Extreme roads. The most extreme roads in the world
The most extreme roads in the world.1. Karakoram Highway, Pakistan - China.
The Karakoram Highway is a 1,300-kilometer high mountain highway, crossing the Karakoram through Khunjerab Pass at an altitude of 4693 m. It connects China and Pakistan. This is the highest international highway in the world. The Karakoram Highway provides access to almost all the peaks in the Gilgit–Baltistan and Kashmir regions and several more peaks in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China.
This region is home to one of the largest glaciers in the world - Baltoro. In Pakistan, this highway can be used to reach five peaks above 8000 meters. IN last years The highway has become popular among tourists. It has been ranked among the top three tourist destinations in Pakistan. For climbers and cyclists, the road provided easier access to many of the mountain peaks, glaciers and lakes in the region.
From Islamabad, this highway can be used to reach Gilgit and Skardu districts. These are the two main mountaineering expedition centers in the Kashmir region. The Pakistani administration in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Chinese administration in Xinjiang have signed an agreement to issue border passes to permanent residents. This pass is valid for a calendar year and is only used to travel through the Karakoram Highway.
There are several transport companies in Pakistan that provide bus services between major cities with roads, and from Rawalpindi and Lahore areas. The largest transport company is Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO). There are other companies such as Masherbrum Travel and Silk Route Travel.In China, daily bus service operates between Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashgar, Xinjiang, across the Sust and Tashkorgan borders. Public transport popular with travelers. The journey takes from two to three weeks to explore the entire route, including stops.
The best time to travel along the highway is in spring or early autumn. Heavy snowfalls in severe winters can cause highway closures for extended periods. Heavy monsoon rains, around July and August, cause occasional landslides that can block roads for several hours or more.The border crossing between China and Pakistan at Khunjerab Pass is open only from May 1st to December 31st each year.
Traveling this route brings inspiration and awe, despite the discomfort of the road. It has acquired the status of the most cruel in the world. This is a real adventure.
2. CanningStock route, Australia.
The CanningStock route is one of the most difficult and remote in the world. It starts from the town of Halls Creek in the Kimberley region, South Australia and ends in the town of Wiluna, Western Australia. The total length of the route is 1850 kilometers, it is the longest historical route in the world.
The CanningStock route is considered one of the most interesting routes to travel, especially with a 4WD vehicle. Although quite a few tourists have successfully completed this route, it still requires a lot of planning and a well-equipped vehicle. You also need to stock up on fuel.
The fuel can be found in the Kunawaritji region (Pilbara region, South Australia, between the Shire East Pilbara region). The trip will take two to three weeks. To travel this route you must obtain a permit. The nearest city from the Wiluna starting point is called Perth, located 958 kilometers southwest of the city of Wiluna. Then you need to return to Perth via the road leading from Halls Creek, which is about 2857 kilometers. The road includes the Canning route. As a result, the total length of the route is 5665 kilometers.
It makes sense to travel only in the cold months, in May or September.
Traversing the historic route along the rugged red sand of Australia's southern Tjurabalan, Ngurrara, Martu and Birriliburu deserts is a dream come true for many travelers.
3. North Yungas Road, Bolivia.
The route starts in the town of La Paz and ends in the town of Coroico. Length 69 kilometers. This legendary road is famous because of the many dangers that await tourists. Many travelers died here.
There are hundreds of small crosses along the road, marking places where cars have fallen. The road connects the Amazon rainforest in northern Bolivia with the capital. Leaving the town of La Paz, the road rises to an altitude of 4650 meters at the La Cumbre pass and drops to 1200 meters in the town of Coroico, passing through cool Altiplane terrain, rainforests, steep slopes and peaks. For the most part, the road is single lane (about 3.2 meters wide) and unguarded, with terrifyingly sharp turns and sheer cliffs.
During the rainy season from November to March, rain and fog seriously impede visibility. Rockfalls occur in summer, so dust also limits visibility. The danger of the road has ironically made it a popular travel destination for thrill-seeking tourists. It is also a favorite place for mountain bikers.
Currently, many tour operators provide transport, equipment and guides along this route. The town of Coroico is a popular starting point for further travel into the Bolivian Amazon and most tourists spend at least one night here.
4. Leh-Manali Highway, India.
The Leh-Manali Highway connects the city of Leh to the city of Manali. It is open from May or June to mid-October, when Organization of border roads clears all the snow from the highway. This road connects Manali with Kullu valley. Lahaul, Spiti(Spiti) and Ladakh (Ladakh). The highway crosses the highest passes in the world, including RohtangLa 3978 meters, BaralachaLa 4892 meters, LachulungLa 5059 meters and TanglangLa 5325 meters.
Crossing the passes is often difficult due to snowfall. The highway also crosses many small ice streams rushing down from the snow-capped mountains. There are no bridges in these places, so great driving skill is required when crossing fast currents. The highway is two-lane (one lane in both directions), without road markings.Traveling by road usually takes 2 days (often more due to weather), travelers usually spend the night in Jispa or Sarchu camp. Alternatively, you can spend the night in Keylong. The distance from Manali to Sarchu is 222 kilometers, and from Sarchu to Leh is 257 kilometers, so the length of the entire highway is 479 kilometers. Unprepared travelers may experience discomfort and possibly altitude sickness.
The cheapest way to travel this route is by bus, with private transport operators providing regular services. The main transport company is HPTDC. Places must be reserved a couple of days in advance.
You can also use a taxi, but this transport has disadvantages. The arduous journey called Cannonball Run lasts 16-18 hours, leaving little time to contemplate the scenery.
This is a leisurely road lined with stunning and breathtaking scenery.At the end of this long journey you arrive in the city of Leh. The city is located at an altitude of about 3524 meters above sea level. The Leh Palace, the former residence of the kings of Ladakh, rises above the city; the city's population is about 30 thousand people.
5. Trans-Sahara Highway, Algeria Republic, Niger Republic and Nigeria.
Trans-Sahara Highway - transnational
Even for the most experienced drivers, with extensive driving experience and enormous professional potential, there are several very steep, extreme tracks in the world, driving on which is similar to flying into space, or riding on American rides without insurance. The adrenaline will simply go off scale, and the impressions and landscapes will be amazing. But before you embark on a thrilling journey along the brightest highways, it’s worth taking extreme driving courses Kyiv, without which driving will not be so safe. After all, it’s one thing to drive on a straight road with small holes, and another thing to drive along steep curves, turns and slopes.
Dangerous roads
"Road of Death" as it is called local residents Bolivia, is located in the Yungas region, and it passes through the Andes, descending from an altitude of more than 3600 m to 330 above sea level. The most dangerous section is 70 km long and three meters wide. At the same time, the road is still well washed away by waterfalls and rains: cars drive almost “millimeters” from the huge abyss. The deadly section of the route is today open only to extreme tourists who like to walk on the edge of a knife.
The most dangerous road in Europe is the Stelvio Pass Road, Italy. The highest point of the route is 2757 m. While covering the entire route you will have to overcome 48 complex zigzag turns, sometimes very narrow, in which it is practically impossible for cars to turn around.
A road that does not forgive drivers' mistakes is located in China. It was manually built by local residents into the mountain, creating a tunnel with large windows. The length of the tunnel is 1200 m, width is 4 m. The outer wall of the tunnel consists of large windows where a car can easily enter if the driver is distracted from the road for a minute.
Frequent landslides and snowfalls, a huge altitude above sea level, more than 5325 m, are characteristic of the Leh-Manali Highway, India. The road passes through several of the highest mountain passes and is 479 km long. The road is only open in summer.
The very small but very dangerous Col de Turini route lies in the southern part of France, in the Alps. Her best highest point– 1607 m, and the length is only 30 km. However, over these 30 km there are 34 difficult hairpin turns. This track is very popular among racing drivers, as there are no straight sections on it.
The road "Ada" is called the Lena highway, Russia, which lies between the cities of Yakutsk and Nemer. Most of the route is not paved, and during heavy rains, the mud here completely paralyzes movement.
The Islamabad Road, which you won't want to take again, runs along the Indus River towards the city of Skardu, Pakistan. The road offers panoramic views of valleys and rocky mountains, and the further route follows a road carved into the rocks, better known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
You will also have to climb up with adrenaline along the Trollstigen (“Troll Staircase”) route, Norway. The road rises along the mountain slope to a height of 858 m, and in some sections the width reaches only 3.3 m. Having overcome 11 sharp turns, the driver has a stunning view from the top of the mountain of the Stigfossen waterfall and the fjords.
Scenic roads
In a beautiful, picturesque place, in Nikko Park lies the Irohazaka winding road, Japan. The length of this track is only 800 m, but it has 48 sharp turns. First place goes to the Hana Highway, USA: the most scenic route in the world, which runs along the coast Hawaiian island Maui. Length – 60 km: 600 turns and 54 bridges. Driving along this road, the driver has a beautiful view of the jungle, Hawaiian beaches, waterfalls, and the Haleakala volcano.
An unusual and fascinating highway is the Atlanterhavsveien (“Atlantic Road”, Norway). The road runs along the western coast of Norway and connects 8 islands. Its length is only 9 km, and there are 8 bridges on it. Each bridge looks very unusual, reminiscent of a futuristic attraction. The road is smooth, built taking into account new technologies, but the only drawbacks are frequent tornadoes from the Atlantic Ocean.
Among the picturesque flower beds lies the most winding road in the world, Lombard Street, San Francisco, USA. On a 400-meter section there are 8 sharp turns, along which you can move at a speed of no more than 8 km/h.
There are many tracks in the world, just one look at which will take your breath away. Not every driver dares to conquer such routes. We invite you to get acquainted with the most extreme and unusual roads in the world.
North Yungas Road, Bolivia
North Yungas Road in the Bolivian province of Yungas is better known as the "Road of Death".
The road is built in the Andes and descends from an altitude of 3,600 m to 330 m above sea level. The most dangerous section runs from La Paz to Coroico (about 70 km).
Transport moves along a road (3 m wide) washed out by rains and waterfalls, millimeters from the abyss.
Currently, a safer route has already been laid to the city of Coroico, so only extreme tourists use the “deadly” section.
Stelvio Pass Road, Italy
The Italian Stelvio Pass road runs through the eastern Alps, between the cities of Bormio and Sulden, near the border with Switzerland.
The road pass is located at an altitude of 2,757 meters above sea level. Stelvio Pass Road is considered one of the most winding roads in Europe.
To travel along this route you will have to overcome 48 zigzag turns (“hairpins”), which are quite narrow in places.
Guoliang Tunnel Road, China
China's Guoliang Tunnel is often referred to as the "Forgiving Road".
Guoliang Tunnel Road was built into a rock cliff by hand (!) by residents of Henan Province in the 70s.
For the construction of a 1.2 km long tunnel. several years were spent. The height of the tunnel is 5 meters and the width is only 4 m.
The outer wall of Guoliang Tunnel Road consists of many huge “windows”, the size of which allows you to send a car with a careless driver into the abyss.
Trollstigen, Norway
Translated from Norwegian, the name Trollstigen means “Troll Staircase”.
The road climbs up the mountain slope to a height of 858 m above sea level.
Vehicles longer than 12.4 m are prohibited from entering Trollstigen, as the road width sometimes does not exceed 3.3 m. winter period entry is closed to everyone.
Trollstigen consists of 11 hairpin turns, which reward you with a stunning view from the top of the mountain over the fjords and Stigfossen waterfall.
Leh-Manali Highway, India
The Indian Leh-Manali Highway passes through the Himalayas, connecting the cities of Leh and Manali. The road was created by the Indian Army to move military equipment.
The Leh-Manali Highway passes through several of the world's highest mountain passes, reaching 5,325 meters above sea level (Taghlang La Pass).
The total length of the road is 479 km; in addition to the difficult terrain, movement on the highway is hampered by snowfalls and landslides. The Leh-Manali Highway is open only in summer.
Col de Turini, France
The Col de Turini road runs through the Alps in southern France. The summit of Col de Turini is located at an altitude of 1,607 meters above sea level.
The road, about 30 km long, consists of 34 complex hairpin turns.
Col de Turini is considered one of the most “driving” tracks in the world, as it has a minimum of straight sections. It’s not for nothing that part of the legendary Monte Carlo Rally takes place on this road.
Iroha-zaka winding road, Japan
The Japanese Iroha-zaka Road is located in the scenic area national park Nikko. Iroha-zaka consists of 48 sharp turns, symbolizing 48 characters from the ancient Japanese alphabet.
The name of the road itself comes from the first hieroglyph in the alphabet - “i-ro-ha”. Iroha-zaka winding road, 800 m long, is used only for descent. For the ascent, a similar road was laid, with the same number of turns.
Hana Highway, USA
Hana Highway is considered one of the most scenic roads in the world. The route is laid along the coast of the Hawaiian island of Maui.
The 60-kilometer road includes 600 curves and 54 bridges. Driving along Hana Highway you can see both dense jungle and stunning beaches (with black or red sand).
In addition, the road passes several waterfalls and even one inactive volcano, Haleakala.
Halsema Highway, Philippines
The Philippine Highway Halsema is also called Baguio-Bontoc Road. The road passes through the Cordillera Valley on the island of Luzon.
Due to constant rain and landslides, most of this 250-kilometer "highway" is covered in a thick layer of mud.
Local residents spend at least 10 hours crossing the Halsema Highway; the slippery surface and steep cliffs (without bumpers) limit the speed better than any signs or radars.
Atlanterhavsveien, Norway
Atlanterhavsveien or "Atlantic Road" is built on west coast Norway along the Arctic Ocean.
Atlanterhavsveien is the most unusual route in our review. The 9-kilometer road consists of 8 bridges that connect the 8 islands of the archipelago.
The Atlantic Road was built in 1989 using technology to withstand constant tornadoes.
That's why mini-bridges got such a futuristic shape, reminiscent of some kind of attraction.
M56 "Lena", Russia
The Russian highway M56 “Lena” is popularly nicknamed “the highway from hell.” The route is 1235 km long. laid from the city of Nemer to Yakutsk, along the Lena River.
Most of the road is devoid of asphalt, so during heavy rains in the spring and summer, washed-out mud almost completely blocks the movement of vehicles. The resulting traffic jams can stretch for many tens of kilometers.
Lombard Street, USA
Lombard Street, the only city road in our review, is located in San Francisco. Lombard Street is officially recognized as the most winding street in the world (listed in the Guinness Book of Records).
Lombard Street gained worldwide fame thanks to a short 400-meter section in the Russian Hill area.
The road consists of 8 sharp turns and goes down at a slope of 27%. The speed limit on one-way Lombard Street is 8 km/h.
Finally
Our list goes on and on, as we have chosen the most interesting routes that have gained worldwide fame. There are a lot of dangerous routes in different parts of the world. In some countries, finding a normal road is much more difficult than finding an extreme one.
Many children around the world have to overcome incredible, unimaginable and simply desperate routes to get to their school desks.
And according to UNESCO, over the past five years the situation with school roads has only worsened - many of them are flooded or blocked, and some routes to school are simply life-threatening!
Are you still worried that your student will very soon have to overcome three bus stops, run a hundred meters or sit in a trolleybus for 15 minutes on the way to knowledge? Then just look at these photos...
1. Five-hour trip to the mountains (Gulu, China).
This looks like the most remote school in the world!
2. This is how village students get to Zhang Jiawang in China.
3. The road to boarding school through the Indian Himalayas (Zanskar).
4. But schoolchildren from Lebak in Indonesia walk across this damaged bridge every day.
By the way, immediately after this story was made public, the Indonesian authorities rushed to build a new bridge across the river!
5. And your child may even be a little jealous of these Colombian children. Just look - they have to overcome 800 and 400 meters while “flying” over the Rio Negro River on a steel cable!
6. “School” canoeing in Riau (Indonesia).
7. And in one of the Indian villages, nature itself is ready to help children get to school faster! Here is a bridge across a river made of tree roots.
10. An extreme trip to school across a destroyed bridge and snowfall in Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province (China).
11. On the way to school on the roof of a wooden boat (Panguguran, Indonesia).
12. You have to walk on the plank not only in physical education lessons, but also along the school road, which has not changed since the 16th century! (Fort Galle, Sri Lanka).
13. The school boat is in a hurry to bring students to the first lesson (Kerala, India).
14. How do you like the “school basket” in a horse cart? (Delhi, India).
15. Students on a homemade bamboo raft (Silangkap, Indonesia).
16. 125-mile extreme journey through the mountains on the way to boarding school (Pili, China).
17. Schoolchildren on a walk and on the way from school... And only 30 feet above the Padang River (Sumatra, Indonesia).
18. These elementary school students from Rizal Province in the Philippines have to carry inflated tires with them!
And they seem to be incredibly happy about it!
Every man is a natural explorer. This is the ideal trip - to get into a car and drive along an unfamiliar road to distant places at the very edge of the world. If the road is dangerous, that’s even good: this way the journey will turn into an adventure. For those who like to tickle their nerves, we have found the most dangerous roads in the world.
The Yungas Road is also known as the "Road of Death": about 300 people die here every year. This sad fact gives it the right to be called the most dangerous road in the world. It leads from the capital La Paz to Coroico, and the entire route is 60 km of chaos, climbs and a complete lack of guardrails. Under no circumstances should you travel here from November to March: fog and rain limit visibility to almost zero, and running water makes movement impossible. Those who manage to follow the road from start to finish will be rewarded with walks through majestic green forests and the sight of powerful waterfalls.
Karakoram Highway, Asia
About a thousand people died during the construction of the Karakoram Highway - this already indicates the waywardness of the road. This is the highest asphalt road in the world, the highest point of which is located at 4693 m above sea level. The 1,300 km long Karakoram Highway connects China and Pakistan and follows the route of the Great Silk Road. It is best to conquer this route in the spring, when there is no danger of landslides and avalanches: in winter, travel along the Karakoram Highway is impossible due to these dangers
James Dalton Highway, Alaska
God forbid you run out of gas here! There are only five gas stations on the James Dalton Highway, which is a mystical 666 km long. Along this road you can get to the northernmost point of Alaska; the main function of the transport artery is to provide the Prudhoe Bay oil production station with everything necessary for the work and life of the personnel. The highway is covered with black ice and slippery gravel, quickly flying out from under the wheels and trying to break the window. It is best to go here between May and October and take with you everything you need to survive. You won't be able to rent a car: almost all rental offices stipulate that it is impossible to drive a rented car on the James Dalton Highway.
Road to Amalfi, Italy
Despite the steep slopes, this road leading from Sorrento to Amalfi has the undeniable advantage of offering picturesque views. It is 80 km long and if you have the courage to look down, you will see the turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea splashing far below. Drivers throw caution to the wind when driving here, which is pure madness considering the road winds along the edge of sheer cliffs. If you drive along the road to Amalfi, evaluate the views with peripheral vision and carefully follow the roadway
Road to Birdsville, Australia
The dry desert climate makes this road feel like a trip to Oz. The 517km route connects South Australia and South West Queensland and crosses the continent's driest and most sparsely populated region. To get here, you'll need tanks of gasoline and water. On the road to Birdsville you are not afraid of either floods or quicksand - in front of you lies only a dry and bare plain, scorched by the scorching sun. Luckily, at the end of the road, a nice city awaits you, serving excellent beer.
Transfagarasan Highway, Romania
There are more viaducts and tunnels than any other road in Romania, and it's a challenge for even the most experienced driver. About 40 people died during the construction of the road, it passes by the Poenari fortress, also known as the residence of Count Dracula - the scenery is truly mesmerizing
Stelvio Pass, Italy
As the second highest pass in the Eastern Alps at 2,757m, the Stelvio is an impressive feat of engineering. The road connects the Italian valleys of Valtellina and Alto Adige and consists of continuous passes, turns and zigzags.
Highway 99, British Columbia, Canada
A 340-kilometer route from Vancouver to Whistler, on the Pacific coast. However, don't get too excited about the prospect of seeing the ocean ahead of time, and don't let the mountain views and waterfalls fool you. Landslides, ice and sharp turns increase the risk of a head-on collision. The biggest problem here is loss of traction, so don't let your guard down.
Trollstigen, Norway
It is also known as the Troll Staircase (or Road) in the very north of the country. During the 10% climb, Trollstigen makes 11 sharp turns, and in the middle of the climb, travelers will have to cross the bridge over the Stigfossen waterfall. In some places the road width does not exceed 3.3 m - large vehicles cannot pass here. The reward for the journey will be Observation deck, which offers views of the winding track and waterfall.
Siberian roads
Starting from Krasnoyarsk and further east. There you will see only continuous hummocks, potholes, a complete absence of asphalt, gravel, you will not find hotels, but you will see puddles of unimaginable sizes and villages with imported water. In winter, extreme temperatures complete the picture (down to -64° C near Yakutsk), so you also need to be brave for such a trip. Or dumb as a plug.
that we don't love ourselves that much
