ADVERTISEMENT
Most dangerous roads in the world
From hairpin turns to extreme fog and deadly rockslides, fasten your seat belts as CTVNews.ca takes a look at some of the most dangerous roads around the world.
Published:
Image 0 of 19
Location: China
Dangers: 30 windows of various sizes and shapes, no guardrails, rockfalls and extreme fog
Located in the northwest of Henan province in China, Guoliang Tunnel is an extremely scenic route, but also terrifyingly dangerous. The tunnel is known for being a 'road that does not tolerate mistakes.' Even one wrong manoeuvre could be dire, as the road only spares a few feet on either side as you pass through the tunnel.
(Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
The 1,250-metre-long, four-metre-wide tunnel has 35 windows along it.
(Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Location: Bolivia
Dangers: Fog, cascades, steep slopes, hairpin turns
North Yungas Road, also known as the 'Death Road,' is the main route linking the town of La Paz -- the capital of Bolivia -- with the town of Coroico, and features more than 200 hairpin turns. It is also usually covered in thick fog and dust in the summer, making it difficult for motorists to see what's in front of them. The region also experiences year-round rainfall, which keeps the road wet and slippery at all times.
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Location: India
Dangers: Narrow, no guardrails, extreme weather, landslides
Known for having one of the most treacherous drives in the world, Zoji La, also known as the Zojila Pass, is a high mountain pass in the Himalayas. Landslides are a frequent problem on this road, and with it's zig-zags and an altitude of approximately 3,528 metres above sea level, a wrong turn could be fatal.
(AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)
The new tunnel will reduce the time to cross the Zojila Pass from more than 3 hours to about 15 minutes. It comes with a price tag of US$930 million.
(Photo by Yawar Nazir/Getty Images) (Photo by Yawar Nazir/Getty Images)
Location: Italian Alps (Border between Italy and Switzerland)
Dangers: 75 hairpin bends
Described as the 'roof of Italy,' the Stelvio Pass is one of the world's most terrifying roads. With challenging driving conditions, it sits at an elevation of 2,757 metres above sea level. Heavy snowfall in the winter months renders this road impassable and it is typically shut down in early fall and opens up again in the later months of spring.
(Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)
During the First World War, Austria-Hungary and Italy battled near the pass, but the Swiss, who were nearby and fearing they would be hit by stray bullets, had both sides come to an agreement that they would only shoot into the valleys. The pass also features several bicycle races, including the Giro d’Italia.
(LUK BENIES/AFP via Getty Images)
Location: China and Tibet
Dangers: 99 hairpin bends, prone to frequent earthquakes, mudslides, rockslides, avalanches
This stretch of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, also known as, '72-turnings of Sky Road' is considered one of the world's most deadly roads and the most treacherous section on the Sichuan-Tibet line. The road is 4,652 metres above sea level and 46 kilometres long. Motorists can experience the changes of the four seasons in a day, along with altitude sickness.
(Photo by Wang Jianfeng/VCG via Getty Images)
Location: China and Tibet
Dangers: 99 hairpin bends, prone to frequent earthquakes, mudslides, rockslides, avalanches
This stretch of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, also known as, '72-turnings of Sky Road' is considered one of the world's most deadly roads and the most treacherous section on the Sichuan-Tibet line. The road is 4,652 metres above sea level and 46 kilometres long. Motorists can experience the changes of the four seasons in a day, along with altitude sickness.
(Photo by Wang Jianfeng/VCG via Getty Images)
Location: Between Pakistan and China
Dangers: Landslides, falling rocks, high altitudes
The Karakoram Highway is a 1,300-km-long stretch of road connecting China to Pakistan and is occasionally referred to as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World'.
One of the highest paved roads in the world, motorists can take in breathtaking scenes featuring glacial waterfalls, alpine lakes and snow-capped peaks. The highway is often closed for long periods during the winter months, due to heavy snowfall.
(Robert Holmes/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Location: Between Pakistan and China
Dangers: Landslides, falling rocks, high altitudes
The Karakoram Highway is a 1,300-km-long stretch of road connecting China to Pakistan and is occasionally referred to as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World'.
One of the highest paved roads in the world, motorists can take in breathtaking scenes featuring glacial waterfalls, alpine lakes and snow-capped peaks. The highway is often closed for long periods during the winter months, due to heavy snowfall.
(Robert Holmes/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Location: New Zealand
Dangers: Narrow roads, unpaved roads, no guardrails, cliffs
Skippers Canyon Road is one of the most scenic roads in the world but also one of the deadliest, being that it is extremely narrow and difficult to manoeuvre.
At 17.4 km long, it is mostly one-way and with no guardrails, there is very little room for error. It is most often used by tour buses and adventure firms.
(Photo by Ben Davies/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Many sections of the road remain the same since the day it opened to the public in 1890. The road is said to be so dangerous that rental car companies won't honour the insurance if you drive on it.
(Photo by Ben Davies/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Location: India
Dangers: Traffic congestion, landslides, blizzards, avalanches
Rohtang Pass is one of the highest and most dangerous roads in India.
With winding bends, no barriers and rockfalls, it makes the commute a treacherous one for most travellers. The road also encounters heavy traffic jams and is covered with thick snow and slush. Adding to the dangers, it is often covered in heavy fog for most of the year.
(Photo by Leisa Tyler/LightRocket via Getty Images)
It has also seen more accidents than any other road in India.
(Photo by: Bhaswaran Bhattacharya/IndiaPictures/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Location: Pakistan
Dangers: Unpaved gravel roads, no barriers, no guardrails, landslides, high altitude, narrow turns
Fairy Meadows Road in Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous roads in the world because of it's high altitude and unstable, narrow mountain paths, which are approximately the width of a Jeep Wrangler in both directions. Most of the drive is composed of very steep sections. The twists and turns last for approximately 16 kms and take close to 2 hours to navigate.
(Photo by Muhammed Semih Ugurlu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Because this all-gravel road is so dangerous, it is only allowed to be driven by locals.
(Photo by Muhammed Semih Ugurlu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)