Also referred to as the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway, the Karakoram Highway is anything but friendly. It is full of hazards: landslides, avalanches, floods, animals herds, boarder-less cliffs and, of course, reckless drivers who make matters just that more treacherous. This dangerous road spans more than 810 miles (1,300 kilometers), cutting through the most mountainous region in the world.
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Many consider the Karakoram Highway to be the Eighth Wonder of the World because of its marvelous construction under unimaginably rough conditions. At its peak it reaches as high as 15,000 ft. (4572 m) above sea level, making it one of the highest paved roads in the world.
Leh-Manali Highway
The Leh-Manali Highway is one of the highest highways in the world. It has an average elevation of 17,000 feet and serves as the connection between the Indian cities of Leh and Manali. Fortunately for drivers on the road, the road is well-maintained because it is important to the Indian army. So, what makes this road so dangerous? It’s open only during the summer months because in the winter it’s not possible to pass through it.
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Buses and trucks are able to travel at a reduced speed of 15 mph on the road because of its narrowness and difficulty to navigate in some places. And if you get sick in high elevation, then this is one road you’ll want to avoid as its high elevation can cause people to feel sick.
Colorado 550
Where there is great beauty and mountains, also comes dangerous roads. The road, which is also called the “Million Dollar Highway” is a north-south route that runs through the state of Colorado. Apparently, the road cost a million dollars per mile to build because it runs through the mountains.
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The weather on this road is very questionable and can change fast, going from clear skies to storms in a moment’s notice. There are also areas in the road which have a steep drop-off and no rail. So basically, if you’re planning to drive on the road, you must pay attention at all times or you can forget about being able to carry on with your trip.
Road to Heaven
China sure has its share of dangerous roads, and the the Road to Heaven, located in south-western China, is one of them. Because for those who aren't extremely cautious, it is in fact, one of the quickest ways to get to heaven. This cliff-side, nerve-wrecking road, is carved into the side of a steep mountain with overpasses constructed hundreds of feet in the air, with 45 hairpin turns and several astonishingly steep bends.
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But on the bright side, if you get too frightened, just take a look at the surrounding luscious greenery, you'll cam right down. Just don't keep you eyes off the road.
A44, England
The A44 is one of the major roads in the UK that spans from Oxford in southern England to Aberystwyth in west Wales.
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While this road may not seem as dangerous as some of the previous roads we've mentioned; for some odd reason, the A44 has been responsible for so many fatal head-on collisions that eventually the government action was taken and countermeasures were implemented.