North Yungas - "Death Road" in Bolivia
Baku, October 17, AZERTAC
It is estimated that around 200-300 people fall to their deaths in trucks, cars and buses. Cycling along this road is now one of the most popular activities for backpackers. It is barely the width of one vehicle and has no guardrails to protect you from falls of up to 2,000 feet. To make it worse, weather conditions such as fog, dust clouds and rain reduces visibility to almost zero, along with mudslides and waterfalls. The North Yungas road, also known as the “Death Road”, was labelled as the 'world's most dangerous road'. The good news, however, is that an alternative route has now been built and since then it has lost its title of the world's most dangerous road.
Until 2006, North Yungas road was the only option for traveling from Coroico to La Paz. The road was no wider than one lane and was used by any vehicles willing to make the trip. Finally, in 2009, the government constructed a new road by a mountain range close by. The new highway has two lanes and has been well maintained. North Yungas itself now has two driving lanes, new pavement, drainage systems, and guardrails. Yet people continue to meet their ends here.
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