Latest news with #Pan-AmericanHighway
News18
6 days ago
- General
- News18
14 Countries. Zero U-Turns. This Road Trip Is So Long, It Takes Over 2 Months To Finish
Last Updated: The Pan-American Highway travels through several North American nations, including the US, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama Road trips are a dream for many, with winding highways, mountain passes, coastal drives, and the thrill of exploring new places. In India, scenic routes such as those in Ladakh or the Pamban Bridge road to Rameshwaram are hugely popular among travellers. But have you ever wondered which is the longest road in the world? There is one epic highway that connects 14 countries without a single U-turn, offering a journey like no other. When it comes to the longest road in the world, the numbers are staggering. Even if you travel 500 kilometres a day, it would still take more than two months to complete the journey. Stretching across 14 countries without a single U-turn, the Pan-American Highway is the longest continuous motorable road in the world. It starts from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska and runs all the way to Ushuaia in Argentina, covering approximately 30,000 km, depending on the chosen route. Which Countries It Passes Through The Pan-American Highway travels through several North American nations, including the US, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. It then continues through South America, passing through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. This route exposes travellers to diverse terrains, from snow-covered peaks and tropical jungles to arid deserts and bustling cities. It's not just the longest but also one of the most scenic and culturally rich highways in the world. How Long Does It Take? According to reports, most people take around 60 days to complete the entire route, but this depends on travel speed and stopovers. For instance, Carlos Santamaría, who completed the journey, took 117 days. The majority of the highway runs through Spanish-speaking countries, so it's helpful for travellers to know some basic Spanish to communicate smoothly along the way. A Journey That Began a Century Ago Construction of the Pan-American Highway began in the early 1920s with the goal of boosting tourism in the United States. In 1937, 14 countries signed an agreement to build and maintain this monumental road. By 1960, it was officially open for public transport. Today, it stands not just as a record-breaking highway in the Guinness Book of World Records but also as a dream road trip for adventure seekers across the globe. First Published: June 05, 2025, 11:38 IST
India.com
02-06-2025
- India.com
World's longest road passes through 14 countries, is 30,000 km long with no U-turns; it is..., was constructed in...
New Delhi: Speaking of the longest road in India, National Highway 44 is the longest, with a total length of about 4,112 kilometers. However, when we talk about the longest road in the world, its length is so great that even at a speed of 500 kilometers per day, it would take more than two months to complete it. The most interesting thing about this road is that it passes through a total of 14 countries without requiring a single U-turn. This road is built in America and is called the Pan-American Highway. This route connects North America with South America. It begins at Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, North America, and ends in the city of Ushuaia in Argentina. Overall, its length is approximately 30,600 kilometers, or 19,000 miles. The Pan-American Highway is not only the longest road in the world but also the straightest path. There are no major turns on it, and there is no need to take U-turns anywhere. If one travels 500 kilometers daily, it can still take more than 60 days to traverse the entire route. The Pan-American Highway is a road that passes through a total of 14 countries, including Canada, the USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. It is not just a road; it is a historical and cultural journey that connects the heritage and lifestyles of different countries. Maintaining this highway is not just America's responsibility; all the 14 countries it traverses participate in its upkeep. While traveling on this road, you get to see every kind of natural scenery, sometimes deserts, sometimes high mountains, dense forests, and sometimes the shores of the sea. The journey is so beautiful that you don't even realize how the trip passes. The construction of the Pan-American Highway began in the early 1920s. Its purpose was to promote tourism in America. In 1937, all 14 countries reached a mutual agreement regarding the construction and maintenance of this road, and it was finally opened to general traffic in 1960.
India.com
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- India.com
World's longest road is over 100 years old, passes through 14 countries, has no U-turn; Not located in India, China, Middle East, Europe, it connects…
Representational Image/ AI-generated Pan-American Highway: India has some of longest highways in the world that connect distant parts of the country, with National Highway 44 (NH 44) being the longest, with a total length of 4,112 kilometers. But did you know that the world's longest road is a staggering 30,000 kilometers (about 19,000 miles) in length, and it would take around 2 months to travel from one end to the other even if you cover 500 kilometers per day. World's longest road The Pan-American Highway, which connects North America to the southernmost tip of South America, is recognized as the longest road in the world, traversing through 14 countries, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. The lengthy highway starts from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in the northernmost part of North America, ends in Ushuaia, Argentina, the southern tip of South America. Interestingly, the no road in the US or Canada is designated as part of the Pan-American Highway, which officially begins at the US-Mexico border in Nuevo Laredo. Pan-American Highway has no U-turn Notably, the Pan-American highway is considered a straight road, and does not have a single U-turn or any sharp turns from beginning to end. According to various estimates, the road is approximately 30,600 kilometers (19,000 miles) in length, making it the longest highway on the planet. It would roughly take more than 60 days to travel from end of the Pan-American Highway to the other, even if one manages to cover 500 kilometers daily. Pan-American Highway traverses these countries The Pan-American Highway traverses through 14 countries of the Americas — Canada, United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina– passing through various histories and cultures, making the journey more eventful than the destination itself. All 14 nations share the responsibility of the maintenance of the Pan-American Highway. When was the Pan-American Highway built? The Pan-American Highway was built in the 1920s, with aim to promote tourism across various nations in the Americas. An agreement was signed by the 14 countries, including the US, Canada, and Mexico, in 1937 for developing and maintenance of the crucial highway. The highway was completely opened for traffic in 1960.
News18
25-04-2025
- News18
World's Longest Road Passes Through 14 Countries, No U-Turn For 30,600km
The Pan-American Highway, the world's longest motorable road at 30,600 km, runs from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina, crossing 14 countries. It opened by 1960 While India's National Highway 44 holds the distinction of being the longest road in the country, spanning a remarkable 4,112 kilometres, on the global stage, an even more extraordinary roadway takes the spotlight. Stretching an astonishing 30,600 kilometres (19,000 miles), the Pan-American Highway is the longest motorable road in the world. Traversing the vast expanse of the American continents, it begins at Prudhoe Bay in Alaska and ends at Ushuaia in Argentina, at the southernmost tip of South America. What makes this route particularly unique is that it cuts across 14 countries without requiring a single U-turn. A Monumental Feat Of Engineering Originally conceived in the early 1920s to promote tourism and connectivity across the Americas, the Pan-American Highway is a testament to international cooperation. By 1937, all 14 participating nations had committed to the project, and the route was officially opened to traffic by 1960. The 14 countries along its path include Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. Each nation is responsible for the maintenance of the portion of the highway that runs through its territory. More Than Just A Road Beyond its sheer length, the Pan-American Highway offers travellers a captivating journey through some of the world's most diverse landscapes. From snow-covered mountains and arid deserts to lush forests and sweeping coastlines, the route presents an ever-changing tableau of natural beauty. Travelling this road at a pace of 500 kilometres per day would still require over two months to complete the full journey. Its straight path, devoid of sharp turns or detours, makes it not just the longest but arguably one of the straightest highways in existence. The Pan-American Highway is more than just a marvel of infrastructure, it is a cultural corridor, linking nations and communities with shared histories, economic ties, and a spirit of cooperation that has endured for over a century. First Published: April 25, 2025, 13:37 IST
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Yahoo
Inside the Darién Gap, one of the world's most dangerous jungles
Way back in 'ye olden days' of the mid-2000s, I was still a wide-eyed, fresh-faced backpacker looking to travel the world. The crazier and more outlandish the adventure or destination, the better. I ticked off a lot of epic things from my bucket list in the ensuing years: Swimming with Great Whites in Mexico, kayaking among glaciers in Antarctica, and making a week-long pilgrimage through a thousand years of history in rural Japan. But one thing that eludes me to this day is road-tripping the Pan-American Highway. Thanks to the Darién Gap, that trip may never get checked off my list. I'm just not that crazy. The Pan-American Highway is an epic 19,000-mile route that connects Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to the southernmost tip of South America in Ushuaia, Argentina. It's continuous except for one small section missing along the southern border of Panama, often referred to as one of the most inhospitable places on the planet — this is the Darién Gap. It's 66 roadless miles of impossibly dense, mountainous jungle and swamp filled with heavily armed paramilitary guerillas, drug traffickers, and some of the world's most deadly creatures covering the border of Panama and Colombia. In an article for the Council on Foreign Relations, Jean Gough, a Regional Director for UNICEF, sums it up: 'Deep in the jungle, robbery, rape, and human trafficking are as dangerous as wild animals, insects, and the absolute lack of safe drinking water.' The environmental impact on the area and the sheer cost of building roads through it have thwarted any previous attempts. Others are concerned that 'the Gap' is a natural barrier against drugs, disease, and undocumented migrants flowing freely into North America and the U.S. The first-ever successful vehicle expedition through the Darién Gap was led by British army officer Gavin Thompson. His team of six started in Alaska, driving all the way to Panama in a newly created Range Rover. Hitting the Darién Gap, he brought in a team of 64 engineers and scientists to hack their way through the jungle and float the Range Rovers across the rivers. But Thompson and every expedition since ran headlong into what the Gap is most infamous for: Lots and lots of things that will kill you. The list of deadly things inside the Gap is lengthy, and dehydration and starvation are the least of your concerns. Instead, you should be concerned with these very real threats. The fer-de-lance pit viper is among the most venomous creatures in the Darién Gap. They're irritable, fast-moving, and large enough to bite above your knees. Antivenom usually solves the problem if you get bitten. But, if left untreated, the venom can cause local necrosis (death of body tissue), leading to gangrene or, in the worst cases, death. Conflict journalist Jason Motlagh crossed the Gap in 2016 for a Dateline story. After receiving his group's antivenom kit and instructions before the crossing, he said, 'If one of us is bitten, we have ten minutes to inject the antivenom before death. We can only carry six vials. If a larger pit viper were to strike, the expert concedes no amount of antivenom would be enough to save us. We might as well lie down and smoke a cigarette until the lights go out.' It's becoming increasingly difficult to bring drugs into the US, so drug traffickers are turning to other avenues. The lawlessness and lack of residents make the Darién Gap a perfect path for smuggling cocaine and other drugs on their journey from South America. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have made a name for themselves since 1964, terrorizing the government and many cities in Colombia. Many from the group have made their home in the lawless jungles of the Darién Gap. A backpacker from Sweden was shot in the head in 2013 and found two years later. Multiple others have been kidnapped for weeks or months after venturing into the Gap. Since a peace deal in 2017 with the United Nations, the group has reformed into an official political party, but a few thousand rebels still continue with drugs, arms, and human trafficking. Spiders fill the jungles of the Darién Gap, but one of the most 'medically important' is the Brazilian Wandering spider. 'Medically important' is the nice term for 'you're going to have a really bad day if this bites you.' This family of spiders (there are more than one!) has a leg span of five to seven inches. They wander the jungle floor at night and love to hide in people's hiking boots, logs, and banana plants. They've been nicknamed the Banana spider, as that's often where people run into them. Bites from this spider can put you in the hospital or, from particularly bad ones, cause death in 2 to 6 hours. Scorpions look like they're from another planet. A few species prefer conditions in Colombia and southern Panama and call the Darién Gap home, including the black scorpion. Black scorpions (Tityus pachyurus) can be two to four inches long and have black or reddish-black coloring, which gives them their name. They live under rocks and logs and hunt for larvae and cockroaches at night. They are part of the thick-tailed scorpion family, giving them their stocky appearance. The sting is very painful but, thankfully, is rarely deadly to humans … as long as you are treated in a safe amount of time. Even the heat in the jungle can put a serious dent in your mood. Temperatures in The Gap can reach a balmy 95 degrees Fahrenheit with 95% humidity, creating a terrible problem if you run out of water. With trips through The Gap averaging between 20 to 50 days, you had better be prepared to stay well hydrated. There's a lot of water in the Darién Gap but it is far from clean. Even a sip can hold a host of viruses or parasites that could ruin the rest of your trip. So, a good water filter is a must. Many kinds of trees call the jungle home, and the local people make use of all of them. The fiber from the leaves of the Chunga Palm is used to make everything from furniture and hats to jewelry and fishing nets. Perhaps that's why this palm has one of the best defenses of any tree in the Gap. Long black spines — up to eight inches long — cover the Chunga to prevent animals from climbing and taking the fruit. Unfortunately for us, these spines are covered in all sorts of bacteria. One brush with a Chunga, and you might find yourself with infected puncture wounds embedded with shards of Chunga spines. During the mid-eighties, Helge Peterson found himself in Colombia trying to complete a motorcycle tour from Argentina to Alaska. But one small problem stood in his way: The Darién Gap. Convincing a young German backpacker to make the journey with him, they started their journey together. They began the 20-day trek hauling Helge's 400-pound BMW motorcycle into the jungle, through rivers and ravines. At the end of each day, tired and broken, Helge and his backpacking partner would set up camp and start the removal of ticks, sometimes several hundred at a time, from their skin and clothing. Ticks in the area can carry Ehrlichiosis or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, neither of which you want in the middle of the jungle days or weeks from the nearest hospital. Trench foot was first described during Napoleon's retreat from Russia in the winter of 1812, but the name references a condition most common during World War I. It starts with persistently wet skin that isn't allowed to dry. Wet conditions and limited blood flow cause the tissue to tingle or itch, often turn red or blue, and eventually decay. Any open wounds quickly develop fungal infections. With all of this happening in as little as 10 hours, it doesn't allow much time to fix the problem. Botflies like to get under your skin, literally. They start by laying their eggs on mosquitos. What do mosquitos like to do? Bite humans. This conveniently deposits the botfly eggs under our skin. They then hatch, and the larvae have a nice, warm place to live. Through a small hole in your skin, the larva can breathe. They feed on the flesh in their little skin cave and stay cozy and warm. Once they grow into bumblebee-sized adults, they crawl out to lay eggs somewhere else. If there are many larvae involved, it's called myiasis, meaning an infestation under the skin. Yum. That's why it pays to pack a very good bug spray. During the Cold War, the U.S. military ran thousands of training missions inside the Darién Gap, dropping bombs over the jungle. Most of them detonated. However, some did not. Those bombs have been covered over by jungle growth and are now hidden on the jungle floor under a thick layer of vegetation. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of undetonated explosives likely still lie in the jungle, waiting for some poor, unfortunate soul to step off the trail — what little trail is there — just a bit too far and set off a massive explosion. The Darién Gap is home to many predators, both human and animal, but one of the most deadly is the American crocodile. Crocodiles are apex predators, with no known natural enemies, and anything that they come in contact with is potential prey. That includes humans. Crocodiles prefer to hunt at night, but they will attack and eat prey at any time of day. They hide in the water near the edge and wait for an unsuspecting animal (or unlucky hiker) to come to the water, and then the crocodile strikes, dragging its prey under the water to drown before consuming. The above-mentioned article for CFR mentions one Haitian immigrant who struggled in the unyielding rain and wet conditions. 'The journey was really quite hard, especially when the rain came. It was just mud, rivers and going up mountainsides nonstop.' In fact, the Gap is among the wettest places on earth, and the intense rainfall can trigger surprise landslides. The worst part is that there is little hikers or travelers through the area can do to protect themselves. It's just a fact of life — and possibly death — inside the Gap. So the Darién Gap sounds downright peachy to visit, doesn't it? The post Inside the Darién Gap, one of the world's most dangerous jungles appeared first on The Manual.
