Thursday 2/8 - La Paz
"The Death Road".
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
64 km mountainbiking descent from La Cumbre (4700m) to Coroico (1700m) on the "World's most dangerous road", organized by the agency "Xtreme Down Hill".
The road was built in the 1930s by Paraguayan war prisoners. It is one of the few routes that connects the Amazon rainforest region of northern Bolivia, or Yungas, to La Paz city. Upon leaving La Paz, the road first ascends to around 4,650 metres (15,260 ft) at La Cumbre Pass, before descending to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) at the town of Coroico, transiting quickly from cool Altiplano terrain to rainforest as it winds through very steep hillsides and atop cliffs. Because of the extreme dropoffs of at least 600 metres, single-lane width (most of the road no wider than three metres and lack of guard rails) the road is extremely dangerous. Further still, rain, fog and dust can make visibility precarious. In many places the road surface is muddy, and can loosen rocks from the road.
One estimate is that 200 to 300 travellers were killed yearly along the road. The road includes crosses marking many of the spots where vehicles have fallen.
The danger of the road ironically made it a popular tourist destination. Mountain biking enthusiasts in particular have made it a favourite destination for downhill biking since there is a 64 kilometre stretch of continuous downhill riding.
Since 2007, a new road has been opened, where pass almost all of the vehicles. Thus the ‘Death Road’ is more quiet and the biking tour is now a delightfull day tour.
"The Death Road".
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
64 km mountainbiking descent from La Cumbre (4700m) to Coroico (1700m) on the "World's most dangerous road", organized by the agency "Xtreme Down Hill".
The road was built in the 1930s by Paraguayan war prisoners. It is one of the few routes that connects the Amazon rainforest region of northern Bolivia, or Yungas, to La Paz city. Upon leaving La Paz, the road first ascends to around 4,650 metres (15,260 ft) at La Cumbre Pass, before descending to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) at the town of Coroico, transiting quickly from cool Altiplano terrain to rainforest as it winds through very steep hillsides and atop cliffs. Because of the extreme dropoffs of at least 600 metres, single-lane width (most of the road no wider than three metres and lack of guard rails) the road is extremely dangerous. Further still, rain, fog and dust can make visibility precarious. In many places the road surface is muddy, and can loosen rocks from the road.
One estimate is that 200 to 300 travellers were killed yearly along the road. The road includes crosses marking many of the spots where vehicles have fallen.
The danger of the road ironically made it a popular tourist destination. Mountain biking enthusiasts in particular have made it a favourite destination for downhill biking since there is a 64 kilometre stretch of continuous downhill riding.
Since 2007, a new road has been opened, where pass almost all of the vehicles. Thus the ‘Death Road’ is more quiet and the biking tour is now a delightfull day tour.
Yes, indeed, that's me!
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