Top 10 Roads Around the World
One of the most photographed infrastructures are roads, due to the inherent flow of view and the pull of the unknown in them. There are quite a few roads built around scenic landscapes, but they are often hard to build and harder to maintain. Therefore, the best scenic roads in the world are also quite well engineered. Today, we will talk about the best 10 roads around the world.
1. Chapman?s Peak Drive
South Africa, 7 miles
Winding tightly round the rugged coastline of South Africa, this short journey takes you from Hout Bay in the south of Cape Town to Noordhoek. The route is roughly circular in shape and climbs the Chapman?s peak from which it gets the name. The road offers you a smooth drive with some breathtaking views of the Atlantic.
2. Milford Road
New Zealand, 80 miles
Part of New Zealand?s State Highway 94, the Milford route takes you through the country?s most scenic places called Fiordland. The fjords in this place were called the eighth wonder of the world, and it is a major tourist attraction. Along the road, you will pass through Alpine peaks and breathtaking valleys, finishing up at Milford Sound.
3. Karakoram Highway
Pakistan, 810 miles
This spectacular road is the only means of vehicular transportation in this region, connecting Pakistan to China. The road climbs up to Kunjerab Pass (15,748 feet) and is a part of the famous silk route. The road had once been quite dangerous for travelers, but it has been recently renovated to be a modern roadway, as much as possible in the area. Incredibly beautiful mountains, peaks, glaciers, mountain lakes and hill forests adorn the route on either side.
4. Ruta 40
Argentina, 3000 miles
One of the longest scenic routes in the world, Argentina?s Route 40 takes you on a memorable drive beside the Andes range. It is also the world?s highest national road, reaching a whopping 16,600 feet above sea level at one point. The terrain along the route is highly diverse ? you go through winding mountain passes to lonely semi-deserts. The road spans the whole country from the southern edge to the Bolivian border.
5. Route 1
Iceland, 824 miles
The Route 1 in Iceland is constructed through and around the most scenic spots of the country and hence has become a tourist destination itself. Extraordinary experiences like driving through a waterfall are quite common along the route (think about the engineering that went into this). You will get to see many waterfalls like the famous Seljalandsfloss and Skogafoss, many hot springs and beautiful rivers small and large, cliffs, beaches, glacial lagoons etc.
6. Transfagarasan Highway
Romania, 56 miles
One of the most complicated drives in the world, the roadway through the Fagaras mountains of Romania comes close to top. The road is full of hairpin bends and steep climbs or drops ? but it also offers a great view of the expansive vistas of the area. The mountain peaks and valleys will surely take your breath away, while you can also try some of the many trekking trails along the road.
7. Amalfi Drive
Italy, 36 kms
The SS163 or the Amalfi Drive is one of the most scenic roads on the Italian coast, and is featured in many films therefore. The route offers a heady cocktail of quaint mountain towns, excellent coastal views, awesome mountains and much more. Indeed, the Amalfi Drive is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The road hugs the mountainside with many bends and hairpins, opening up new Mediterranean vistas every minute.
8. Pacific Coast Highway
USA, 128 miles
The Pacific Ocean along the rugged California coastline offers some of the most magnificent coastal views in the country, and thereby the highway along this area is considered one of the most scenic highways in America. The road passes through two significant national parks, historic towns, nature rivers ? and of course, the meeting of mountains and sea. If you?re lucky, you can even spot a few grey whales migrating in the springtime.
9. Leh-Manali Highway
India, 298 miles
If you?re not careful, you will get altitude sickness on this road, it climbs so sharply. When the weather is warmer, the route is packed with tourists as they come here to see the stunning vistas of the Himalayas. The road condition has improved in the recent years, still it is quite a challenging drive that the locals only know how to handle properly.
10. Lysevegan Road
Norway, 18 miles
Winding through twenty seven hairpin bends and climbing 3100 feet, the Lysevegan Raod is the most scenic route of Norway. The route offers beautiful scenic views of the famous fjords on the Norwidgian coast, the magnificent Suleskarvegan mountain lake, the quaint mountain village of Lyseboten, and many viewpoints to pull over in and enjoy the scenery.