Monday, November 3, 2014

The Most Dangerous Road In The World

Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia. It is legendary for its extreme danger and in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the "world's most dangerous road", Same as from south — A South Yungas Road (Chulumani Road) exists that connects La Paz to Chulumani, 64 kilometres east of La Paz, and is considered to be nearly as dangerous as the North Road. 

Road death was built in the 1930s during the Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay Paraguayan prisoners. One of the few routes connecting the Amazon rainforest in northern Bolivia, in particular, the city of Coroico, in La Paz, the largest city in the country.

Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.
Image credit The World by Road

This is one of the few routes that connects the Amazon rain-forest region of northern Bolivia, or Yungas, to its capital city. Upon leaving La Paz, the road first ascends to around 4,650 meters  or 15,260 ft at La Cumbre Pass, before descending to 1,200 meters  or 3,900 ft at the town of Coroico, transiting quickly from cool Altiplano terrain to rain-forest as it winds through very steep hillsides and atop cliffs.

The largely single-lane road has no guard rails and cliffs of up to 600 meters (2,000 feet). Most of the road is the width of a single vehicle, about 3.2 meters (10 ft). During the rainy season from November through March, rain and fog can severely hamper visibility, and water runoff can turn the road into a muddy track, affecting traction. In the summer, rockfalls are common and vehicle dust limits visibility as well.

One of the local road rules specifies that the downhill driver never has the right of way and must move to the outer edge of the road. This forces the faster downhill vehicle to stop so that passing can be negotiated safely. Unlike the rest of Bolivia, vehicles are required to drive on the left side of the road, to give the driver a better view of the vehicle's outside wheel and making passing safer. [Source —Wikipedia]
Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.
Image credit The World by Road

The danger of the road made it a popular tourist destination starting in the 1990s, drawing some 25,000 thrillseekers. Mountain biking enthusiasts in particular have made it a favourite destination for downhill biking since there is a 64-kilometre (40 mi) stretch of continuous downhill riding with only one short uphill section. There are now many tour operators catering to this activity, providing information, guides, transport, and equipment. Nevertheless, the Yungas Road remains dangerous. At least 18 cyclists have died on the ride since 1998. [Source —Wikipedia]

Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.
Image credit The World by Road

Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.
Image credit The World by Road

Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.
Image credit The World by Road

Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.
Image credit The World by Road

Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.
Image credit Thrudur Helgadottir

Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.
Image credit fatbackpack

Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.
Image credit truces66

Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.
Image credit ngaire hart (lawson)

Death Road in the Yungas region of Bolivia, also called Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas and Road of fate. Leading from La Paz to Coroico, 56 kilometres northeast of La Paz in the Yungas region of Bolivia.
Image credit Craig Bridges

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