People living in Russia can be frightened by different things, but not by roads. Almost any foreign curiosity from the above list will find an analogue in the homeland, and then, perhaps, not one, but dozens! But still, let's see what the rest of the planet's inhabitants are afraid of and what roads have earned them the fame of the most dangerous and terrifying.
1. Mountain Road of Death
The old route 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, Death Road. This 64 km of asphalt, which leads down the edge of the Altiplano Mountain from a height of 4,650 meters to an altitude of 1,200 meters, was built during the war by Paraguayan prisoners of war in the 1930s.
Traffic on the Road of Death (unlike other Bolivian highways) is allowed in both directions, but the roadway here is not wider than 3 meters and does not have a safety fence.
The monstrous difference in the heights of the upper and lower points of the Death Road is the reason that the travelers descending it, move from high-mountain coolness to tropical heat. Because of this, on a short section of the road, rains, fogs, landslides and landslides are so frequent. In some places, waterfalls run from the mountain directly onto the asphalt.
As a result, any awkwardness or driver error can lead to a fall into an abyss 600 meters deep.
Everywhere on the road you can see memorial signs and marks indicating the places of the disaster, car crashes and deaths. Death Road claimed dozens of lives every year. 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 Death Road was not closed: it became a tourist attraction. Guides take foreigners along it and organize extreme bike tours.
2. Railroad of Death
The railway track with a length of 415 kilometers (of which 13 km are bridges) between Bangkok (Thailand) and Rangoon (Burma) is also called the Road of Death, but not because of the danger of traffic along it, but because its construction caused the death of several thousand people ... Perhaps a more accurate name would be the Road of the Dead.
This is probably the only construction site in the world recognized as a war crime by the court.
In 1942, Imperial Japan invaded Burma from Thailand, recapturing it from Great Britain. To supply the Japanese troops in the "Burma campaign" it was necessary to build a road.
When the British ruled Burma, they found it an overwhelming task: to pave almost half a thousand kilometers through hilly jungle with many rivers.
However, the samurai were not embarrassed by the grandiose plan. After all, they did not plan 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 living conditions were such that during the construction about 90 thousand Asian convicts and 16 thousand prisoners of war died. After the war, Hiroshi Abe, a prisoner of war camp overseer, was personally found guilty of 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, skiing along the Hell Passage near the city of Kanchanaburi to the northwest of the capital of Thailand - where the train bends around sheer cliffs and passes several wooden bridges - is one of the popular tourist attractions.
Whether ghosts are encountered 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 trail and "Paradise Gate"
On Tianmen Mountain, 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 is built, part of which is a unique glass trail and the longest and highest cable car in the world. 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 happened to spend several eerie and exciting minutes in a booth suspended in the middle of the clouds on a steel cable.
Shyness seizes many here. But if there are those who are not afraid of the height of the cable car, then the suspended glass trail will catch fear on anyone. A suspended path leads along the mountain right along the edge of the abyss among the bizarre relict trees. In some places, the floor of the suspended walkway is glass. Clouds can be seen underfoot. And remember the fragility and frailty of earthly life.
However, no accidents or catastrophes on the Heavenly Gate Mountain have yet happened: all structures are very reliable.
4. Controversial road
The Karakorum highway, although it is laid on the ground, plunges into clouds in many of its sections. This most mountainous route in the world runs from the city of Abbottabad in Pakistan to the Chinese city of Kashgar and is considered one of the most dangerous roads in the world.
The Karakorum highway repeats the Great Silk Road of antiquity. From above, there are wonderful, uniquely beautiful views, but many dangers await travelers in the form of rains, landslides, storms, winds, snow drifts, blockages and altitude sickness. On average, there is only 30-40 meters of asphalt per 20 kilometers of road. But what is even more unpleasant - 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. The region of border conflicts, where, in addition to the harsh nature, the power of force and weapons reigns - this is what the Karakorum highway is. However, desperate cyclists and bikers love to travel on it.
5. Ruthless road
The name of this trail, carved into the rocks of Taihan in the Chinese province of Golian, is the “Forgiving Road”.
The inhabitants of the local village built it in 1997 to get the opportunity to get to the "mainland" from their sky-high heights.
The highway is a 1200 meter tunnel in the mountain 15 feet high and 12 feet wide. There are 30 windows, maybe so that claustrophobes can calm their nerves by looking outside and admiring the spacious abyss below.
Really very beautiful. The locals cross the road mainly on bicycles. But cars often flew off the 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. For some reason, the road is called the Road of Captains - Skippers Road.
Now, in order to move on it, drivers must obtain a permit. But most insurance companies warn that they will not cover the losses of such risk lovers, in which case.
Nevertheless, adventure tourists from the nearby city of Queenstown love day trips along this dangerous road. It's very beautiful there. And then, listen carefully: Dear captains passed. Without insurance. Sounds proud!
7. Deserted road
Luxor-Hurghada is a famous tourist trail in Egypt, connecting recreation areas along the coast of the Red Sea 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 the 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, and all kinds of robbers flock to this world like moths. The consequences are dire. In 1997, Islamist fanatics shot 62 German tourists here.
8. The longer - the more lethal
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Panamerican Highway is the longest motorway in the world. It begins in Alaska, North America, and ends in the southernmost regions of South America.
The section of the road that runs through Costa Rica is the bloodiest section of this route.
The scenic route leads through tropical forests, wild places, almost untouched by civilization. Nice, but renovation works are carried out 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 fatal.
9. Icy 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, except for a winter road on the ice of the Mackenzie River, exist there.
Every winter, road services take measurements of the thickness of the ice and allow or prohibit the opening of traffic. They also clear the road and save the unfortunate ones caught in a blizzard - 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 getting into a snow drift. Tuktoyak Ice Road is considered extreme by Canadians and Americans. Of course, winter roads are a common thing in Russia; they are used in almost every village.
10. Animal road
The Canning Stock Route in Australia is indeed the former route taken by the first white settlers.
This is one of the most remote roads in the world from civilization. It is very difficult to walk along it, because it crosses 1850 km of absolutely deserted desert. To overcome this road, you will need 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, a solid supply of water, provisions and fuel. While some can be bought from the aborigines, one or two communities still live in this wilderness.
But, of course, you are not sure that they will find exactly what you need. Or that none of them will turn out to be a cannibal.
11. Troll Road
The construction of the Norwegian mountain trail began in the late 19th century, but was not completed until 1936.
This is the most fabulous road in the world, as it leads travelers along the "Troll's Cap" mountain, through the towns "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 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 the local residents: they know better about all these wild trolls.
12. Steep 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 ... elusive.
A ride on it can be pretty nerve-racking, especially if you enter a cloud above and get caught in a freezing rain just below. It is not in vain that such a capricious road was called Stelvio Pass - "Queen of Zigzags".
You can drive on it from June to September. In winter it is a toboggan run. Again: both ours and yours, two in one. But at least in something now there is certainty: the road is recognized as the territory of Italy.
13. The road to nowhere
American highway in the state of New Mexico, near Albuquerque, locals call "the road to nowhere." It leads to the San Mateo mountain range and ends there. Tourists liked to ride 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 and branches on the road and, in theory, there is nowhere to get away from it. Nevertheless, the road seems to swallow unwary drivers, and sometimes entire families. People seem to dissolve into thin air. State police and tourism have recently acknowledged the mystery of this landlocked Bermuda Triangle. Government officials, 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: in Russia, we have everything in abundance. And the terrible roads are just like mud. True, they did not acquire glass - the climate does not allow.
There are millions of kilometers of railroad tracks on our planet. These rumbling roads are different: some are very dangerous as 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 rail routes in the world.
1. Argo-Gede railway
The Argo-Gede Railway runs from Jakarta to Bandung in Indonesia. It crosses the very high Chikurutug pylon bridge and can cause tremors in the knees of even the bravest person, as the train windows overlook the subtropical valley tens of meters below. And what makes the trip even more thrilling is that the bridge is notorious for its many accidents.
2. Bamboo trains
Cambodia
Trains in Cambodia were built by the French, but many of them were subsequently destroyed during the terrible Khmer Rouge regime. Then the locals began to use "bamboo trains" - hand-made carts that moved on rails on the laid railways. It was very dangerous, but today some of these carts have been fortified and used as a tourist attraction.
3. Railroad of Death
Surely many have heard or seen the cult war movie "The Bridge on the River Kwai". The railway that runs across the bridge over the river, which was shown in the film, still exists today. The Death Railway, as the locals call it, is located in Thailand's Kanchanburi province, near the border with Myanmar.
It is 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 scenic and runs through a lush forest.
4. Aso Minami route
Japan
One has only to imagine what it would be like to ride a train that passes through an active volcano. Believe it or not, the Aso Minami train route passes through Japan's most active volcanic region. Regardless of how well local authorities can predict when an eruption will occur, the lava-scorched areas of forest near the canvas are fueling the sense of danger.
5. Devil's nose
Ecuador
The Nariz Del Diablo train route in Ecuador translates as "Devil's Nose." High in the Andes mountains, this railroad can intimidate anyone as it is one of the most terrifying roads in the world. It is located at an altitude of 3 kilometers.
6. Railway Kuranda-Scenic
The Kuranda-Scenic railway is breathtaking with its danger. She walks through a dense forest in Barron Gorge National Park. In some places, the train passes very close to the waterfalls, passing through the suspension of water.
7. Chennai-Rameshwaram bridge
India
Another amazing train route crosses a huge 2065 meters long bridge. The Pamdan Railway Bridge, built in 1914, runs over an extremely low cantilever sea bridge connecting South India with Rameshwaram Island. Those. splashing sea water is visible from the train windows.
8. "Railway Tren a las Nubes".
It took 27 years to complete this railroad, 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 crosses 21 tunnels and 13 bridges.
9. White Pass and Yukon Trail
Alaska, USA
The White Pass and Yukon Trail is a narrow-gauge rail route that connects Skagway in Alaska to Whitehorse in the Yukon. There is nothing more deadly than this railway route, which practically runs along the sheer cliffs of huge rocks.
The railway was built in 1898 at the height of the Klondike gold rush and was then actively used by gold miners. Today, however, it is only used as a tourist attraction.
10. Georgetown Loop Railroad
County Clear Creek,
The United States is full of narrow gauge railways, but this one in the Rocky Mountains is deservedly considered one of the most dangerous train routes 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 railroad is the Devil's Gate Bridge, on which the train must move as slowly as possible, as the bridge can collapse at any moment.
In the event that you are planning to travel by train during the upcoming summer vacation, then you should familiarize yourself with the most dangerous railways, which are best avoided for the faint of heart.
Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Train, South Africa
A unique railroad track that runs directly over the ocean. Driving along the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Train feels like you are driving along the beach. It must be said that, although the view from the window is beautiful, it is at the same time creepy: you have to move at a great height and the fantasy begins treacherously to play scenes with the train falling into the bottomless abyss. Most passengers try not to look out of the window in this place, but simply drive with their eyes closed or reading a book.
Kuranda Scenic Railway, Australia
This is one of the most spectacular and scenic railroad sections in the world. The railroad bed is located on giant piles that are installed along the mountain gorge. Waterfalls falling from the mountains are visible in the windows of the carriages and water splashes very often fall on the glass. Such a breathtaking view cannot be obtained on any other railroad in Australia. At the same time, many find this area quite intimidating and prefer not to look out the window while driving.
Argo Gede Train Railroad,
This section of the railway passes over picturesque fields, which, if you do not get hung up on the fact that you are moving at a great height, can impress with their beauty. In order to stimulate the production of adrenaline while overcoming this section, it is worth remembering that in 2002 a train derailed on this section of the road. By a lucky coincidence, there were no victims in that incident.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, New Mexico, USA
This railroad looks more like a nightmare ride in an amusement park than a public transport highway. Here you will have to cross the shaky old paths over the abyss, and the mountain canyon, and dangerous ledges in the rocks. The engineer who erected these structures clearly does not suffer from a fear of heights.
"Tren a las Nubes",
Bridges, zigzags, descents, ascents and tunnels can all be found when traveling by train from Salta to La Polvorilla. The construction of this railway track was carried out for several decades, the construction was so difficult and laborious. The road, planned in the early twenties, was only opened in the late forties.
Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff, United Kingdom
One of the craziest train journeys, you can arrange yourself on a 500-foot-high cliff, which is also home to private housing. Small houses, green spaces, bridges, and in the midst of all this splendor, a high-speed train rushes, which rushes somewhere down a small green corridor.
White Pass & Yukon Route, Alaska, USA
This railway is an architectural monument and was built during the gold rush. A special train also runs along it, which can immerse the nineteenth century gold diggers in a peculiar atmosphere of excitement. About half a million tourists travel along this path annually. The height of the building and the rather decrepit exterior make White Pass & Yukon Route quite an adrenaline-pumping ride.
Chennai-Rameswaram Route, India
This railroad track over the Indian Ocean will take you to Rameswaram Island. A path over the sea surface about one and a half kilometers long can become an insurmountable obstacle for especially impressionable people. This section of the track looks rather dilapidated and it is not without reason: it was built about a hundred years ago and has hardly been repaired since then.
Georgetown Loop Railroad, Colorado, USA
This railway bridge is located on the site of a former silver mine, and it is mainly used by tourists. The bridge rests on flimsy piles at a height of about thirty meters and you can be sure that you will get an unforgettable experience from this trip: at the very peak of its ascent to the bridge, the train slips and slows down a little, which terrifies tourists.
Aso Minami route, Japan
This road is scary because it is located in the area of \u200b\u200bactive volcanoes. The train is moving over an abyss that does not bode well. The bridge itself looks rusty and dilapidated. The eruption can begin at any moment, and this is especially exciting for tourists who understand that this bridge may be the last in their life.
I must say that the railway is the safest form of transport, accidents with which you can count on one hand. Despite the fact that most of the places described above look quite creepy, they are more than safe and do not pose a real threat to the life and health of tourists.
Rail transport is considered the safest. True, this is wrong. Of course, traveling in carriages with comfort, admiring the natural beauty, is very pleasant. Meanwhile, travel to some areas is associated with a risk to life. The most dangerous railways are located in different countries.
Darjeeling (India)
Only desperate or very courageous people decide to travel along it, since natural phenomena and ethnic unrest have stopped movement more than once
Georgetown (USA)
The second name of this highway is "Devil's Gate". Numerous tunnels, elevation changes and zigzags make the trip along it very extreme.
Pilatusban (Switzerland)
It is noteworthy that the ascent to Mount Pilatus is carried out in small wagons using two rails and gear wheels.
Minamiaso Takamori (Japan)
Brave travelers will have to drive through the crater of the Aso volcano.
Flomskaya (Norway)
It has several braking systems that stop the train during the journey.
Railroad bus track - ferrobus (Bolivia)
It is dangerous because local residents very often overload the rail bus, which leads to accidents.
Chennai - Rameswaram (India)
Passes through a bridge a short distance from the water. This bridge is prone to high winds and cyclones. There were precedents of train derailments.
White Pass and Yukon Railroad (Alaska)
The thrill of riding on wooden bridges and in centuries-old tunnels is guaranteed.
"The Devil's Nose" (Ecuador)
A huge number of viaducts, tunnels and zig-zag turns make traveling on this railway unforgettable.
There are many miracles in the world, many of which were created by human hands. Dangerous railways attract tourists, first of all, for the picturesque nature of the places through which they have to pass.
Some people choose to travel by train, finding it very romantic and rewarding, and also less tiring. It's so nice to sit relaxed by the window and admire the ever-changing landscapes. And statistics also assure that railways are one of the safest vehicles. However, not all and not always. In some places in the world, trains run through very dangerous sections.
1. Chennai Rameshwaram, India
The 2.3 km long bridge is part of the railway and was opened to traffic in 1914. The middle section of the bridge is raised to accommodate the movement of ships and ferries. The base of the bridge consists of 145 concrete pillars. Despite such powerful supports, the railway track is often flooded by the ocean. And don't forget about the strong wind, because of which the trains are forced to slow down to a speed of 4 m / s.
2. The Devil's Nose, Ecuador
From the town of Alausi to the small village of Sibambe, there is an impressive 14 km railway line. The track rises and falls sharply so that in some places the train almost flies down vertically. This section is one of the most dangerous railways in the world. Want a roller coaster ride in Ecuador? Just take a train ride over a mountain called Devil's Nose.
3. Train to the clouds, Argentina
The 217 km rail route connects the city of Salta in Argentina with Polvorillo in Chile. The line was opened in 1948 after almost 27 years of construction. Currently, it is more intended for the thrill-seeking tourists. The trip takes 16 hours and passes through 29 bridges, 21 tunnels and 13 viaducts at 4200 m above sea level. This is one of the most dangerous and beautiful paths among the clouds.
4. White Pass and Yukon, Alaska
The construction of the route from the Yukon in Alaska to the Canadian Klondike took 26 months and was completed in 1900. He was especially popular with those who fell victim to the gold rush of those days and rushed in search of fortune. The route was closed in 1982, but six years later it was restored for the sake of tourists. During the ride, you can admire steep slopes, overhanging cliffs, rushing rivers and picturesque lakes.
5. Kuranda Scenic, Australia
The 34 km railroad connects the Australian cities of Kuranda and Cairns in Queensland. The line was built between 1882-1891 and it runs through the dense rainforest of Barron Gorge National Park - a UNESCO site, by the way. The track is located very close to overhanging rocks and waterfalls, and the train itself passes 15 tunnels on its way, overcomes 93 sharp bends and more than 40 bridges.
6. Georgetown Loop, Colorado
This line connects the towns of Georgetown and Silver Plum in the Rocky Mountains. The narrow gauge railway was built in 1877 to facilitate access to the silver mine and closed in 1939. In 1984 it was decided to turn it into a tourist route 7.2 km long, passing along the old bridges over the mountainous terrain.
7. Linton Lynmouth, England
This railway line, actually a cable car, is only 263 meters long, where the train ascends to the top of Lynmouth Rock at an angle of 58 degrees. The track was built in 1890 and is located in Exmoor National Park. The train consists of two carriages, each of which can accommodate up to 40 people.
8. Toltec Scenic, New Mexico
This is a 103 km long narrow-gauge railway between the town of Chama (New Mexico) and Antonito (Colorado) at an altitude of more than 3000 m. It passes through the Cambra Pass and the Toltec Gorge. From the train window, you can admire the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and experience an adrenaline rush as the train rides through narrow cliffs, winds through ramps and dives into tunnels.
