The most unusual routes of South America

Pan-American Highway - the longest automobile line in the world, the total length of 48,000 kilometers, connecting Alaska to Chile. It has good coverage, crosses a large number of countries and has a lot of other advantages. However, if you want to see the real South America, you need to leave the smooth asphalt on one of these legendary routes.

North Yungas Road or Road of death, Bolivia

It is considered the most dangerous road in the world. The route carries out on the edge of a cliff at an altitude of 600 meters, without any barriers. Almost all over the road, its width is less than 3 and a half meters, which is more difficult for a passing oncoming vehicles. Especially in the rainy season when the already dangerous road turns into a fatal attraction. Now the road death is used mainly for tourism purposes, as has been recently opened a bypass route.

Transamazonskaya highway Brazil

Most major highways of the country, the length of 5, 5 thousand kilometers. The road was built in the 1970s with the aim to connect remote regions of the Amazon to the center of the country. During the rainy season of the road becomes impassable, when the dust and dirt on the unpaved areas are transformed into clay porridge reddish hue, and bridges and all washes.

Carretera Austral or Southern road, Chile

The only highway connecting the north and south of the country. Over 600 kilometers this gravel road winds between the volcanoes, rainforests, fjords and glaciers. The ideal route for a dive into the wild in South America. The road was built during the reign of Pinochet.

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№9 road or highway Trans-Chaco, Paraguay

It passes through a sparsely populated, hot tropical region with a semi-desert landscape of the Gran Chaco. It has long been considered the worst and most unpredictable way in South America. In these places live Mennonites - descendants of radical representatives of Protestant, followed back in 1543 for their spiritual leader, Menno Simons, whose activities in the Netherlands has been outlawed. Mennonites believe modern world is Satan's kingdom and try to keep contact with him to a minimum, are principled pacifists, appreciate the life path of moral self-improvement, baptize only adults and lead a humble life, trying to open up a simple daily work. Some Mennonite commune can be visited, but you must first obtain permission.

Ruta 40 or the National Road №40, Argentina

This legendary Argentine road, built in 1935, runs along the western border of Argentina. It begins in the south in Tierra del Fuego and ends in the north near the border with Bolivia, passing along the Andean mountain range and crossing the 20 national parks, 18 major rivers and 236 bridges, 13 major lakes and salt marshes. Ruta 40 passes through the 27 mountain passes, one of which reaches a height of 5000 meters.

BR-319, Brazil

Another Brazilian road, built with the purpose of development of the Amazon. Due to lack of sufficient knowledge about the region, the road was built on marshland, which affected its quality. In the rainy season the road washes away entire sections with bridges. However, in the dry season the way you can go. Most persistent adventurous overcome the 800-kilometer road in about a week.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

It represents a vast expanses of the dried salt with a very smooth surface on which to install the world speed record. Of course, this is not a road in the full sense of the word, but you can ride on it, and it's worth it. Salar de Uyuni in the existing organized tours, but you can come on their own. But do not forget that the plateau is located at an altitude of 3800 meters.

Everglades Pantanal, Brazil

Pantanal - a vast marshy area in the south-west of Brazil, which attracts tourists the opportunity to plunge into the rich world of wildlife in South America. It is home to 120 species of mammals, 200 species of fish, 100 different species of reptiles and 600 species of birds. The roads are mostly unpaved, so movement needs all-wheel drive car.

Inter-Oceanic Highway (Interoceanic Highway), connecting the Atlantic coast of Brazil, and the Pacific coast of Peru

This multi-billion dollar road was designed to spur the economic development of Peru and open Braz access to the Pacific Ocean. The road construction is still going on, although the official opening took place in 2011. This is the easiest route listed in this post, and the only fully asphalted.