19. North Yungas Road, Bolivia
Constructed: 1930s
Risk Factor: Steep slopes, no guardrails, narrow, single one-lane road with low visibility because of rain and fog (18 cyclist deaths since 1998)
According to the Discovery Channel, North Yungas Road is so scary that it has been given the nickname “Death Road.” The road draws 25,000 tourists a year, and it’s a huge La Paz tourist attraction, despite its dangers. North Yungas is particularly deadly for cyclists, and at least eighteen have died on the road since the late 1990s.
North Yungas Road, Bolivia @ParallelParkingInABurka / imgur.com
Tour operators often cater to downhill mountain bikers, those thrill-seekers who like to hit high speeds as they fly through the Yungas’ twists and turns. The North Yungas Road is fraught with steep slopes, no guardrails, and a narrow, single track. Rain and fog often plague the Road, lowering visibility and making it even more dangerous for travelers.