The Bolivian Death Road: A 40-Mile Long Dangerous Trek

Bolivia's Death Road is a 64-kilometre (40-mile) route that connects the city of La Paz to the town of Coroico in the Yungas region of Bolivia. The road is notorious for its extreme danger, with an estimated 200 to 300 people dying on it each year. The road is characterised by steep slopes, sharp turns, blind corners, and a lack of guardrails, making it especially treacherous for vehicles. While it is no longer considered the World's Most Dangerous Road, it still claims the lives of thrill-seeking cyclists and adventurers.

The road is 64km long, with a 3,500m descent

The Bolivian Death Road, officially known as The North Yungas Road, is a 64km (40-mile) route that connects the Bolivian city of La Paz with the Yungas region. The road features a 3,500m descent, with parts of the road only 3m wide. The route includes the Cotapata–Santa Bárbara section, which replaced an older road built in 1930.

The Death Road was constructed by Paraguayan prisoners of war following the Chaco War in the 1930s. It was considered extremely dangerous due to its steep slopes, narrow single-lane track, lack of guardrails, and frequent rain and fog. The road's dangerous conditions led to numerous accidents and deaths, with an estimated 200 to 300 people losing their lives on the road each year before 2006.

The road's hazardous nature earned it the nickname "Road of Death" or "Death Road". It gained international infamy, featuring in various media outlets and attracting thrill-seekers and adventurers. However, in 2006, a new road was constructed, bypassing the most treacherous sections of the original route. The new road included modern safety features such as multiple lanes, pavement, guardrails, and improved drainage systems.

Despite the construction of the new road, the original North Yungas Road still remains in use. It continues to be a challenging route, with cyclists and adventure seekers testing their limits. Tour operators offer guided rides along the road, providing necessary information, guides, transportation, and equipment.

The Bolivian Death Road is a testament to the engineering challenges faced in connecting remote regions. While the new road provides a safer alternative, the original route remains an enduring symbol of the dangers once faced by travellers and locals alike.

It's also known as North Yungas Road

The North Yungas Road, also known as Death Road, is a mountain highway in Bolivia. It stretches for approximately 60km, linking the town of La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, with the town of Coroico in the Yungas region of Bolivia. The road rises to an elevation of 4,650 meters and proceeds downhill towards Coroico. This change in elevation comes with varying temperatures, from freezing to warm and even sweltering. The road is usually covered in thick fog and dust in the summer, which makes it difficult to see.

The region experiences year-round rainfall, which keeps the road wet and slippery. The high amount of rainfall also loosens rocks above the road, exposing drivers to falling rocks. Some parts of the road are even more slippery, as there are waterfalls constantly raining down water. The road is especially dangerous because it is only 3 meters wide in some places and was previously navigated by trucks and buses. It has constant sheer drops of at least 600 meters without any barriers or guardrails.

The North Yungas Road was built in the 1930s during the Chaco War by Paraguayan prisoners. It is one of the few routes that connect the Amazon jungle in the north with the city of La Paz. The road is also famous for its extreme danger, with an estimated 200 to 300 people dying on it each year. In 1995, the Inter-American Development Bank dubbed it "The Most Dangerous Road in the World."

In 2006, a new road was opened, bypassing the North Yungas Road. This new route features modern construction, multiple lanes, pavement, guardrails, and effective drainage, making it considerably safer than the original route. Today, the North Yungas Road is mainly used by bikers seeking to test their bravery and perform dangerous stunts.

It was built by Paraguayan prisoners in the 1930s

The notorious Bolivian Death Road, or Yungas Road, is a 64-kilometre (40-mile) route that winds through the mountains from La Paz to the town of Coroico in the Yungas region of Bolivia. It was built in the 1930s during the Chaco War by Paraguayan prisoners. This was a violent conflict between Paraguay and Bolivia, fought over control of the Gran Chaco region, which borders the Amazon rainforest to the north.

The road was constructed by Paraguayan prisoners of war, captured by Bolivian forces during this conflict. The prisoners were forced to cut the road into the side of the Cordillera Oriental Mountain chain. This was an extremely perilous task, given the steep slopes and sheer drops of the terrain. The road was built to connect Bolivia's capital, La Paz, with the Amazonian rainforest to the north. It was one of the few routes to do so and was used by merchants transporting goods between the two regions.

The road is extremely narrow, in some places only 3 metres wide, with sheer drops of at least 600 metres and no guardrails. The constant threat of landslides, as well as thick fog and rain, made the road even more dangerous. These conditions led to numerous fatal accidents, with an estimated 200 to 300 people dying on the road each year. The road gained a reputation as one of the most dangerous in the world, earning its nickname, "Death Road".

In 2006, a new alternative route was opened, bypassing the most treacherous sections of the original road. The new road features two lanes, pavement, guardrails, and drainage systems, making it much safer than the original route.

It's now mainly used by tourists and thrill-seekers

The Bolivian Death Road, or North Yungas Road, is now mainly used by tourists and thrill-seekers. The road connects Bolivia's capital, La Paz, to the town of Coroico, and was the only route between the two until 2006.

The Death Road is a 64-kilometre (40-mile) route with a 3,500-metre (11,500-foot) descent. It is characterised by its steep slopes, hairpin turns, narrow single track, lack of guardrails, rain, fog, and waterfalls. The road is especially dangerous for vehicles due to its narrow width of only 3 metres in some places.

Despite the construction of a safer new road nearby, some vehicles still use the Death Road as it is the only route that connects certain destinations. Tour operators have also started offering bike tours along the road, marketing the experience as an extreme sports challenge. It is estimated that the Death Road attracts around 25,000 thrill-seekers annually.

The Death Road has been popularised by its reputation as the "World's Most Dangerous Road", a moniker given to it by the Inter-American Development Bank in 1995 due to the high number of accidents and fatalities that occurred on the road. The road was built in the 1930s by Paraguayan prisoners of war and was the only route between La Paz and Coroico until a new road was constructed in 2006.

The dangerous conditions of the Death Road include its steep slopes, sharp turns, blind corners, and lack of safety barriers. The road is also known for its macabre crosses marking the spots where vehicles have fallen off the road. The combination of these factors has resulted in numerous accidents and fatalities over the years, earning its ominous name.

While the road is still used by some local workers and backpackers, it is now mostly frequented by tourists and thrill-seekers looking for an adrenaline-pumping experience. The construction of the new road has reduced the traffic on the Death Road, making it a more attractive destination for those seeking a challenging and unique experience.

It's also called Camino de la Muerte

The road that leads from La Paz to Coroico in the Yungas region of Bolivia has many names, including Grove's Road, Coroico Road, Camino de las Yungas, and El Camino de la Muerte, which translates to "The Road of Death". The official death toll for the road is unknown, but it is estimated that at least 1,000 people have lost their lives on this road.

The road is around 40 miles long and climbs to a height of roughly 15,000 feet at its highest point. It winds back and forth as it descends, with thick green underbrush obscuring parts of the track and masking the steep drop-offs. The turns are sharp and the road ranges from paved to dusty to loose rock. The extreme climate also brings heavy rain and blinding fog.

The road is especially dangerous because it is only 3 meters wide in some places and was navigated by large vehicles such as trucks and buses. The constant sheer drops of at least 600 meters are made even more treacherous by the lack of guardrails. The road is also prone to extreme dust clouds in the summer and fog year-round, which can reduce visibility to almost zero.

The road is also known as El Camino de la Muerte because, in addition to the dangerous conditions, it is one of the only paths from the country's administrative capital to northern Bolivia. For decades, cars and trucks had no choice but to brave the conditions as their livelihood depended on it. The road was built in the 1930s by Paraguayan prisoners and it remains a main pathway for locals to get supplies and conduct business.

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