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From slightly odd to downright strange -- We celebrate the unusual.
 


Burma.  These peasants stoically walk a bridge few of us would care to trek.  (Above)

This breathtaking bridge now
links France and Spain.  (Above)

 

 


After these unusual roads, all other roads seem tame


 <--->

 

 

Believe it or not,  some people take this road for FUN. 

 

Daring mountain bikers come here from all over the world to experience the thrill of riding down Bolivia's notorious

"Road of Death"

Now that's an
unusual hobby

 

  Many cyclists reach sustained speeds of 50 mph, hurtling downhill  among spectacular scenery for mile upon mile, sustained coasting at breakneck speeds -- with NO pedaling required.

..And that's an extreme sport

 

...because you never know what's around the corner

  --->


 

 

 

 

 

Camino Del Morte
It must take a lot of nerve to drive Bolivia's Road of Death.

Starting high in the Andes at over 15,000 feet, this narrow, bumpy, mostly unpaved road plunges 12,000 vertical feet in just 40 miles.



On most of the road, there are NO guard rails. A sheer cliff drops thousands of feet to a valley below, a guarantee of almost certain death to anyone venturing too near the edge.

Contrary to normal Bolivian driving rules, vehicles on this
part of the road keep to the left, so the driver with the best view
of his outside tIres drives
closest to the precipice.



There's a number of small tunnels blasted out of the
sheer rock face.

Here a waterfall makes the surface unexpectedly slippery. This is one of the few areas that actually has a guard rail.

In some areas the road
is smooth blacktop. Then
without warning it changes
to a stony, unsurfaced
track hacked out of the
sheer mountainside, thou-
sands of feet above the valley floor
.



Along the way, travelers
often see llamas and wild dogs.  Other common sites include frequent crosses, flower bouquets and other memorials.

 

 

  

A fatal accident once
every other week is quite
common on the Coroico road.


They say that even when you
can hear oncoming traffic, you can't tell how far away it is -- or even which way it's going.

Above: The notorious San Juan section, with its rough, unpaved surface and extremely narrow track, has frequent landslides
and washouts.  Those who are willing to brave the danger Road
of Death are rewarded with some spectacular views.

But who could enjoy the scenery? The narrowness and
the total lack of any guard rails
is enough to frighten even the most stout-hearted. Being the driver would be bad, but being
the passenger might be even worse.  Either way, being in the outside vehicle must be quite a memorable experience.


The scenery on the entire road is spectacular, but the anxiety toll for drivers (and for passengers)
must be off the charts. Their fear is well justified: On average, 150 people die on this road every year.


 
   

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Unusual Roads

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