Seeing the pictures, even the most seasoned driver would think twice before mustering courage to ride in Bolivian hills off La Paz. The danger is obvious since there is simply not enough space for 2 vehicles to maneuver side by side. Little wonder, the road from La Paz to Coroico is said to be world’s most dangerous.
I’ve with me some pictures and a narration that gives an account of what one is up against while driving there. These are sent by mail to me by my nephew (I’m not sure about the source of the photographs, so whoever owns them may pardon me for not acknowledging them properly).
Rated As The World’s Most Dangerous Road
In the South American country of Bolivia.
It consists of 70 km of dirt and rock heading north from La Paz, the world’s highest capitol (altitude 3,660 metres), to Coroico, a beautiful cloud forest town at the rim of the Amazon basin. Its catchy nickname is due to the 26 vehicles that fall off the road per year. About 200 people annually lose their lives here.
A fatal accident every fortnight is not uncommon on the Coroico road (the July disaster brought the death toll during the previous eight months to 55) and in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank declared this, the world’s most dangerous road.
The only road that exists to get to the Amazon from La Paz, it is carved into the sides of a canyon. It can have vertical drops for 500 meters and has no guardrails.
Consequently, most Bolivians take the time to pray before their descent. After all, it could be their last.
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