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Paisley Marten
Top 11 Most Dangerous Roads in the World, Including Perilous Routes in the USA
4 days ago
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I love to travel and capture the beauty of landscapes through photographs and videos. When a friend mentioned the "scary roads in Pakistan," my curiosity was piqued. This led me to explore the top 11 most dangerous roads in the world, including a particularly treacherous one in the USA. Each road on this list has its own unique challenges and risks. To experience them for yourself, just click on the link behind each # sign to watch a video of these incredible routes.
Purpose: This road is the only access route to remote villages in the Khaltaro Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan, providing essential connectivity for residents.
Construction Hazards: Likely built using rudimentary tools and local labor, the road was carved directly into the mountainside, with a high risk of fatalities due to unstable terrain and extreme isolation.
Current Use: Despite its dangers, the road remains a vital lifeline for local communities, who depend on it to access essential services and supplies.
Gravity and Engineering Challenges: The road is extremely narrow, with steep drop-offs on one side and sheer cliff faces on the other. The combination of loose gravel, sharp turns, and lack of guardrails makes the road incredibly treacherous. Gravity is a constant threat, as even a slight miscalculation can send vehicles plunging into the canyon below.
Inclement Weather: Heavy rains, landslides, and snow frequently make the road impassable. During the monsoon season, the risk of landslides increases dramatically, making the journey even more perilous.
Interesting Facts: The road is often used by heavily laden trucks and jeeps, which must carefully navigate the tight turns and steep inclines. Only the most experienced drivers, often locals, dare to travel this route.
Purpose: Built in the 1930s by Paraguayan prisoners to connect La Paz with the Amazon rainforest region.
Construction Hazards: The steep cliffs, dense forests, and frequent landslides made the construction deadly, with many workers losing their lives due to falls, poor working conditions, and disease.
Current Use: Despite being replaced by a newer road, it remains in use by thrill-seeking tourists and some locals.
Gravity and Engineering Challenges: The narrow road (just over 3 meters wide in places) has no guardrails, and gravity’s pull is a constant threat, especially for overloaded or poorly maintained vehicles.
Inclement Weather: Fog, rain, and muddy conditions increase the danger, often leading to landslides and vehicle accidents.
Interesting Facts: The road drops from 4,650 meters to 1,200 meters above sea level, passing through multiple ecosystems, making it both dangerous and incredibly scenic.
Purpose: Connect the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh, providing vital military and civilian access.
Construction Hazards: Built in the 1950s, the road’s construction faced extreme weather, avalanches, and challenging mountainous terrain.
Current Use: It remains a crucial route, especially for military logistics, though it’s often closed in winter.
Gravity and Engineering Challenges: The road’s steep inclines and declines, combined with narrow passages, make it extremely risky. The threat of landslides and avalanches is ever-present.
Inclement Weather: Heavy snowfall and ice create treacherous conditions, often making the road impassable.
Interesting Facts: Plans are underway to construct a tunnel under Zojila, which would mitigate the seasonal closures and improve safety.
Purpose: Constructed in 1974 to support the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.
Construction Hazards: Workers faced extreme Arctic conditions, including sub-zero temperatures and permafrost challenges.
Current Use: The highway is still used today by truckers and adventurous tourists.
Gravity and Engineering Challenges: The unpaved sections, combined with steep grades and sharp curves, make controlling heavy trucks difficult, especially in icy conditions.
Inclement Weather: The road is subject to whiteouts, blizzards, and extreme cold, making it one of the most challenging routes to navigate, particularly in winter.
Interesting Facts: The Dalton Highway’s isolated location means that drivers need to be entirely self-sufficient, carrying extra fuel and supplies in case of breakdowns.
Purpose: Built by villagers in the 1970s to connect the isolated village of Guoliang with the outside world.
Construction Hazards: The tunnel was hand-carved into a vertical cliff face, with several workers losing their lives during the five-year construction.
Current Use: The tunnel is still used today, both by locals and as a tourist attraction.
Gravity and Engineering Challenges: The tunnel’s narrowness and height make it difficult for larger vehicles, and the lack of barriers within the tunnel makes any vehicle failure potentially fatal.
Inclement Weather: While protected from rain, the tunnel is prone to rockfalls, and its surface can become slippery when wet.
Interesting Facts: The Guoliang Tunnel is sometimes called the "Road that does not tolerate mistakes," emphasizing the precision required to drive through it.
Purpose: Constructed during the gold rush in the late 19th century to access mining areas.
Construction Hazards: The road was hand-carved into the canyon walls, with many workers facing deadly falls and landslides.
Current Use: The road is still used by locals and tourists, though rental car companies often exclude it from insurance coverage due to its risks.
Gravity and Engineering Challenges: The road is extremely narrow, with sheer drops and no guardrails, making it easy for vehicles to be pulled into the canyon by gravity if control is lost.
Inclement Weather: Rain makes the road slippery, increasing the risk of accidents, and rockfalls are a constant danger.
Interesting Facts: Despite the risks, the road offers some of the most breathtaking views in New Zealand, attracting thrill-seekers from around the world.
Purpose: Built as a trade route and symbol of friendship between Pakistan and China, connecting the two countries through the Khunjerab Pass.
Construction Hazards: Constructed over 20 years, with over 1,000 workers losing their lives to landslides, rockfalls, and extreme weather.
Current Use: The highway remains a vital trade and tourism route, with heavy truck traffic and adventurous tourists.
Gravity and Engineering Challenges: The road traverses extremely rugged terrain, including one of the highest paved roads in the world, making gravity a significant concern for heavy vehicles.
Inclement Weather: The road is subject to heavy snowfall, landslides, and flooding, often leading to temporary closures.
Interesting Facts: The Karakoram Highway is known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" due to the incredible engineering challenges overcome during its construction.
Purpose: Provides access to Fairy Meadows, a popular trekking route for those attempting to climb Nanga Parbat.
Construction Hazards: Built with basic tools and local labor, the road is extremely narrow and follows a steep, unstable mountainside.
Current Use: The road is used primarily by trekkers and local guides, though it is notorious for its extreme danger.
Gravity and Engineering Challenges: The road’s steep drop-offs and loose, rocky surface make it a perilous drive, especially for larger vehicles that struggle with tight turns.
Inclement Weather: Rain makes the already treacherous road even more dangerous by turning it into a muddy slip.
Interesting Facts: The road is so dangerous that many visitors choose to hike the final stretch on foot rather than risk driving.
Purpose: A vital trade and travel route through the Andes, connecting Chile and Argentina.
Construction Hazards: Built in the early 20th century, construction workers faced extreme cold, altitude sickness, and avalanches.
Current Use: The pass is heavily used, particularly by trucks transporting goods between the two countries.
Gravity and Engineering Challenges: The road features a series of steep, hairpin turns that are difficult to navigate, especially for heavy trucks that risk being pulled downhill by gravity.
Inclement Weather: Snow and ice are major hazards during winter, with frequent road closures due to avalanches.
Interesting Facts: The road’s nickname, "The Snails," refers to the slow, careful pace required to navigate the numerous switchbacks.
Purpose: Built by the Japanese during their occupation of Taiwan to connect the east and west coasts.
Construction Hazards: Constructed in the 1950s, the road was carved into a narrow gorge with significant risks of landslides and falling rocks.
Current Use: The road is still used today and is a major tourist attraction due to its stunning scenery.
Gravity and Engineering Challenges: The road’s narrow passages through the gorge make any loss of control potentially fatal, especially with the frequent rockfalls.
Inclement Weather: Heavy rains can trigger landslides, making the road extremely dangerous.
Interesting Facts: Despite its dangers, Taroko Gorge Road is part of Taiwan’s National Highway system and is popular with cyclists and adventure tourists.
Purpose: This stretch of U.S. Route 550, known as the Millionaire Highway, was constructed in the late 19th century to provide access to the rich mining areas in the San Juan Mountains.
Construction Hazards: The road was built along steep cliffs, with minimal safety features like guardrails, making construction dangerous. Workers faced the risk of rockfalls, avalanches, and extreme weather conditions.
Current Use: The road is heavily used by tourists and locals, offering access to the picturesque towns of Ouray and Silverton and providing a scenic but treacherous drive.
Gravity and Engineering Challenges: The road features sharp hairpin turns, steep gradients, and narrow lanes. The lack of guardrails on the cliff side leaves drivers vulnerable to gravity’s pull, especially on the steep descents.
Inclement Weather: Winter conditions make the highway particularly dangerous, with snow, ice, and fog reducing visibility and road traction. Avalanches are also a significant threat during the colder months.
Interesting Facts: The Millionaire Highway offers some of the most stunning mountain views in Colorado, but these come at the cost of navigating one of the most challenging and dangerous roads in the U.S.
IN SUMMARY
Maybe it's just me but most of these roads, ranked as the most dangerous, don't really seem - well - dangerous. However, this article serves to highlight the extreme conditions faced by those who must travel on them.
Which of these do YOU think are the most dangerous?
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