The road of death in Bolivia. La Paz: the road of death (photo)

We have long been accustomed to the idea that the most reckless people in the world are Russians. Moreover, there is an opinion that roads in our country are such that only desperate daredevils can ride on them. But the facts of this version do not confirm. There are places on the planet where people are so used to daily risk that they treat it as a simple and annoying routine.

The most terrible roads

The two most dangerous roads in the world are in Bangladesh and Bolivia. Both of them are laid in the mountains, they have many sharp turns, a very complicated relief and a bad covering, the state of which is difficult to control due to the tropical climate, frequent showers, significant temperature drops and the poverty of the state treasury. Reviews of the journey through the Bangladeshi "road of death" are extremely rare, tourists on it almost do not go, it's too risky, even for fans of extreme. The beauty of the winding trail from Coroico to the capital of Bolivia, La Paz, the visitors are admired more often, knowing that relatively few people die on it, "only" a hundred or two each year.

The importance of the route Coroico - La Paz for Bolivia

The northern road of death in Bolivia is the vital transport artery of this Latin American country. It is simply impossible to prohibit its operation, it is the only highway that can be reached from the city of Koroiko, the center of the northern province of Yungas, to the capital. On all its seventy-kilometer long it runs obliquely, the minimum height above sea level is 330 meters (almost 1,100 feet), and the maximum exceeds 3,600 meters (12,000 feet). The road to death in Bolivia was built in the 30s of the twentieth century with the involvement of the captive Paraguayan labor (then the Chakka war was on).

In the 70's it was reconstructed by a firm from the USA, but the work was limited to paving the first 20 kilometers of the road. The rest of the distance is devoid of hard coating, and the machines are forced to drive through clay soil, which, becoming soaking, becomes extremely slippery. The terrain on which the road is located is in close proximity to the valley of the great Amazon river, which seriously affects its condition. Wet soil often collapses directly under the wheels, and no, even the highest qualification of the driver can not in this case prevent a catastrophe. The air temperature also varies from tropical heat to high altitude cold, which increases the likelihood of erosion.

Rules of motion on the "road of death"

The width of the canvas does not exceed 3 meters 20 centimeters, and this creates significant problems for oncoming traffic flows. But movement in one direction is also very dangerous, in the narrowest places, the protector, half its width, hangs over the abyss.

Before each flight, and they occur many times daily, and the driver and passengers pray diligently. It helps, but not always.

The usual rules of the road here do not work. The road of death in Bolivia has developed its own etiquette, observed by drivers during meetings on it. Priority is given to transport moving upwards. In controversial situations, both cars stop, drivers go out and talk with each other for a while, with Latin American composure figuring out who needs to be handed back, and how much to leave safely. Most of the traffic is carried out here rather old buses and trucks, these vehicles have considerable dimensions, and if we take into account their non-ideal technical condition and the "bald" rubber, we can conclude about the courage that comes to the recklessness inherent in local motorists, as well as their High professionalism.

Whence the name

By the way, its terrible name is the road to death in Bolivia was relatively recently. Until 1983, while the bus with hundreds of passengers disappeared into the abyss, its official name sounded prosaic: "North Yungas Road".

Then, in 1999, another major catastrophe occurred, eight Israelis were killed in a car that had fallen from a steep slope, and this accident became known to the world community.

The skeletons of trucks, buses and trees broken by them during the fall are visible from some points of the road, they cause the drivers a grim feeling, recalling the numerous victims.

The gloomy reputation of the road contrasts with the beautiful views that open up from its bends. Riot of tropical greens, like the richness of colors, inspire insidious and erratic carelessness. Sometimes this road is called briefly, in one word: "death".

Tourist paradise. Or hell ...

And yet not only local drivers ride along the road Koroiko - La Paz. The road of death entails its danger and the beauty of the landscapes of extreme tourists. The most dangerous site since 2006 can be traversed along an additional paved stretch of road, but movement along the old route is not prohibited.

It is common to consider a cross in a group of cyclists with an instructor and a minibus loaded with auxiliary and reserve sports equipment. Before leaving each participant of the run signs a paper in which he declares in Spanish that there are no claims in case of an unhappy outcome. Not every fall ends fatally, but in the case of a serious injury it is not easy to get to a local hospital. A car of medical aid can leave for the victim, but she will have to overcome the same deadly path, and it is impossible to do this quickly. But people are still at risk, developing on the descent speed of up to 60 kilometers per hour.

The road of death, photos and impressions

Each person, leaving for distant countries, hopes to find something of their own in them. Some leave their home to quietly and comfortably relax, sitting in a lounger by the gentle sea and enjoying the service in which "everything is included." Others are interested in the sights, museum expositions and exquisite architecture. There is even a culinary tourism, which is fond of gourmets. There is nothing on the banks of the Amazon.

What attracts tourists to Bolivia? The road of death, a photo with a backdrop in the form of a picturesque abyss or a skeleton torn from the cliff of the car, an atmosphere of exoticism and deadly risk - this is what the traveler from distant wanderings brings to this homeland in this South American country.