The most terrible railway roads in the world. The most terrible railways. Rules for safe behavior on the railway

Usually people choose to travel by rail in order not only to get to their final destination, but also to admire the surrounding landscape. There are also special railway “cruises” that offer guests a leisurely journey around the country and stops in the most interesting places. But there are trips by rail that are more suitable for those who like to tickle their nerves and release a good dose of adrenaline into their bodies.


1. Tren a las Nubes. Province of Salta. Argentina



Tren a las Nubes is one of the three highest railways in the world, also known as the “Train in the Clouds”, since along the way it often ends up in or above the clouds. The train departs from Salta and, after traveling 434 km through 29 bridges, 21 tunnels, 13 viaducts, 2 spirals and 2 zigzags, arrives at main goal travel - La Polvorilla viaduct, which is located at an altitude of 4,220 meters above sea level. The curved viaduct, 224 meters long, is located 70 meters above the ground. Here the train slows down and slowly moves along the viaduct, giving you the opportunity not only to tickle your nerves, but also to take photos or videos, and there are also daredevils who lean out of the carriage to get the best shot.


2. White Pass and Yukon Route. Canada and USA




A 110-mile narrow-gauge road that links Skagway, Alaska, a popular port of call cruise ships and Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. Construction of the road began in 1897, during the Gold Rush.


The road passes along steep mountain slopes, climbing to White Pass. The path crosses dozens of bridges, and sometimes runs along suspended tracks laid on steep slopes. All this happens against the backdrop of glaciers, endless mountains and waterfalls.


3. Nariz del Diablo. Ecuador




“The Devil's Nose” is the name of this journey, which takes place between the cities of Alauzi and Palmyra in the foothills of the Andes. The train moves slowly to allow passengers to enjoy the spectacle of the "Avenue of Volcanoes". Unfortunately, travelers are no longer allowed to sit on the roofs of carriages, where they can get the most best photos. The Devil's Nose represents only part of the route, which consists of steep climbs through mountains that can thrill even the most intrepid travelers.


4. Georgetown Loop Railroad. USA




The George Town Circular Railway is a narrow gauge railway that is only 7.2 km long and rises to an altitude of 200 meters above sea level. The road is located in Rocky Mountains in Clear Creek County, Colorado and is now used as a tourist route from April to December.


The road was built in 1894 between the communities of Georgetown and Silver Plum. Engineers have developed a very winding route that climbs up the mountain, sometimes at an angle quite sharp for railways. The road passes over 4 bridges, including the Devil's Gate Bridge.


5. The Death Railway. Thailand




Railway between Bangkok and Yangon. It is usually called the "Death Road". 415 kilometers of railway link were built during the Second World War and more than 90,000 workers and 16,000 prisoners of war (Europeans and Australians) died during the construction of this road. The train runs along wooden platforms mounted on steep cliffs. It crosses the River Kwai on an iron bridge, and the Apalong River on a concrete bridge. The remaining 4 bridges of the railway - 90 meters across the Songkalia River, 56 meters across the Mekaza River, 75 meters across Zamithi and 60 meters across Anakui - are wooden and creak terribly when the train passes over them, causing tremors in the knees of tourists.


6. Bamboo trains. Cambodia



Bamboo train in Cambodia. Struggling with their own country's primitive and unreliable railways, the Cambodians took matters into their own hands, creating their own service using "trains" built from bamboo and discarded parts. The Spartan cart is powered by a tiny engine and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h and carrying dozens of passengers.


There is only one question left - the road is single track and you have to pull the cart off the tracks to allow the oncoming train to pass. This usually falls to the “train” that is less loaded.


7. Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. USA




This is a narrow gauge road between Chama in New Mexico and Antonio in Colorado, rising to an elevation of 3,000 meters. The road was built in 1880 and in 1970 began to be used as an attraction for tourists, and in 1973 it was included in the US National Register as a historical heritage.


The locomotive pulls the train along steep mountain slopes, viaducts, tunnels and bridges crossing rivers and valleys. Breathtaking views and steep climbs attract not only those who want to get a good dose of adrenaline, there is also something to see for antique lovers and film buffs.


A stop in Lobato gives you the opportunity to watch the locomotive being filled with water. A water tower was built here, which was created specifically for the filming of the film in 1970, and later the third part of the Indiana Jones film was filmed here.


8. Kuranda Scenic Railway. Australia



Railway between Cairns in Queensland and Kuranda. The construction of the road was completed in 1891. The length of the path is 37 km and the entire journey takes 1 hour 45 minutes.


The route passes through national park Barron, cutting through the gorge of the same name. The train makes several stops so that tourists can not only admire the waterfalls, but also almost plunge into one of them. Stoney Creek Falls is just a few meters from the train. Having enjoyed the beauty, you can have time to get really scared while moving along the slopes of the gorge and crossing the river on an ancient bridge.


9. Nilgiri Mountain Railway. India




The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 46 km long single track track connecting Mettupalayam and Udaganadalam. Construction of the line began in 1899 and ended in 1908. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005.


Traveling along this road does not take much time - 290 minutes if you go up and 215 minutes if you go down. But during this trip, the tourist has no time to relax and let go of the camera or video camera. The 46 kilometers of road pass through 208 curves, 16 tunnels and 250 bridges, making for endless clicking and breathtaking views.


10. West Highland Line. Scotland




Railway linking Malleg and Oban on west coast Scotland. In 2009, the line was named the best train journey in the world.


The most exciting place is the roads - the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which is at an altitude of 30 meters and offers beautiful view to Lake Shiel. By the way, it was near this viaduct that the Hogwarts Express was filmed in the Harry Potter films.


11. Outeniqua Choo Tjoe. South Africa




Outeniqua Choo Tjoe is the last railway in the world to use a steam locomotive on a permanent basis as draft power. The steam locomotives only left the line in June 2009, and the road itself was completed in 1928, connecting the towns of George and Knysna in the Western Cape.


The 67-kilometer journey takes three hours. The ride is winding coastline, sometimes almost at the very edge of the surf and crosses the lagoon in front of Knysna on a winding bridge.


The train stopped operating last year, but the Ministry of Transport says it wants to resume train service between cities.


And finally. If you want to tickle your nerves, then the trains of South Asia are the best place for this. According to statistics since 1980, the highest number of train accidents occurred in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. The reports are filled with lists of victims of these accidents.

Imagine that your train is traveling very slowly, and even along a narrow road at an altitude of 3000 meters, which, by the way, runs along the edge of a steep gorge. Nice trip, isn't it? It is unlikely that in this case you will ask for a seat by the window.
Well that's it railways from this issue differ from others precisely in that they are among the most terrible in the world. All in all, the trip is not for the faint of heart.

1. Tren a las Nubes, Argentina

The name of this road, which was built in 1932, translates as “Train to the Clouds.” And believe me, this name was given to it for a reason. The train departs once a week from the Argentine city of Salta, and passengers then have a 16-hour journey along a 424 km route. The road was built purely for economic reasons, but now it is only for tourists. The route passes through tobacco fields and lowland ranches, over 29 bridges and through 21 tunnels, before the train rises to an altitude of more than 4,200 meters via the La Polvorilla Viaduct, making Tren a las Nubes the third highest railway in the world. (AP/FOTOLIA)

2. White Pass and Yukon Route, Canada and USA

The 108-kilometre route connects the Alaskan port of Skagway - now a popular stop for cruise ships - and Carcross to Whitehorse, the capital of Canada's Yukon Territory. This narrow gauge railroad was completed in 1900 at the end of the Gold Rush. Amazing road famous for its steep ascents and descents, dozens of bridges and multiple switchbacks at the edge of cliffs... all against a backdrop of glaciers, mountains and waterfalls. (AP/FOTOLIA)

3. Nariz del Diablo, Ecuador

"Devil's Nose" isn't a bad name, right? This road runs between Alausi, near the Andean city of Riobamba, and Palmyra, which lies about 80 km to the south. The train travels very slowly, giving passengers the opportunity to admire the “Avenue of Volcanoes” to their fullest. Unfortunately, passengers are no longer allowed on the roof of the train, but there is an opportunity to ride in an open carriage. The Devil's Nose itself is a small part of the route between the cities of Guayaquil and Quito, consisting of a steep climb along a kind of “roller coaster”. (AP/FOTOLIA)

4. Georgetown Circle Railroad, USA

The Georgetown ring railway is only 5 km long. Nevertheless, it has remained one of the most popular attractions for more than a century. It takes you from Georgetown, Colorado to neighboring city Silver Plume, and in this short journey it rises sharply 195 m and passes through picturesque mountains. Open from May to December. (AP/FOTOLIA)

5. Flamsbana

This 20-kilometer road in Norway, descending 860 m from Myrdal to the port of Flam, is so steep that the locomotives built specifically for it have five braking systems. Along the route, the train passes through 20 tunnels, one of which is spiral. This is one of the steepest railways in the world with a gradient of 1 in 18. Sometimes spray and water dust from nearby waterfalls hit the train. (AP/FOTOLIA)

6. Death Road, Thailand

More than 90,000 workers and 16,000 prisoners of war died during the construction of this 400-kilometer road between Bangkok and Myanmar. This historic building was the basis for the films The Bridge on the River Kwai and Retaliation, starring Colin Firth. Nowadays, a trip along the preserved section of the route is very popular among visitors to Kanchanaburi. The train skirts sheer cliffs and passes over several rickety-looking wooden bridges. (AP/FOTOLIA)

7. Cumbres and Toltec, USA

Trains on this route in the southern Rocky Mountains operate in the summer and carry passengers from Chama, New Mexico, through Cabres Pass, the most high pass in the USA (3000 m). The train passes through numerous loops, overpasses and tunnels, and then through the Toltec Gorge before finally stopping at the train station in Antonito, Colorado. (ALAMY)

8. Bernina Express

The highest railway crossing the Alps. The engineering marvels here are so amazing that the Bernina Express became an object World Heritage UNESCO. Travelers are in for a truly breathtaking ride between the cities of Chur and Tirano in Switzerland. In summer, passengers can enjoy wonderful local views while traveling in an open carriage. And there is a lot to see here: tunnels, deep gorges and ravines. (AP/FOTOLIA)

9. Kuranda, Australia

The road, completed in 1891, runs from Cairns to Kuranda. The 1 hour 45 minute journey takes the train over an impressive lattice viaduct offering stunning views of Barron Falls and the Coral Sea. The route passes through Barron Gorge National Park, past waterfalls and rainforests, and passes 15 tunnels. (ALAMY)

10. Pamban Bridge, India

The town of Rameshwaram on Pamban Island is connected to mainland India by a 2 km bridge with 143 piers. This bridge, which opened in 1914, is a railway bridge, if you haven't already guessed. The views from here are stunning. Rameswaram himself is considered sacred place and is very popular among pilgrims. (AP/FOTOLIA)

11. Far North

Imagine those who spent long hours and even days building this road in the terrible conditions of the Scottish countryside. Sometimes only a helicopter could deliver provisions. The road passes through the largest flat moor in Europe and some of Britain's most desolate landscapes, home to deer, dunlin, golden plovers and merlins. (ALAMY)

12. Mountain Railways of India

The Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway, Kalka-Shimla Railway and Nilgiri Mountain Railway were built to serve hill stations during British India and are considered engineering marvels to this day. Each line passes through the foothills of the hills (the first two are in the Himalayas), and then goes around the mountains higher and higher. The local trains are not the best example of comfort, and they travel very slowly, although all these shortcomings are compensated by the dizzying views. (AP/FOTOLIA)

13. Bamboo Trains, Cambodia

To somehow solve the problem of the country's notoriously primitive and unreliable railways, Cambodians created their own network of “trains” from bamboo and old parts. These contraptions reach speeds of up to 40 km/h, are powered by tiny motors and can carry up to a dozen passengers at a time. Cushioned railcars now travel from Battambang to a village an hour's journey away. The only problem is that if two such “carts” meet on the way, then the one with fewer passengers is manually removed from the road so that the second one can pass. (ALAMY)

14. Funiculars

These steep cable-rail roads were clearly not built for the faint of heart. Some of the most famous examples can be found in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, England and Japan. The photo shows a bright funicular from the Chilean town of Valparaiso. Perhaps some of our readers rode the funicular in Kyiv, Odessa, Baku or Tbilisi. (AP/FOTOLIA)

There are millions of kilometers of railway tracks on our planet. These rumbling roads are of different types: some are very dangerous because they pass through mountain gorges or steep passes, while others pass through delightful places with magnificent scenery. In this review the most extreme and magnificent railway routes in the world.

1. Argo-Gede Railway



The Argo Gede Railway runs from Jakarta to Bandung in Indonesia. It passes over the very high Cikurutug pylon bridge and can make even the bravest person go weak in the knees, as the train windows offer views of the subtropical valley tens of meters below. And a special share thrills What adds to the journey is that the bridge has a bad reputation, as accidents occur here repeatedly.

2. Bamboo trains


Cambodia
The trains in Cambodia were built by the French, but many of them were subsequently destroyed during the terrible Khmer Rouge regime. Then local residents began to use “bamboo trains” on established railways - hand-made carts that moved along rails. It was very dangerous, but today some of these carts have been fortified and are used as a tourist attraction.

3. Railway of Death



Surely many have heard or seen the cult war film “The Bridge on the River Kwai”. The railway crossing the river bridge that was featured in the film still exists today. The Death Railway, as it is locally known, is located in the Kanchanburi province of Thailand, near the border with Myanmar.

It was here that hundreds of British and American prisoners of war died during the construction of the bridge during World War II. It is worth noting that the road is very picturesque and passes through a lush forest.

4. Aso Minami Route


Japan
One can only imagine what it would be like to travel on a train that passes through active volcano. Believe it or not, the Aso Minami train route passes through Japan's most active volcanic region. No matter how well local officials can predict when an eruption will occur, the sense of danger is fueled by areas of forest near the eruption that have been scorched by lava.

5. Devil's Nose


Ecuador
The Nariz Del Diablo train route in Ecuador translates to "Devil's Nose". This railway, located high in the Andes Mountains, can scare anyone as it is one of the scariest roads in the world. It is located at an altitude of 3 kilometers.

6. Kuranda-Scenic Railway



The Kuranda-Scenic Railway is breathtaking in its danger. It passes through dense forest in Barron Gorge National Park. In some places the train passes very close to the waterfalls, passing through a suspension of water.

7. Chennai-Rameshwaram Bridge


India
Another amazing route The train passes through a huge bridge 2065 meters long. Railroad bridge Pamdan, built in 1914, runs along an extremely low cantilevered sea ​​bridge, connecting South India with the island of Rameshwaram. Those. From the windows of the train you can see splashing sea water.

8. “Tren a las Nubes Railway.”



It took 27 years to complete this railway, which includes some of the world's most dangerous zigzags along mountain slopes. Tren a las Nubes in Argentina is more like a plane ride than a train ride, as part of the journey passes through clouds high in the mountains on the Argentina-Chile border. The route is so long that it passes through 21 tunnels and 13 bridges.

9. White Pass and Yukon Route


Alaska, USA
The White Pass and Yukon Trail is a narrow gauge rail route connecting Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon. There is nothing more deadly than this train route, which practically runs through steep cliffs huge rocks.

The railroad was built in 1898 at the height of the Klondike gold rush and was then actively used by gold miners. Today, however, it is used only as a tourist attraction.

10. Georgetown Loop Railroad


Clear Creek County,
The USA is full of narrow gauge railways, but this one in the Rocky Mountains is rightfully considered one of the most dangerous routes trains in the world. It is located in Clear Creek County and was built to help prospectors reach the silver mines in the area.

The scariest part of the railway is the Devil's Gate Bridge, over which the train must move as slowly as possible, since the bridge could collapse at any moment.

You can identify the most dangerous railways, or you can find out which mountain roads are the most scary and exciting. It would be interesting to find out which Russian roads deserved the title of the most terrible.

Dangerous railways

There are dangerous railways in the world that frighten passengers. The most terrible road is considered to be the “Aso Minami route”, located in Japan directly in the area active volcanoes. Another dangerous railroad was built in Colorado. Trains pass over the Devil's Bridge, located at a height of thirty meters. Its name is "Georgetown Loop Railroad".

The southern Indian railway leading to the island of Rameswaram is recognized as one of the most dangerous. Its line runs where the center is dangerous hurricane. It is called "Chennai-Rameswaram Route". In Alaska there is a railway route that is laid in close proximity to cliffs up to three thousand meters high. This is the White Pass Yukon Route. The train seems to “cling” to these rocks, traveling a distance of thirty-two kilometers.


In the United Kingdom there is railway line"Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff", the ride along which resembles a roller coaster. It is located in the northwest and runs along a five hundred foot cliff. The Tren a las Nubes railway, located in Argentina, which connects La Polvorilla and Salta, is considered a dangerous railway. It took twenty-seven years to build. The route passes through thirteen bridges, twenty-one tunnels, in addition, the road twists many times, resembling zigzags and spirals.

Since 1880, passengers have feared traveling on the Cumbres Toltec Scenic Railroad, which is located in New Mexico. Balancing on old tracks, the train travels along a narrow ledge and passes almost three kilometers into the Cambres Pass. IN South Africa The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Train is located. The route passes through an overhanging Indian Ocean Caymans Bridge.


The railway located in Indonesia called “Argo Gede Train Railroad” is recognized as one of the dangerous ones. The road connecting Jakarta and Bandung goes through a river valley, past a green mountain, and then crosses high bridge Chikurutug. In 2002, a train derailed in this place, but there were no casualties. The Kuranda Scenic Railway, which runs through Australian jungle. The route passes near waterfalls and the spray often hits the trains.

Scary roads of Russia

There are treacherous and dangerous roads in Russia too. One of them is a road with beautiful name"Lena". After every rain it turns out to be almost washed away. This road can be called the dirtiest in the world. There is hope that this route will soon be reconstructed, after which it will no longer deserve the title of the worst and dirtiest.


Another one scary road– the one that connects Russia with Georgia. It is called the Georgian Military Road. In addition to the fact that it is replete with dangerous turns, in winter the road is almost constantly blocked due to the danger of avalanches.

One cannot help but recall the route between Naryan-Mar and Ukhta. It often consists of tons of wet mud and spreading clay, in which any car will get stuck. Moreover, you shouldn’t go to this hellish place in a passenger car. This happens every spring and summer. In fact, you can only use the track late autumn and in winter.


Dangerous mountain roads

Lysebotn Road, which is located in Norway, is recognized as one of the most beautiful and breathtaking mountain roads in Europe. At first it winds in a narrow strip under the rocks, then goes into a tunnel for one and a half kilometers. The last thirty kilometers this mountain road becomes like a roller coaster.

Mexican Mountain pass called "The Devil's Backbone". This is the pass in Durango. The journey along this road takes about five hours.


The road called Van Zyl's Pass is located in Namibia. It passes through gorge, mountains and badlands. Incredibly steep climbs give way to equally dangerous descents.

One of the most dangerous is the “Road of Death” in Bolivia. This winding and extremely dangerous road stretches for seventy kilometers. About three hundred people die on it every year. There are many such dangerous mountain roads in the world and the list could be continued.

The most terrible railway

Among all railway routes One can single out the most terrible one. When traveling on the Tren a las Nubes railway in Argentina, passengers sometimes travel through the clouds. This railway is also called “Train in the Clouds”.


Leaving Salta, the train goes through twenty-one tunnels, twenty-nine bridges, passes thirteen viaducts, makes two spirals and two zigzags. After four hundred and thirty-four kilometers of travel, the train finds itself at an altitude of four thousand two hundred and twenty meters. It goes along a curved viaduct two hundred and twenty-four meters long, which is seventy meters above the ground. The train passes this place, slowing down.

The most dangerous road in the world

It is very difficult to call a road in the usual sense the “Road of Death” running through the Bolivian Andes. All it takes is a minor mistake, which even experienced drivers make, and you can fall into the abyss.


There are roads that are called impassable, but this same road poses a real threat to anyone who decides to drive along it. The seventy-kilometer section of the road descends from a height of three thousand six hundred meters to a height of three hundred meters. The emergency situation is also facilitated by the fact that the road surface is slippery and dirty, and there are often fogs and landslides. There is barely room for two cars on the road. On average, once every two weeks someone dies trying to drive this section.

There are rumors that there is an even scarier and more dangerous road. She is located in Bangladesh.

Huge amounts of money are invested in some roads. Including making them safe. According to the website, it is planned to spend $578 million per kilometer on laying the fourth transport ring in Moscow. And this is not the limit. Read more about the most expensive roads in the world it is possible.
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People living in Russia can be frightened by various things, but not by roads. Almost any foreign curiosity from the above list will have an analogue in its native country, or perhaps not just one, but dozens! But still, let's see what the rest of the planet's inhabitants are afraid of and which roads have earned them the reputation of being the most dangerous and terrifying.

1. Mountain Death Road

The old route from the Bolivian capital 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 mountain from an altitude of 4650 meters to an altitude of 1200 meters, were built by Paraguayan prisoners of war in the 1930s during the war.

Traffic on the Road of Death (unlike other Bolivian highways) is allowed in both directions, but the road surface here is no wider than 3 meters and does not have a safety fence.

The monstrous difference in altitude between the upper and lower points of the Death Road is the reason that travelers descending it go from high-altitude coolness to tropical heat. Because of this, rain, fog, landslides and landslides are so frequent on a short section of the road. In some places, waterfalls run from the mountain directly onto the asphalt.

As a result, any awkwardness or mistake by the driver can lead to a fall into an abyss 600 meters deep.

Everywhere on the road you can see memorial signs and markers indicating the locations of crashes, vehicle crashes, and fatalities. Every year the Road of Death 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 a backup road, a new and safer one. But the Death Road was not closed: it became a tourist attraction. Guides take foreigners along it and organize extreme cycling tours.

2. Death Railway

The 415-kilometer-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 traveling along it, but because its construction caused the death of several thousand people. . Perhaps a more accurate name would be Road of the Dead.

This is probably the only construction project in the world recognized by the courts as a war crime.

In 1942, Imperial Japan invaded Burma from Thailand, retaking it from Britain. To supply Japanese troops in the Burma Campaign, it was necessary to build a road.

When the British ruled Burma, they found it an impossible task: to cut almost half a thousand kilometers through the hilly jungle with big amount rec.

However, the samurai were not embarrassed by the grandiose plan. After all, they did not intend to build with their own hands. And they weren’t 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 participants in the anti-Hitler coalition. The working and maintenance conditions were such that about 90 thousand Asian convicts and 16 thousand prisoners of war died during construction. After the war, Hiroshi Abe, a prison camp guard, 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 military operations it fell into disrepair. However, 130 km of the track were 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 a few passes wooden bridges- is one of the popular tourist attractions.

It is unknown whether ghosts are found there. Nowadays, the only reminders of the sad events on the Death Road are the classic film “The Bridge on the River Kwai” and several museums and memorial cemeteries.

3. Glass Trail and “Heaven’s Gate”

On Mount Tianmen, one of the most high peaks China (1518.6 meters above sea level), in national park near the city of Zhangjiajie there is an amazing tourist complex, part of which are the unique glass path and the longest and tallest in the world cable car. Its spans reach 500 m, and its total length is 7455 m! The name of the road in Chinese sounds very romantic: “Gateway to Heaven.” But in English the romance is already dubious: the name Heaven’s Gate, rather, betrays the cautious attitude of many travelers who had the opportunity to spend several eerie and exciting minutes in a cabin suspended in the middle of the clouds on a steel cable.

Many people feel timid here. But if there are those who are not frightened by the height of the cable car, then the suspended glass path will instill fear in anyone. A suspended path leads along the mountain right along the edge of the abyss among bizarre relict trees. In some places the floor of the suspended walkway is glass. You can see the clouds under your feet. And remember the fragility and frailty of earthly existence.

However, no accidents or disasters have ever happened on the Heavenly Gate Mountain: all the structures are very reliable.

4. Controversial road

The Karakoram Highway, although laid on the ground, plunges into the clouds in many sections. This highest mountain route in the world runs from the city of Abbottabad in Pakistan to chinese city Kashgar is considered one of the most dangerous roads on the planet.

The Karakoram Highway repeats the Great Silk Road of antiquity. From the top there are beautiful, uniquely beautiful views, but travelers face many dangers in the form of rain, landslides, storms, winds, snow drifts, rubble and altitude sickness. On average, there are only 30-40 meters of asphalt per 20 kilometers of road. 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 bitter disputes between India and Pakistan for more than 60 years. An area of ​​border conflicts, where, in addition to the harsh nature, the rule of force and weapons reigns - that is what the Karakoram Highway is. However, adventurous cyclists and bikers love to travel along it.

5. The Ruthless Road

The name of this route, carved into the rocks of Taihan in the Chinese province of Guolian, is “The Road that Unforgives Mistakes.”

Residents of the local village built it in 1997 to be able to get to " big land"from its sky-high heights.

The highway is a 1200 meter tunnel in a mountain 15 feet high and 12 feet wide. There are 30 windows, perhaps so that claustrophobes can calm their nerves by looking outside and admiring the vast abyss below.

Really very beautiful. Local residents travel 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-bearing canyon. At the same time, for some reason the road is called the Captains Road - Skippers Road.

Now, in order to travel along it, drivers must obtain permission. But most insurance companies warn that they will not cover the losses of such risk-seekers if something happens.

However, adventure tourists from nearby Queenstown love day trips along this dangerous road. It's very beautiful there. And then, listen: the Road of Captains has passed. Without insurance. Sounds proud!

7. Deserted road

Luxor Hurghada - famous tourist route in Egypt, connecting recreation areas along the Red Sea shore with the ancient pharaonic city of Luxor. The highway is 280 km long with a good and smooth road surface; the journey along it takes only 4-5 hours.

And yet many people died on this road. The thing is that people travel 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, not seeing each other in the columns of dust.

Why don't they turn on the headlights? The fact is that driving on this road with your 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 Pan American Highway is the longest highway in the world. It starts in Alaska, in North America, and ends in the southernmost regions of South America.

The section of road passing through Costa Rica is the bloodiest section of this route.

A scenic route leads through rainforests, wild places, almost untouched by civilization. It’s beautiful, but renovation work is carried out here too rarely. So some sections of the Pan-American Highway simply wash away during the rainy season. And after floods, landslides can occur 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 far from the “mainland” that no roads exist in those places except the winter road on the ice of the Mackenzie River.

Every winter, road services measure the thickness of the ice and allow or prohibit opening traffic. They clear the road and save the unfortunate people caught in a snowstorm - storms in this region of Canada are treacherous and always strike suddenly.

There is also a constant danger of running into a crack in the ice or getting caught in a snow drift. Canadians and Americans consider the Tuktoyak Ice Road to be extreme. Of course, winter roads are commonplace in Russia; almost every village uses them.

10. Cattle Road

The Canning Stock Route in Australia is, in fact, a former route along which the first white settlers drove their 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, you will need at least a month of time, a technically impeccable 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 things can be purchased from the natives, one or two communities still live in this wilderness.

But, of course, there is no guarantee that they will have exactly what you need. Or that none of them will turn out to be cannibals.

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 Troll's Cap mountain, through the towns of the Troll's Hut and the Troll's Church.

There are 11 loops on the winding road, the width of the roadway does not exceed three meters. Cars travel along this route 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 local residents: they are probably better versed in all these wild trolls.

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... dodgy.

A trip along it can be quite nerve-wracking, especially if you drive into a cloud at the top and get hit a little lower freezing rain. It is not for nothing that such a capricious road was called Stelvio Pass - “Queen of Zigzags”.

You can drive along 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 something is now certain: the road is recognized as Italian territory.

13. Road to nowhere

The American highway in New Mexico, near Albuquerque, is called by locals “the road to nowhere.” It leads to mountain range San Mateo ends there too. Tourists enjoyed driving along it to admire 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 or branches on the road and, in theory, there is nowhere to escape from it. Nevertheless, the road seems to swallow careless drivers, and sometimes entire families. People seem to disappear into thin air. State police and the tourism board recently acknowledged the existence of the mystery of this land Bermuda Triangle. Government officials, private enthusiasts, and various kinds of psychics tried to uncover the secret of the Road to Nowhere. And yet, to this day no one has succeeded.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you: in Russia we have plenty of everything. And the terrible roads are just like mud. True, we didn’t get glass ones - the climate doesn’t allow it.

 

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