Have you ever wondered what it would be like to drive continuously on an endless road? Going past countries, coasts, deserts, forests and mountains. Well, there's actually such a road. Today, we're going to talk about the longest road in the world.
Which is the Longest Road in the World?
The Pan-American Highway holds the Guinness World Record's title of the longest road. It runs for an estimated 24,000 kilometres or 15,000 miles as per the Guinness World Records website. It spans from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia in Argentina.
The Guinness World Record mentions: “The Pan-American Highway, from Fairbanks, Alaska, USA to Santiago, Chile, thence eastward to Buenos Aires, Argentina and terminating in Brasilia, Brazil is over 24,140km (15,000 miles) in length.”
In other words, this road stretches from the top of North America to the bottom of South America.
How Many Countries Does It Pass Through?
The Pan-American Highway passes through 14 countries. These include:
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United States
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Mexico
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Guatemala
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El Salvador
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Honduras
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Nicaragua
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Costa Rica
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Panama
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Colombia
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Ecuador
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Peru
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Bolivia
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Chile
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Argentina
That means one road touches 14 different cultures, languages, cuisines, and landscapes.
The Gap that Breaks the Journey
Now for the cool part, the Pan-American Highway isn't even fully connected. The Darién Gap is a 100km gap between Panama and Colombia. There is no road connecting this region, as it is a jungle and swamp.
Because of this gap you technically can’t drive the whole way without flying or boating over this area. Environmental, physical and safety challenges have prevented the gap from being developed.
The Guinness World Record website mentions: “Routes through western Canada and the USA provide the link to the Inter-American Highway, which runs from Mexico via Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica to Panama City, Panama. It is here that drivers encounter the Darién Gap, a stretch of rain forest around 110km (70 miles) which is the subject of heated debate between those who favor the completion of the road and those who oppose it for environmental reasons.”
Facts About Pan American Highway
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The Pan-American Highway has been in planning for decades, it was first proposed in the 1920s.
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The highway passes through two of the world's most extreme destinations, one of the coldest regions in the North and one of the windiest cities in the South.
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This highway is also significant for trade and transport in Latin America.
The Pan-American Highway is not just the world's longest road, but it is also a testament to human striving and the will to connect. For travellers, geography enthusiasts and world explorers this road is a testament to human achievements.
