The road network in India has been improving over the years, with many new highways, expressways and improvements to the existing roads. India has the second-largest interconnected road network, with NH 44, also known as old NH 7, the longest national highway in India that stretches a whopping 3,745 kilometers. But, do you know which is the longest highway in the world? Covering a distance of 30,000 miles (approx. 48280.5 kilometres), the Pan-American Highway is the longest road in the world that stretches across not one or two but 14 countries.
It starts from North America and makes its way through several bustling cities, serene landscapes, climatic zones, tropical jungles, arid deserts, boreal forests, mountains and cultures to reach South America. The idea of building this highway originated in Chile at the 5th National Conference of American States in 1923, states MagicBricks. The first stage of the road was completed in Mexico, which became the first country to implement this plan.
According to WorldAtlas, this remarkable route covers 14 countries including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. However, crossing this extensive route is no easy feat. Travellers encounter varying terrains, including challenging forested regions and rugged landscapes that demand resilience and adaptability. The most dangerous parts of the road are found in Costa Rica, where it rises to 10,942 feet at a point. It has been named the Summit of Death, or Cerro de la Muerte in Spanish.
The Pan-American Highway is entirely uninterrupted, with the exception of the Darién Gap, an overland route that runs about 100 kilometers (60 miles) between Panama and Colombia.
The Pan-American Highway is also recorded in the Guinness World Records as the world’s longest ‘motorable road.’ For a person to travel this stretch, it will take around 60 days to cover the Pan-American Highway when one travels for about 500 km per day.
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