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Yungas Road

Coordinates: 16°17′25″S 67°49′38″W / 16.290253°S 67.827126°W / -16.290253; -67.827126 (Southern end of the Yungas Road)
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16°17′25″S 67°49′38″W / 16.290253°S 67.827126°W / -16.290253; -67.827126 (Southern end of the Yungas Road)

In red the cycling section, in green the Bolivian National Route 3

The Yungas Road, popularly known as The Death Road, is a 64-kilometre (40 mi) long cycle route linking the city of La Paz with the Yungas region of Bolivia. It was conceived in the 1930's by the Bolivian government to connect the main city of La Paz with parts of the Amazon forest in the north part of the country. Large parts of it were built by Paraguayan prisoners during the Chaco War. Several sections of the road are less than 3 meters or 10 feet wide, and due to presence of rain, fog, landslides, cascades, steep slopes and cliffs that drop more than 2000 feet or 610 meters, it is largely considered the most dangerous road in the world.[1][2][3] Since 1994, nearly 300 drivers and passengers are reported to have died there annually.

Unlike in the rest of the country, The Yungas Road is a left-hand traffic road, which allowed drivers to better gauge the distance between their vehicles and the edge of the road.[4] It has since been replaced by a newer, two-lane asphalt road featuring guardrails and drainage systems.[5]

Known for its extreme danger with 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) of descent, the Death Road draws about 25,000 tourists per year and has become a popular destination for adventure tourism, particularly mountain biking.[6][7] At least 18 cyclists have died on the road since 1998.[8]

History

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Parts of this road were built by Paraguayan prisoners that were captured after Chaco War in 1930s. It was of one of the few routes that connect the Amazon jungle up north, with the city of La Paz.[9]

A new alternative route, now part of Route 3, was built during a 20-year period ending in 2006. The modernization included enlarging the carriageway from one to two lanes; asphalt paving; bridges, drainage, guardrails, and the building of a new section between Chusquipata and Yolosa, bypassing the most dangerous sections of the original road. As the result, the dangerous road is now only used for bicycles and walking. Up until 2006, the North Yungas Road was the sole route for traveling from Coroico to La Paz. The narrow road, no wider than a single lane, was often a treacherous and extremely danger journey between the towns.[10] In 2009, the Bolivian government built a new road along the adjacent mountain range, replacing the old, Death Road. The asphalt road features two lanes, drainage systems and guardians.

Panoramic view of the North Yungas Road, commonly known as the Death Road, connecting the Yungas region with La Paz, Bolivia.

Traffic accidents

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Vehicles passing through the road

Because of the steep slopes, the lack of guardrails, and the narrow width of the road (3 meters in some places), the road was especially dangerous for vehicular traffic. Weather conditions further increased the danger; rain and fog would reduce visibility, while muddy terrain and loose stones could impair traction. It was famous for its dangerous conditions and deaths from traffic accidents, averaging around 209 accidents and 96 deaths per year.[11] In 1995, the Inter-American Development Bank dubbed it as the most dangerous road in the world.

In July 1983, a bus fell from the Yungas Road into a canyon, killing more than one hundred passengers in one of the worst road accidents in Bolivia.[12]

Until the mid-1990s, 200 to 300 drivers fell off to the cliff per year.[13]

In 2011, the total number of accidents was around 114, the second most in Bolivia after the road between La Paz and Oruro. Of these accidents, 42 people died.[14]

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  • Yungas Road
    Yungas Road
  • The Old Yungas Road before the new road had been opened.
    The Old Yungas Road before the new road had been opened.
  • Tourists downhill mountain biking
    Tourists downhill mountain biking

References

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  1. ^ Browne, Jenny (2005). "The World's Most Dangerous Road (A Bolivian Detour)". Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction. 7 (2): 9–19. ISSN 1522-3868.
  2. ^ Whitaker, Mark (11 November 2006). "The world's most dangerous road". BBC News. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  3. ^ Dufraigne, Annabelle (8 June 2024). "The 9 Most Dangerous Roads in the World". Architectural Digest. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  4. ^ Oishimaya Sen Nag (25 April 2017). "North Yungas Road - Bolivia's Most Treacherous Road". worldatlas.com. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  5. ^ Villa, Micaela. "Se reducen los accidentes en las carreteras paceñas". La Razón (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  6. ^ Geoghegan, Tom (16 May 2010). "Cycling the world's most dangerous road". BBC News Online. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Death Road Tours". Bolivia Hop. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Death Road / Itinerary". Barracuda Biking. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  9. ^ Meghji, Shafik (2 May 2022). "The world's most dangerous road". BBC News. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Is Bolivia's "Death Road" Still the World's Most Dangerous Road?". Discovery. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  11. ^ Azcui, Mabel (28 December 2006). "La 'carretera de la muerte'". El País Internacional (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  12. ^ "Bolivia: The big drop". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  13. ^ Mora, Maria A. (13 November 2020). "Ciclismo por la Carretera de la Muerte en Bolivia". Universal Traveller (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  14. ^ Villa, Micaela (20 December 2011). "Se reducen los accidentes en las carreteras paceñas". La Razón (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 July 2012.[dead link]
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