.4 meters.
Due to the humid climate, the risk of avalanches, and the icy air of Norwegian winters, the winding Troll Ladder is accessible from May to mid-September. Yes, and in the summer you should not forget about caution - ride on steep slopes permitted at a speed not exceeding 80 km/h.
Third place - Kabul-Jalalabad highway
A partially destroyed roadway, a continuous series of bottomless cliffs, winding sections and sharp elevation changes - all this is a 60-kilometer highway linking the Afghan cities of Kabul and Jalalabad. Local motorists are not too concerned about compliance with the rules traffic and only hearsay about speed limits.
Runner-up - Zoji La Pass
Drivers who decide to conquer the path that connects Indian cities Cashmere and Ladakh, better buckle up and hold on tight to the steering wheel. For those who do not have extreme driving experience, it is difficult to imagine how Zoji La Pass can be overcome in a car. The high-mountain pass, 9 km long, laid at an altitude of 3,529 meters, abounds the most dangerous areas, meeting travelers with sharp turns, frequent landslides and non-stop downpours for days.
The path to the top of Zoji La Pass rises in an almost vertical wall and narrows inexorably. Where the clouds touch the mountains, the road turns into a narrow path. Vehicles can only travel in one direction. In the cold season, the pass, which is part of the Himalayan range, is covered with snow, so traffic is open here from May to October. At night, it is forbidden to move along the fatal route.
The most dangerous road in the world
The most dangerous road in the world is the northern Yungas road.- a 70 km long path connecting the capital of Bolivia, La Paz, and Coroico, a city in the west of the country. The track is only 3.5 meters wide. Only 20 km are covered with asphalt, and the rest of the way is buried in mud, which does not at all contribute to serene driving.
Yungas originates at an altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level and gradually decreases to 330. Mountains support the road on one side, and a 600-meter deep abyss on the other. In some areas, cars passing by are forced to hang over the abyss. Fortunately, since 2007, a bypass has been operating in this area of Bolivia. Today, this road attracts mainly lovers of extreme driving.
The list of the most dangerous roads in the world until recently included the Russian Federal Highway Lena. In the people, it was deservedly called the "hellish highway." The shocking state of the road surface and the nasty weather that prevailed from the Amur to Yakutsk made several areas impossible to drive through. But the large-scale construction work that has unfolded on the A360 (the former M56) gives hope that by 2025 northern route become a "way of life".
An article about the 10 most dangerous roads in Russia. Characteristics of dangerous federal highways of the country. At the end of the article - interesting video about dangerous roads of the north of Russia.
The content of the article:
Research Russian roads held annually by various organizations. All-Russian People's Front, Rosavtodor, community centers road safety organizations collect data on the total number of accidents, including fatalities, the level of crime on the roads of Russia and other important information to determine the sad leaders among the routes dangerous for motorists.
On the basis of the conducted studies, it was revealed that more than 6 thousand people die every year on almost a hundred existing routes. Having carried out elementary calculations with the length of the routes and the number of victims of an accident, depressing statistics were obtained: for every 100 km there are 12 dead people, that is, every 8 km take 1 life.
In 2015, the Ural, Volga and Caucasus highways were recognized as anti-leaders among the roads, and the Moscow Region and the Krasnodar Territory took the first places among federal roads.
Experts believe that the main reason for such a high death rate is the illiterate regulation of road safety. Thus, many regions use all allocated funds for the purchase of equipment to fix violations. And the fines introduced thanks to them also do not go to ensure the traffic safety program.
Rosavtodor calls the main causes of accidents driving into the oncoming lane, speeding and lack of driving culture. The first reason is easily eliminated by installing flow separators that are this moment have only 40% of all federal highways.
Despite the fact that the tasks of the target federal program and so are not solved, the state annually reduces the amount of budgetary funds allocated for it. So, in 2015, it decreased by 600 million rubles.
Anti-rating of federal highways
1. A 146 Krasnodar-Verkhnebakansky
The main Kuban route is recognized as the most dangerous in Russia. It runs through a number of densely populated villages, along which every year towards warm waters The Black Sea is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists.
The road originates in the capital of the Kuban and deepens into Novorossiysk, passing mostly along the plain, only after Krymsk meeting with low-mountain relief and the Wolf Gate Pass.
The asphalt highway is 8-18 meters wide for 2-4 traffic lanes, respectively, in some places dividing barriers are installed. However, this did not stop the road from becoming the anti-leader of our rating with 5 victims for every 10 km.
2. R 217 Caucasus
The most picturesque, but also the most difficult track in the country, replete with ascents, descents and serpentines. With a total length of 1118 km, this road crosses the Terek, Kuban and Argun rivers three times, pleases with good coverage and beautiful views. The disadvantages include the width of the track - two-lane traffic does not allow overtaking and any other maneuvers on the road.
Quite recently, there was a big problem on the section of the highway near the village of Korkmaskala, which, for all its danger, did not have a sufficient level of illumination and even a traffic light at the intersection. Only after a prosecutor's check and a corresponding order, the road services brought the highway into proper condition.
3. A 155 Cherkessk-Dombay
The track takes only 143 km, which can be covered in 2.5 hours. It survived a major overhaul and a thorough restoration of the bridge over the Teberda River, has markings. Up to Ust-Dzheguta there is a 4-lane traffic, which then turns into 2 lanes.
The danger of the route lies in the fact that it passes through forest and mountainous areas, which can not always be overcome in bad weather conditions. Although the mountain slopes are fortified and have a protective net, go to these sections of the route in winter and late autumn Not recommended.
The most difficult section of the road is considered to be the section between Karachaevsk and Teberda, characterized by a strong narrowing of the road and a large number of sharp turns.
4. A 290 Novorossiysk-Kerch
The 166-kilometer track suffers the most from weather conditions. In the summer, the hottest period, the authorities even prohibit freight transport cross the highway during the daytime to avoid damaging the asphalt pavement.
The section of the road on the approach to the Kavkaz port was in a very deplorable state, where there were many minor and major damages, as well as problems with drainage.
With a fairly heavy traffic of 20 thousand cars per day, the route has only 2, in some sections 3 lanes.
5. A 104 Moscow-Dmitrov-Dubna
Laid along the canal. Moscow's 125-meter highway has long exhausted its capacity, forming monstrous traffic jams. The authorities finally undertook a colossal restructuring of the road, including in order to increase its safety. The scope of work includes the reconstruction of utilities, electric lighting lines, retaining walls, spans and beams, widening of the roadway, arrangement of traffic without traffic lights, as well as dividing flows into different levels and installation of noise screens.
6. M10 Russia
One of the oldest directions from Moscow through Tver and Velikiy Novgorod V cultural capital our country also did not escape the shameful rating. The track is securely assigned the title of "emergency and difficult" due to the numerous sharp turns, descents and ascents, places with limited visibility and sections that run along the dams of reservoirs.
As part of the traffic program, the track was equipped with 30,000 reflective elements, and a 42-kilometer cable barrier structure was installed. Its purpose is to separate the flows of oncoming traffic. In just 10 months of operation, the number of accidents at the upgraded site decreased by 20%.
7. A 240 Bryansk-Novozybkov
The highway borders on the Republic of Belarus and often gets into the news reports as one of the most emergency. IN winter period mobile points emergency assistance motorists have become familiar to the eye picture. Although during the period of snowfalls all road services of the Bryansk region are transferred to emergency mode, the situation with drivers freezing on the highway has been repeated for several years.
During a statistical study of dangerous roads in Russia, it was revealed that out of 74 million rubles allocated for ensuring safe traffic, almost half was spent on equipment for fixing violations, more than 20 million - on updating thermoplastic road markings, 3 million - on the purchase and the installation of road signs, a total of 1 million - for the wire fence described above. There were not enough funds for traffic lights, pedestrian barriers, or accident prevention.
In 2015, a major overhaul of a 13-kilometer section of the route was carried out along the latest technologies. Thus, the laid coating is mixed from foamed bitumen with asphalt concrete warm mixes, and a geogrid is fixed between the layers of asphalt from the potential occurrence of cracks. A lighting system was set up along the route, road signs and installed plumbing.
8. M3 Ukraine
Built under Khrushchev, the 500-kilometer highway runs through the Moscow, Kursk and Bryansk regions, looking along the way into the family nest of the Secretary General - the village of Kalinovka.
For 40 years of operation, the road lined with concrete slabs has fallen into an extremely deplorable state. Prior to Kaluga, its condition can be described as tolerable - a site in the Bryansk region has been repaired. The rest of the mileage is potholes. varying degrees depth and width, in some places the road builders laid asphalt on top of dilapidated concrete, which made even larger cracks.
Therefore, "Ukraine" is especially dangerous during bad weather, when pits and ruts are insidiously hidden by rain. This is probably why the highway is not the busiest in the country.
9. A 151 Tsivilsk-Ulyanovsk
In general, this is a 3-lane highway of average quality, which runs through flat terrain. Getting into the rating of dangerous roads was due to a steep descent near the village of Shikhazany, where a speed limit of 50 km / h is set, which regulates the traffic police post.
There is a school in the village of Kalaikasy right next to the highway. The section of the road opposite it is equipped with a traffic light and a pedestrian crossing, which, unfortunately, does not always save children from reckless drivers.
10. M7 Volga
One of the most "dacha" directions leading from Moscow to Vladimir and further to Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Ufa, has over a dozen areas of increased accident rate. Only in the Petushinsky district, 4 places cause concern - at 100, 106, 107 and 120 kilometers.
The main causes of accidents on this road are non-observance of the distance and speed limit by motorists, driving into the oncoming lane, incorrect rebuilding on the lane, as well as pedestrians entering the carriageway.
In Lakinsk, where there are a large number of intersections, pedestrian crossings and numerous junctions to the main highway, pedestrians are very often run over, non-observance of the rules for crossing intersections and speeding.
Conclusion
Other equally popular routes can supplement our tragic list:
- M-58 Chita - Skovorodino where swampy soil washes away poor-quality coverage, causing "waves" and pits. There are practically no gas stations here, which forces you to stock up on your own fuel. And at night, cases of attacks by criminal gangs on motorists are not uncommon.
- A360 "Lena" Never - Yakutsk in general it is difficult to call the track. This is a broken road, shrouded in clouds of dust in the summer and impassable even in the "Ural" in the fall. But the main problem is the lack of a bridge across the Lena River. In the summer there is a queue for ferry crossing, in winter it is proposed to move directly on the ice with the risk of being under it in case of a thaw.
- M-5 "Ural" outwardly it is distinguished by high-quality coating, the presence of cafes, hotels and gas stations. But the extreme congestion of the highway leads to a high accident rate, and due to the concentration of correctional camps along the highway, to a frightening percentage of crime.
Video about dangerous roads in the north of Russia:
"Fools and roads" - this problem concerns not only our country. The problem of dangerous and mediocre roads exists in many countries of the world. About the existence of some of them, we could not even imagine.
We present you the "Top 10" most dangerous roads of our time.
10. Gravelly Hill (England).
Spaghetti Crossing is the most confusing road junction in the United Kingdom. Pleases only one thing - the quality of this road at altitude. The Gravelly Hill Interchange was developed in 1965. 560 reinforced concrete columns support six levels of this interchange. At this intersection, you will have 18 options to continue driving. The complex interweaving of Birmingham leads even the most experienced drivers into a stupor.
09. Stelvio Pass (Italy).
This road lies in northern Italy. Construction began in 1820 and lasted more than five years. The road is alpine, the highest point of which has a height of 2757 km, and the road itself, 44 km long, is one of the most dangerous in the world. Trailers are prohibited in this area. The maximum slope of the road is 14%. The world's popular TV show "Top Gear" considered that this road - the best place for aesthetic driving pleasure.
08. Atlantic road (Norway).
The original construction of this road gives this place a beautiful shell, but in fact saturates it with dangerous descents and turns. This road is a favorite object of tourists. It connects two settlements Kristiansund and Molde. During a storm, waves break right onto the road, intimidating naive tourists. The Atlantic Road is one of the most scenic highways in the world, connecting 12 bridges on its way. The length of the road is 36 km.
07. Fairy meadows (Pakistan).
This gravel road describes its name exactly the opposite. It lies in the northwest of the Himalayas. The name of this road, once upon a time, was invented by German climbers. The road is located at an altitude of 3 km above sea level. The road does not contain any fences, only the mountains and expanses of Pakistan. The inhabitants of this country manage to pass along this path in buses and trucks. If you travel the world and love extreme adventure- this route is for you.
06. Zoji Pass (India).
This site is located at an altitude of 3529 meters and is part of the Himalayan range. The Indian mountain road is constantly exposed to raging winds, heavy snowfalls, so in winter this road is impassable and remains closed. This pass is vital and connects such settlements as Kashmir and Ladakh. They were subjected to fierce fighting in 1948 between Pakistan and India, and constantly changed hands.
05. Sichuan-Tibet (China).
The 2411 km highway is located between Tibet and Chengdu. Fourteen mountains carry this road, surrounded by dozens of Tibetan rivers and wild forests. highest point these mountains are 6095 m. The number of car accidents that have occurred here exceeds all international standards established World Organization healthcare! This highway is considered one of the most dangerous not only in China, but throughout the world.
04. Siberian road (Russia).
The road runs all the way to Yakutsk (highway M56), and there is simply no other official passage to this city. The length of the highway is 1236 km. Passenger cars this is not the place. Even tractors and trucks get stuck in blurry road mud. The condition of the highway is catastrophic, and whether the situation will be harmed in the near future. Language does not dare to call this road "federal". And what is happening on this road in winter? Air transport remains the most adequate way to Yakutsk.
03. Taroko Gorge (Taiwan).
The beautiful tunnel road of Teroko Gorge is a favorite route among tourists, however, it is very dangerous to go this way without a guide! The road runs through tunnels measuring 4 x 3 (height and width). A large amount of marble is mined in the Taroko Gorge, and the Taroko road is the way to transport this rock.
02. Halsema (Philippines).
Halsema also has the name " mountain path". This is the highest highway in the Philippines (7.4 km above sea level). The highway was named after American-born engineer Julius Hobzems. This man came to the post of mayor of the city of Baguio in the 1920s and 30s. The construction of this road took about seven years and local residents were used as builders. During the rainy season, a large number of landslides are observed in these places, which are a danger to all road users.
01. North Yungas (Bolivia).
The "Road of Death" has a length of almost 66 km and is located at an altitude of 4.5 km. In 1995, this road was named the most dangerous in the world. About 400 tourists a year died on this route. Commemorative marks and signs have been installed at the places of death of people. In 2006, another path was created, however, North Yungas still remains a path of constant "adventure".
We often complain about the quality of roads in Russia, but there are roads in the world that are much wilder and more dangerous. Did you know that 5 times more people die every year on the most dangerous road on the planet than from shark attacks? Want to know more? Read under the cut...
No. 10. Karnali Highway, Nepal
The 250 km Karnali Highway in Nepal takes the lives of 50 people every year. The road is a very narrow strip of land bordering a cliff. It is crowded even on a motorcycle, not to mention cars. Most the passage of cars on the highway is prohibited.
A large number of deaths on the Karnali Highway is due to the lack of barriers on the highway, landslides, rockfalls.
Despite the danger and the impressive number of victims, hundreds of cars drive here every day. The highway connects dozens of villages and is often the only way to get to some settlements.
No. 9. Skippers Canyon Road, New Zealand
The British drivers association Driving Experience called Skippers Canyon Road "as scary as it is beautiful". Skippers Canyon Road is a very narrow road that regularly experiences rockfalls and is completely covered in snow in winter.
This mountain road with a huge number of steep descents into the gorge is so dangerous that it requires maximum concentration, patience and even a special permit to drive on it.
No. 8. Sichuan-Tibet Highway, China
Landslides and avalanches regularly occur on the Sichuan-Tibet highway. The length of the road is 2142 km. Here, for every 100 thousand people, 7.5 thousand deaths are recorded.
No. 7. Karakoram Highway, China and Pakistan
This road has already claimed 900 lives. And this is the number of dead workers who participated in the construction of the road. Someone just flew into a cliff, someone was blown up while laying the road.
No. 6. Kabul Jalalabad, Afghanistan
The Kabul-Jalalabad highway has a length of 60 km and is a continuous series of sharp turns and sharp cliffs. Almost every day there are terrible accidents. But the reason lies not only in the road itself, but also in the fact that local drivers neglect the rules of the road. The situation is aggravated by the fact that for several years the route has been under the control of representatives of the anti-government Taliban movement.
Accounting for deaths on the track for last years practically never done. But even the data available to local authorities allows us to call this road the most dangerous in Afghanistan and one of the deadliest on the planet.
No. 5. Guolian Tunnel, China
The famous Guoliang Tunnel, which is located in the Taihang Mountains, is a national landmark of China. The length of the tunnel is 1.2 km, it was built by 13 local residents for 5 years. Many of the builders died. The road was opened on May 1, 1977. The tunnel became popular tourist attraction in China as it has many windows overlooking the valley. The Goliyan tunnel is especially dangerous to drive in the rainy seasons. Accidents happen here every year.
No. 4. Trollstigen, Norway
The "Troll Staircase" or "Troll Road" is one of Norway's most popular attractions. The picturesque road climbing the mountain slope with 11 sharp sharp turns attracts tourists from all over the world.
The Norwegian government is well aware that this is one of the most dangerous roads, and therefore they are trying to expand this road, located on the side of the mountain.
No. 3. Commonwealth Avenue, Philippines
Drivers in the Philippines know to stay away from Commonwealth Avenue. The length of the road is 12 km, it has 18 lanes, serious traffic jams and accidents often occur here. Thousands of people die here every year from accidents.
No. 2. Zoji La Pass, India
The dangerous winding road Zoji La Pass is located in Indian Kashmir. The road on the pass rises to a height of 3500 m and is over 11 km long. The pass is often closed in winter, local authorities they try to clear the pass of snow to organize traffic, but this is not always possible. The road is very narrow, so the traffic on it is one-way. Since it is impossible to pass, the cars pass each other in turn. Such conditions lead to fatal accidents.
No. 1. North Yungas Road, Bolivia
North Yungas Road literally corresponds to the name "road of death". For hundreds of people every year, a trip down Yungas Road becomes their last trip. About 300 people die every year from accidents on this highway. There are many memorials along the way.
In 1995, the Inter-American Development Bank chose the most dangerous road in the world, and their choice fell on the Northern Yungas. Lack of fencing, rain and fog, rockfalls in the summer - all this makes the highway deadly. This is the only road in Bolivia where drivers are required to drive on the left side in order to best review other drivers.
People living in Russia can be scared different things but not by roads. Almost any foreign curiosity from the above list will find an analogue in their native country, and even, perhaps, not just one, but directly dozens! But still, let's see what the rest of the inhabitants of the planet are afraid of and what roads have earned them the glory of the most dangerous and terrifying.
1. Mountain Road of Death
The old highway from the capital of Bolivia, La Paz, to the city of Coroico - northern Las Yungas - has a second, more commonly used name: El Camino de la Muerte, that is, the Road of Death. These 64 km of asphalt, which lead down the edge of the Altiplano from a height of 4650 meters to a height of 1200 meters, were built in the 1930s during the war by Paraguayan prisoners of war.
Movement on the Road of Death (unlike other Bolivian roads) is allowed in both directions, but the roadway here is no wider than 3 meters and does not have a safety fence.
The monstrous elevation difference between the upper and lower points of the Death Road is the reason that travelers descending it go from high mountain coolness to tropical heat. Because of this, rains, fogs, landslides and landslides are so frequent on a short stretch of the road. In some places, waterfalls run from the mountain right onto the asphalt.
As a result, any awkwardness or mistake of the driver can lead to a fall into an abyss 600 meters deep.
Everywhere on the road one can see commemorative signs and marks indicating the places of the accident, car crashes and deaths. Every year, the Death Road claimed dozens of lives. On July 24, 1983, a bus fell off it, killing more than a hundred people.
Finally, in the late 90s, the Bolivian authorities built an alternate road, new and safer. But the Road of Death was not closed: it became a tourist attraction. Guides carry foreigners along it and organize extreme bicycle tours.
2. Death Railway
The 415 km long railway track (of which 13 km are bridges) between Bangkok (Thailand) and Rangoon (Burma) is also called the Death Road, but not because of the danger of traffic on it, but because its construction caused the death of several thousand people . Maybe a more accurate name would be Road of the Dead.
This is probably the only construction site in the world recognized by the court as a war crime.
In 1942, Imperial Japan invaded Burma from Thailand, retaking it from Britain. To supply the Japanese troops in the "Burmese Campaign" it was necessary to build a road.
When the British ruled Burma, they found it a daunting task: to cut almost five hundred kilometers through rolling jungles with many rivers.
However, the samurai grand design didn't bother. After all, they did not intend to build with their own hands. And they were not going to pay for the work. They used the labor of 180 thousand Asian convicts and 60 thousand prisoners of war - British, Australians, Dutch, Americans and other members of the anti-Hitler coalition. The working and maintenance conditions were such that about 90,000 Asian convicts and 16,000 prisoners of war died during construction. After the war, Hiroshi Abe, the warden of the POW camp, was found personally responsible for the deaths of 3,000 prisoners and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The road was built in 1943, but as a result of hostilities, it fell into disrepair. However, 130 km of track was reconstructed after the war. There were even plans to completely restore the road.
In the meantime, riding along the Hell Passage route near the city of Kanchanaburi, northwest of the capital of Thailand, where the train goes around sheer cliffs and passes several wooden bridges is one of the most popular tourist attractions.
Whether there are ghosts there is unknown. Today, only the classic film The Bridge on the River Kwai and several museums and memorial cemeteries remind of the sad events on the Road of Death.
3. Glass path and "Paradise gates"
On Mount Tianmen, one of the highest peaks in China (1518.6 meters above sea level), in a national park near the city of Zhangjiajie, an amazing tourist complex, of which the unique glass path and the world's longest and highest cable car. Its spans reach 500 m, and the total length is 7455 m! The name of the road in Chinese sounds very romantic: "Gate to heaven." But in English, romance is already dubious: the name Heaven’s Gate, rather, betrays the cautious attitude of many travelers who happened to spend several creepy and exciting minutes in a cabin suspended in the middle of the clouds on a steel cable.
Here, many are shy. But if there are those who are not afraid of the height of the cable car, then the hanging glass path will strike fear into anyone. A hanging path leads along the mountain right along the edge of the abyss among bizarre relic trees. In some places, the floor of the hanging walkway is made of glass. You can see the clouds under your feet. And remember the fragility and frailty of earthly existence.
However, neither accidents nor catastrophes have yet happened on the mountain of the Heavenly Gates: all structures are very reliable.
4. Controversial road
The Karakorum Highway, although laid on the ground, in many of its sections is immersed in the clouds. This is the highest mountain track in the world that runs from the city of Abbottabad in Pakistan to chinese city Kashgar is considered one of the most dangerous roads on the planet.
The Karakorum highway repeats the Great Silk Road of antiquity. From above, beautiful, unique views open up there, but travelers face many dangers in the form of rains, landslides, storms, winds, snow drifts, blockages and altitude sickness. For 20 kilometers of the road, on average, there are only 30-40 meters of asphalt. But what is even more unpleasant is that this road runs between the regions of Jammu and Kashmir, that is, territories that have been the cause of fierce disputes between India and Pakistan for more than 60 years. Region border conflicts, where, in addition to the harsh nature, the power of force and weapons reigns - this is what the Karakoram Highway is. However, desperate cyclists and bikers love to travel on it.
5. Merciless Road
The name of this route carved into the rocks of Taihan Chinese province Golian - "The road that does not forgive mistakes."
Residents of the local village built it in 1997 to be able to get to " mainland from their sky-high heights.
The highway is a 1200 meter tunnel in a mountain 15 feet high and 12 feet wide. There are 30 windows, maybe so that the claustrophobic can calm their nerves by looking outside and admiring the spacious abyss below.
Really very beautiful. Local residents overcome the road, mainly on bicycles. But cars often flew off it into a cliff. After all, this is a road that does not forgive mistakes.
6. Road without insurance
In the second half of the 19th century, this road was built in New Zealand to give local miners access to the gold canyon. At the same time, for some reason the road is called the Road of Captains - Skippers Road.
Now, to move around it, drivers must obtain permission. But most insurance companies warn that they will not cover the losses of such risk-takers, in which case.
However, adventure tourists from the nearby city of Queenstown love day trips along this dangerous road. It's very beautiful there. And then, listen carefully: I passed the Road of the captains. Without insurance. Sounds proud!
7. Desert road
Luxor-Hurghada is a famous tourist route in Egypt, connecting recreation areas along the Red Sea coast with the ancient city of the pharaohs, Luxor. The highway is 280 km long with a good and even road surface, the journey along it takes only 4-5 hours.
And yet, many people died on this road. The thing is that they drive here mainly at night, avoiding the scorching heat of the desert during the day. When drivers rush along the highway with their headlights off, they often collide head-on without seeing each other in columns of dust.
Why don't they turn on the headlights? The fact is that driving on this road with the headlights on is even more dangerous. Terrorists, robbers, all kinds of robbers flock to this world like moths. The consequences are sad. In 1997, Islamist fanatics shot 62 German tourists here.
8. The longer - the more lethal
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Panamerican Highway is the longest motorway in the world. It starts in Alaska, in North America, and ends in the southernmost regions of South America.
The section of the road passing through Costa Rica is the bloodiest section of this route.
A scenic route leads through rainforests, wild places almost untouched by civilization. Beautiful, but repairs are carried out here too rarely. So some sections of the Pan-American highway are simply washed away during the rainy season. And after floods, landslides can happen here at any time of the year.
So this road is full of surprises, but some of them are deadly.
9. Ice Road
The Canadian towns of Inuvik and Tuktoyak are located in the very north of Canada. They are so remote from the "mainland" that there are no roads, except for a winter road on the ice of the Mackenzie River, in these places.
Every winter, road services measure the thickness of the ice and allow or prohibit the opening of traffic. They also clean the road and save the unfortunate people caught in a snowstorm - storms in this region of Canada are insidious, they always come suddenly.
There is also a constant danger of running into a crack in the ice or falling into a snowdrift. Canadians and Americans consider the Tuktoyak Ice Road to be extreme. Of course, in Russia winter roads are a common thing, almost in every village they are used.
10. Animal Road
The Canning Stock Route in Australia is indeed a former route used by the early white settlers to drive herds.
This is one of the most remote roads in the world from civilization. Walking along it is very difficult, because it crosses 1850 km of absolutely deserted desert. To overcome this road, it will take at least a month of time, a technically flawless car, as well as spare parts and the ability to repair any breakdowns with your own hands, solid supplies of water, provisions and fuel. Although some can be bought from the natives, one or two communities still live in this wilderness.
But, of course, there is no certainty that they will find exactly what you need. Or that none of them will turn out to be a cannibal.
11. Troll Road
Norwegian mountain track construction began at the end of the 19th century, but was completed only in 1936.
This is the most fabulous road in the world, as it leads travelers along the mountain "Troll's Cap", through the places "Troll's Hut" and "Troll's Church".
There are 11 loops on the winding road, the width of the roadway does not exceed three meters. Cars drive along this road only in spring and summer. The rest of the year is too dangerous.
To overcome this difficult road, visiting tourists often hire drivers from among the locals: they, I suppose, understand all these wild trolls better.
12. Dodgy road
Once upon a time, this area was the border between Italy and Austria-Hungary. As they say, both yours and ours. Maybe that's why the road through the Prato Pass in the local mountains turned out to be so ... evasive.
A trip along it can be pretty nerve-wracking, especially if you drive into a cloud at the top, and get under freezing rain a little lower. It is not in vain that such a capricious road was called Stelvio Pass - "Queen of Zigzags".
You can drive on it by car from June to September. In winter it is a luge track. Again: both ours and yours, two in one. But at least in something there is now certainty: the road is recognized as the territory of Italy.
13. Road to nowhere
American Highway in New Mexico, near Albuquerque, locals called the road to nowhere. It leads to the San Mateo mountain range and ends there. Tourists liked to ride on it to enjoy the views. However, since 2000, 17 people have disappeared without a trace on this road. And this is only confirmed official data.
There are no turns and branches on the road and, in theory, there is nowhere to get away from it. Nevertheless, the road seems to swallow careless drivers, and sometimes entire families. People seem to dissolve in the air. The State Police and Tourism Authority recently acknowledged the mystery of this land-based Bermuda Triangle. Public servants, private enthusiasts, and all sorts of psychics tried to reveal the secret of the Road to Nowhere. And yet, so far, no one has succeeded.
In conclusion, I would like to remind you that in Russia everything is in abundance. And the terrible roads are just like dirt. True, they didn’t get glass ones - the climate does not allow.
