The most dangerous railway roads. The scariest roads in the world

Imagine that you are riding a train past picturesque mountains and plains, admiring stunning views from your window, sipping aromatic coffee ... Now imagine that your train travels oh-oh-very slowly, and even along a narrow road at an altitude of 3000 meters, which , by the way, runs along the edge of a steep gorge. Nice ride, right? In this case, it is unlikely that you will ask for a window seat.

Well that's all railways from this issue differ from others precisely in that they are one of the most terrible in the world. All in all, travel is not for the faint of heart.

Tren a las Nubes, Argentina

The name of this road, which was built in 1932, translates as "Train to the Clouds". And believe me, this name was given to her for a reason. The train departs once a week from the Argentine city of Salta, and further passengers will have a 16-hour journey along the 424 km route. The road was built solely for economic reasons, but now it only works for tourists. The trail runs through tobacco fields and flat ranches, over 29 bridges and 21 tunnels, and then the train climbs over 4,200 meters along the La Polvorilla viaduct, making Tren a las Nubes the third highest railroad in the world. (AP / FOTOLIA)

White Pass and Yukon Route, Canada and USA

This 108 km route connects the Skagway port of Alaska, now a popular stopover for cruise liners - and Carcross, and then Whitehorse, the capital of the Canadian territory Yukon. The construction of this narrow gauge railway was completed in 1900 at the end of the gold rush. The amazing road is famous for its steep ascents and descents, dozens of bridges and numerous turns at the edge of the cliffs ... all against the backdrop of glaciers, mountains and waterfalls. (AP / FOTOLIA)

Nariz del Diablo, Ecuador

The Devil's Nose isn't a bad name, isn't it? This road runs between Alausi, near the Andean city of Riobamba, and Palmyra, which lies about 80 km to the south. The train travels very slowly, providing the passenger with the opportunity to admire the "Avenue of the Volcanoes". Unfortunately, passengers are no longer allowed on the roof of the train, but it is possible to ride in an open trailer. The "Devil's Nose" itself is a small part of the route between the cities of Guayaquil and Quito, consisting of a steep ascent along a kind of "roller coaster". (AP / FOTOLIA)

Ring railway Georgetown is only 5 km long. Nevertheless, it has been one of the most popular attractions for over a century. It travels from Georgetown, Colorado, to the neighboring town of Silver Plum, and in this short way, it rises sharply to 195 m and passes through the picturesque mountains. Open from May to December. (AP / FOTOLIA)

This 20-kilometer road in Norway, descending from 860 m from Mirdal to the port of Flam, is so steep that locomotives built specifically for it have five braking systems. On the route, the train passes 20 tunnels, one of which is spiral. It is one of the steepest railways in the world, with a slope of 1 to 18. Sometimes, spray and water dust from nearby waterfalls gets on the train. (AP / FOTOLIA)

More than 90,000 workers and 16,000 prisoners of war were killed during the construction of this 400-kilometer road between Bangkok and Myanmar. This historic construction was the basis for the films "The Bridge on the River Kwai" and "Retribution," starring Colin Firth. Now the trip along the preserved section of the route is very popular among visitors to Kanchanaburi. The train bends around sheer cliffs and crosses several rickety-looking wooden bridges. (AP / FOTOLIA)

Trains on this route in the southern Rockies run in summer and take passengers from Chama to New Mexico via the Cabres Pass, the highest pass in the United States (3,000 m). The train travels through numerous rings, flyovers and tunnels, and then through the Toltec Gorge, before finally stopping at a train station in Antonito, Colorado. (ALAMY)

Highest railway crossing the Alps. The engineering wonders here are so amazing that the Bernina Express became the object World heritage UNESCO. A truly dizzying journey between Chur and Tirano in Switzerland awaits travelers. During the summer, passengers can enjoy the wonderful local views by riding in an open carriage. And there is something to see here: tunnels, deep gorges and ravines. (AP / FOTOLIA)

The road, completed in 1891, runs from Cairns to the city of Kuranda. The journey, which takes 1 hour and 45 minutes, traverses an impressive trellis viaduct with stunning views of Barron Falls and the Coral Sea. The path goes through national park Barron Gorge, past waterfalls and rainforests, and 15 tunnels. (ALAMY)

The city of Rameshwaram on Pamban Island is connected to mainland India by a 2 km bridge with 143 piers. This bridge, which opened in 1914, is a railway bridge, if you haven't guessed yet. Stunning views from here. Rameshvaram itself is considered a sacred site and is very popular with pilgrims. (AP / FOTOLIA)

Imagine those who spent many hours and even days building this road in the terrible conditions of the Scottish countryside. Sometimes only a helicopter could deliver food. The road passes through the largest flat swamp in Europe and the most desolate landscapes in Britain, home to deer, dunlin, golden plovers and merlin. (ALAMY)

The Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway, the Kalka-Shimla Railway, and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway were built to serve the mountain stations during the time of British India and are considered engineering wonders to this day. Each line passes through the foot of the hills - (the first two in the Himalayas), and then go around the mountains higher and higher. The trains here are not best example comfort, and they go very slowly, although all these disadvantages are compensated for by dizzying views. (AP / FOTOLIA)

To somehow solve the problem with the country's notorious primitive and unreliable railways, the Cambodians created their own network of "trains" from bamboo and old parts. These clever gimmicks go up to 40 km / h, powered by tiny engines, and can carry a dozen passengers at a time. Cushion-lined railcars now feed from Battambang to a village an hour away. The only problem is that if two such "carts" meet on the way, then the one with fewer passengers is manually removed from the road so that the second can pass. (ALAMY)

These steep cable cars were clearly not built for the faint of heart. Some of the most famous examples can be found in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, England and Japan. The photo shows a bright funicular from the Chilean town of Valparaiso. Perhaps some of our readers rode the funicular in Kiev, Odessa, Baku or Tbilisi. (AP / FOTOLIA)

In the event that you are planning to travel by train during the upcoming summer vacation, then you should familiarize yourself with the most dangerous railways, which are best avoided for the faint of heart.

Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Train, South Africa

A unique railroad track that runs directly over the ocean. Driving along the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Train feels like you are driving along the beach. It must be said that, although the view from the window is beautiful, it is at the same time creepy: you have to move at a great height and the fantasy begins treacherously to act out scenes with the train falling into the bottomless abyss. Most passengers try not to look out of the window in this place, but simply drive with their eyes closed or reading a book.

Kuranda Scenic Railway, Australia

It is one of the most spectacular and scenic railroad sections in the world. The railroad bed is located on giant piles that are installed along the mountain gorge. Waterfalls falling from the mountains are visible in the windows of the carriages and water splashes very often fall on the glass. Such a breathtaking view cannot be obtained on any other railroad in Australia. At the same time, many find this area quite intimidating and prefer not to look out the window while driving.

Argo Gede Train Railroad,

This section of the railway passes over picturesque fields, which, if you do not dwell on the fact that you are moving at a great height, can impress with their beauty. In order to stimulate the production of adrenaline while overcoming this section, it is worth remembering that in 2002 a train derailed on this section of the road. By a happy coincidence, there were no victims in that incident.

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, New Mexico, USA

This railroad looks more like a nightmare ride in an amusement park than a public transport highway. Here we have to cross the shaky old paths over the abyss, and mountain canyon, and dangerous ledges in the rocks. The engineer who erected these structures clearly does not suffer from a fear of heights.

"Tren a las Nubes",

Bridges, zigzags, descents, ascents and tunnels - all this can be found traveling by train from Salta to La Polvorilla. The construction of this railway track was carried out for several decades, the construction was so difficult and laborious. The road, planned in the early twenties, was only opened in the late forties.

Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff, United Kingdom

One of the craziest train journeys, you can arrange yourself on a 500-foot-high cliff, which is also home to private housing. Small houses, green spaces, bridges, and among all this splendor sweeps high-speed train, who rushes down a small green corridor somewhere.

White Pass & Yukon Route, Alaska, USA

This railway is architectural monument and was built during the gold rush. A special train also runs along it, which can immerse the nineteenth century gold diggers in a peculiar atmosphere of excitement. About half a million tourists travel along this path annually. The height of the building and the rather dilapidated exterior make White Pass & Yukon Route quite an adrenaline-pumping walk.

Chennai-Rameswaram Route, India

This is a railroad track passing over Indian Ocean, will help you get to Rameswaram Island. A path over the sea surface about one and a half kilometers long can become an insurmountable obstacle for especially impressionable people. This section of the track looks rather dilapidated and it is not without reason: it was built about a hundred years ago and has hardly been repaired since then.

Georgetown Loop Railroad, Colorado, USA

This railway bridge is located on the site of a former silver mine, and it is mainly used by tourists. The bridge is held on flimsy piles at a height of about thirty meters and you can rest assured that you will receive unforgettable experience from this journey: at the very peak of its ascent to the bridge, the train slips and slows down a little, which terrifies tourists.

Aso Minami route, Japan

This road is scary because it is in the area of \u200b\u200baction active volcanoes... The train is moving over an abyss that does not bode well. The bridge itself looks rusty and dilapidated. The eruption can begin at any moment, and this is especially exciting for tourists who understand that this bridge may be the last in their life.

I must say that the railway is the most safe view transport, incidents with which you can count on one hand. Despite the fact that most of the places described above look quite creepy, they are more than safe and do not pose a real threat to the life and health of tourists.

There are millions of kilometers of railroad tracks on our planet. These rumbling roads are different: some are very dangerous as they pass through mountain gorges or steep passes, while others pass through delightful places with magnificent landscapes. In this review the most extreme and magnificent rail routes in the world.

1. Argo-Gede railway



The Argo-Gede Railway runs from Jakarta to Bandung in Indonesia. It crosses the very high Chikurutug pylon bridge and can cause tremors in the knees of even the bravest person, as the train windows overlook the subtropical valley tens of meters below. And a special share thrill What makes the trip even better is that the bridge is notorious for its many accidents.

2. Bamboo trains


Cambodia
Trains in Cambodia were built by the French, but many of them were subsequently destroyed during the terrible Khmer Rouge regime. Then locals began to use "bamboo trains" on paved railways - hand-made carts that moved on rails. It was very dangerous, but today some of these carts have been fortified and used as a tourist attraction.

3. Railroad of Death



Surely many have heard or seen the cult war movie "The Bridge on the River Kwai". The railroad crossing the bridge over the river, which was shown in the film, still exists today. The Death Railway, as the locals call it, is located in Thailand's Kanchanburi province, near the border with Myanmar.

It is here that hundreds of British and American prisoners of war died during the construction of the bridge during World War II. It is worth noting that the road is very scenic and runs through a lush forest.

4. Aso Minami route


Japan
One has only to imagine what it would be like to travel on a train that passes through active volcano... Believe it or not, the Aso Minami train route passes through Japan's most active volcanic region. No matter how good local authorities can predict when an eruption will occur, the feeling of danger is spurred on by areas of the forest near the canvas, burned by lava.

5. Devil's nose


Ecuador
The Nariz Del Diablo train route in Ecuador translates as "The Devil's Nose". High in the Andes mountains, this railroad can intimidate anyone as it is one of the most terrifying roads in the world. It is located at an altitude of 3 kilometers.

6. Railway Kuranda-Scenic



The Kuranda-Scenic railway is breathtaking with its danger. She walks through a dense forest in Barron Gorge National Park. In some places, the train passes very close to the waterfalls, passing through the suspension of water.

7. Chennai-Rameshwaram bridge


India
Another amazing train route crosses a huge 2065 meters long bridge. The Pamdan Railway Bridge, built in 1914, runs over an extremely low cantilever sea bridge connecting South India with the island of Rameshwaram. Those. splashing sea water can be seen from the windows of the train.

8. "Railway Tren a las Nubes".



It took 27 years to complete this railroad, which includes some of the world's most dangerous zigzags along mountain slopes. Tren a las Nubes in Argentina is more like a plane ride than a train ride, as part of the journey passes through clouds high in the mountains on the Argentina-Chile border. The route is so long that it crosses 21 tunnels and 13 bridges.

9. White Pass and Yukon Trail


Alaska, USA
The White Pass and Yukon Trail is a narrow-gauge rail route that connects Skagway in Alaska to Whitehorse in the Yukon. There is nothing more deadly than this railway route, which practically runs along the sheer cliffs of huge rocks.

The railway was built in 1898 at the height of the Klondike gold rush and was then actively used by gold miners. Today, however, it is only used as a tourist attraction.

10. Georgetown Loop Railroad


County Clear Creek,
The USA is full of narrow gauge railways, but this Rocky mountains deservedly considered one of the most dangerous routes trains in the world. It is located in Clear Creek County and was built to help prospectors reach the silver mines in the area.

The scariest part of the railroad is the Devil's Gate Bridge, on which the train must move as slowly as possible, as the bridge could collapse at any moment.

People living in Russia can be frightened by different things, but not by roads. Almost any foreign curiosity from the above list will find an analogue in the homeland, and then, perhaps, not one, but dozens! But still, let's see what the rest of the planet's inhabitants are afraid of and what roads have earned them the fame of the most dangerous and terrifying.

1. Mountain Road of Death

The old route from the capital of Bolivia, La Paz, to the city of Coroico - northern Las Yungas - has a second, more commonly used name: El Camino de la Muerte, that is, the Death Road. This 64 km of asphalt, which runs down the edge of the Altiplano Mountain from 4,650 meters to 1,200 meters, was built by Paraguayan prisoners of war during the war in the 1930s.

Traffic on the Road of Death (unlike other Bolivian highways) is allowed in both directions, but the roadway here is not wider than 3 meters and does not have a safety fence.

The monstrous difference in the heights of the upper and lower points of the Death Road is the reason that the travelers descending it, move from high-mountain coolness to tropical heat. Because of this, on a short section of the road, rains, fogs, landslides and landslides are so frequent. In some places, waterfalls run from the mountain directly onto the asphalt.

As a result, any awkwardness or driver error can lead to a fall into an abyss 600 meters deep.

Everywhere on the road you can see memorial signs and marks indicating the places of the disaster, falling cars and deaths of people. Death Road claimed dozens of lives every year. On July 24, 1983, a bus fell off her, killing more than a hundred people.

Finally, in the late 90s, the Bolivian authorities built a backup road, a new and safer one. But Death Road was not closed: it became a tourist attraction. Guides take foreigners along it and organize extreme bike tours.

2. Railroad of Death

The 415 km long railway track (of which 13 km are bridges) between Bangkok (Thailand) and Rangoon (Burma) is also called the Death Road, but not because of the danger of traffic along it, but because its construction caused the death of several thousand people ... Perhaps a more accurate name would be the Road of the Dead.

This is probably the only construction site in the world recognized as a war crime by the court.

In 1942, Imperial Japan invaded Burma from Thailand, recapturing it from Great Britain. To supply the Japanese troops in the "Burma campaign" it was necessary to build a road.

When the British ruled Burma, they found it an overwhelming task: to pave almost half a thousand kilometers through hilly jungle with many rivers.

However, the samurai were not embarrassed by the grandiose plan. After all, they did not intend to build with their own hands. And they were not going to pay for the work. They used the labor of 180 thousand Asian convicts and 60 thousand prisoners of war - British, Australians, Dutch, Americans and other members of the anti-Hitler coalition. Working and living conditions were such that during construction, about 90 thousand Asian convicts and 16 thousand prisoners of war died. After the war, Hiroshi Abe, a prisoner of war camp overseer, was personally found guilty of the deaths of 3,000 prisoners and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The road was built in 1943, but as a result of hostilities it fell into disrepair. However, 130 km of track was reconstructed after the war. There were even plans to completely rebuild the road.

In the meantime, skiing along the Hell Passage near the city of Kanchanaburi to the northwest of the capital of Thailand - where the train bends around sheer cliffs and passes several wooden bridges - is one of the popular tourist attractions.

Whether ghosts are found there is unknown. Today, only the classic film "The Bridge on the River Kwai" and several museums and memorial cemeteries remind of the sad events on the Road of Death.

3. Glass path and the "Paradise Gate"

On Tianmen Mountain, one of the most high peaks China (1518.6 meters above sea level), in national park not far from the city of Zhangjiajie, an amazing tourist complexof which the unique glass path and the longest and tallest in the world cable car... Its spans reach 500 m, and its total length is 7455 m! The name of the road in Chinese sounds rather romantic: "Gate to Heaven." But in English, the romance is already dubious: the name Heaven's Gate, rather, betrays the cautious attitude of many travelers who happened to spend several eerie and exciting minutes in a booth suspended in the middle of the clouds on a steel cable.

Here many are overwhelmed by shyness. But if there are those who are not afraid of the height of the cable car, then the suspended glass trail will catch fear on anyone. A suspended path leads along the mountain right along the edge of the abyss among the bizarre relict trees. In some places, the floor of the suspended walkway is glass. Clouds can be seen underfoot. And remember the fragility and frailty of earthly life.

However, no accidents, no disasters on the mountain Heaven gate has not happened yet: all designs are very reliable.

4. Controversial road

The Karakorum highway, although it is laid on the ground, plunges into clouds in many of its sections. This highest mountain trail in the world runs from Abbottabad in Pakistan to chinese city Kashgar is considered one of the most dangerous roads on the planet.

The Karakorum highway repeats the Great Silk Road of antiquity. From above, there are wonderful, uniquely beautiful views, but many dangers await travelers in the form of rains, landslides, storms, winds, snow drifts, blockages and altitude sickness. On average, there are only 30-40 meters of asphalt per 20 kilometers of road. But what is even more unpleasant - this road runs between the regions of Jammu and Kashmir, that is, territories that have been the cause of bitter disputes between India and Pakistan for more than 60 years. Region border conflictswhere, in addition to the harsh nature, the power of force and weapons reigns - this is what the Karakorum highway is. However, desperate cyclists and bikers love to travel on it.

5. Ruthless road

The name of this trail, carved into the rocks of Taihan in the Chinese province of Golian, is the “Forgiving Road”.

The residents of the local village built it in 1997 to be able to get to “ big land"From their sky-high heights.

The highway is 1200 meters of tunnel in the mountain 15 feet high and 12 feet wide. There are 30 windows, maybe so that claustrophobes can calm their nerves by looking out and admiring the spacious abyss below.

Really very beautiful. The locals cross the road mainly on bicycles. But the cars often flew off the cliff. After all, this is a road that does not forgive mistakes.

6. Road without insurance

In the second half of the 19th century, this road was built in New Zealand to give local miners access to the gold-bearing canyon. For some reason, the road is called the Road of Captains - Skippers Road.

Now, in order to move on it, drivers must obtain a permit. But most insurance companies warn that they will not cover the losses of such risk lovers, in which case.

However, adventure tourists from nearby Queenstown love day trips around this dangerous road... It's very beautiful there. And then, listen carefully: Dear captains passed. Without insurance. Sounds proud!

7. Deserted road

Luxor-Hurghada is a famous tourist trail in Egypt, connecting recreation areas along the coast of the Red Sea with the ancient city of the pharaohs, Luxor. The highway is 280 km long with a good and even road surface, the journey along it takes only 4-5 hours.

And yet, many people died on this road. The thing is that they drive here mainly at night, avoiding the scorching heat of the desert during the day. When drivers rush along the highway with their headlights off, they often collide head-on without seeing each other in the columns of dust.

Why don't they turn on the headlights? The fact is that driving on this road with the headlights on is even more dangerous. Terrorists, robbers, and all kinds of robbers flock to this world like moths. The consequences are dire. In 1997, Islamist fanatics shot 62 German tourists here.

8. The longer - the more lethal

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Panamerican Highway is the longest motorway in the world. It starts in Alaska, in North America, but ends in the most southern regions South America.

The section of the road that runs through Costa Rica is the bloodiest section of this route.

The scenic route leads through tropical forests, wild places, almost untouched by civilization. Nice, but renovation works are carried out too rarely. So some sections of the Pan American highway are simply washed away during the rainy season. And after floods, landslides can happen here at any time of the year.

So this road is full of surprises, but some of them are fatal.

9. Icy road

The Canadian towns of Inuvik and Tuktoyak are located in the very north of Canada. They are so far from the "mainland" that no roads, except for a winter road on the ice of the Mackenzie River, exist there.

Every winter, road services measure the thickness of the ice and allow or prohibit the opening of traffic. They also clear the road and save the unfortunate ones caught in a blizzard - storms in this region of Canada are insidious, they always come suddenly.

There is also a constant danger of running into a crack in the ice or getting into a snow drift. Tuktoyak Ice Road is considered extreme by Canadians and Americans. Of course, winter roads are a common thing in Russia; they are used in almost every village.

10. Animal road

The Canning Stock Route in Australia is indeed the former route taken by the first white settlers.

This is one of the most remote roads in the world from civilization. It is very difficult to walk along it, because it crosses 1850 km of absolutely deserted desert. To overcome this road, it will take at least a month of time, a technically impeccable car, as well as spare parts and the ability to repair any breakdowns with your own hands, solid reserves of water, provisions and fuel. While some can be bought from the Aboriginal people, one or two communities still live in this wilderness.

But, of course, you are not sure that they will find exactly what you need. Or that none of them turns out to be a cannibal.

11. Troll Road

The construction of the Norwegian mountain trail began at the end of the 19th century, but was completed only in 1936.

This is the most fabulous road in the world, as it leads travelers along the "Troll's Cap" mountain, through the towns "Troll's Hut" and "Troll's Church".

There are 11 loops on a winding road, the width of the roadway does not exceed three meters. Cars drive this route only in spring and summer. The rest of the year is too dangerous.

To overcome this difficult road, visiting tourists often hire drivers from among the local residents: they know better about all these wild trolls.

12. Steep road

Once upon a time this area was the border between Italy and Austria-Hungary. As they say, both yours and ours. Maybe that's why the road through the Prato pass in the local mountains turned out to be so ... elusive.

A ride along it can be pretty nerve-racking, especially if you drive into a cloud above and get caught in a freezing rain just below. It is not in vain that such a capricious road was called Stelvio Pass - "Queen of Zigzags".

You can drive on it from June to September. In winter it is a toboggan run. Again: both ours and yours, two in one. But at least in something now there is certainty: the road is recognized as the territory of Italy.

13. The road to nowhere

American highway in the state of New Mexico, near Albuquerque, locals call "the road to nowhere." It leads to the San Mateo mountain range and ends there. Tourists liked to ride it to admire the views. However, since 2000, 17 people have disappeared without a trace on this road. And this is only confirmed official data.

There are no turns and branches on the road and, in theory, there is nowhere to get away from it. Nevertheless, the road seems to swallow unwary drivers, and sometimes entire families. People seem to dissolve into thin air. The state police and tourism department recently acknowledged the existence of the mystery of this land Bermuda Triangle... Government officials, private enthusiasts, and all sorts of psychics tried to reveal the secret of the Road to Nowhere. And yet, so far, no one has succeeded.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you: in Russia, we have everything in abundance. And the terrible roads are just like mud. True, they did not acquire glass - the climate does not allow.

The safest is considered railway transport... True, this is wrong. Of course, it is very pleasant to travel in carriages with comfort, admiring the natural beauty. Meanwhile, travel to some areas is associated with a risk to life. The most dangerous railways are located in different countries.

Darjeeling (India)

Only desperate or very courageous people decide to travel along it, since natural phenomena and ethnic unrest stopped the movement more than once

Georgetown (USA)

The second name of this highway is "Devil's Gate". Numerous tunnels, elevation changes and zigzags make the trip along it very extreme.

Pilatusban (Switzerland)

It is noteworthy that the ascent to Mount Pilatus is carried out in small wagons using two rails and cogwheels.

Minamiaso Takamori (Japan)

Brave travelers will have to drive through the crater of the Aso volcano.

Flomskaya (Norway)

It has several braking systems that stop the train during the journey.

Railway bus track - ferrobus (Bolivia)

It is dangerous because local residents very often overload the rail bus, which leads to accidents.

Chennai - Rameswaram (India)

Passes through a bridge a short distance from the water. This bridge is prone to strong winds and cyclones. There were precedents of train derailments.

White Pass and Yukon Railroad (Alaska)

The thrill of riding wooden bridges and provided in centuries-old tunnels.

"The Devil's Nose" (Ecuador)

A huge number of viaducts, tunnels and zig-zag turns make traveling on this railway unforgettable.

There are many miracles in the world, many of which were created by human hands. Dangerous railways attract tourists, first of all, by the picturesque nature of the places along which they have to pass.