The most pleasant road. It's amazing how many turns there are: the steepest road in the world. 1st place: Route in Germany, starts from Titisee-Neustadt and goes to Bad Krozingen

There are many beautiful roads in the world that pass through steep cliffs, hot deserts and river ice hover over tropical forests and connect small islands in the ocean. We bring to your attention the top 10 most beautiful roads in the world. Traveling along these roads gives you a boost of energy and fills you with optimism.

Immigrant Highway (Brazil)

In the state of Sao Paulo, a true masterpiece of Brazilian road construction originates - the Immigrant Highway with 44 viaducts, 7 bridges and 11 tunnels.

The length of the highway is 58.5 km. It offers magnificent views of the Atlantic rainforest and coastal mountain range.

Chuysky tract (Russia)

The Chuysky tract originates in Novosibirsk and stretches to the Mongolian border.

Traveling along the highway, you simultaneously move both in space and time. Particularly picturesque sections of the tract lie in the Altai Republic. The total length of the route is 963 km.

Route de Gentelly (France)

The D2 highway, located in the Alpes-Maritimes of France, is considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world.

On this road there are steep turns, serpentines, majestic stone arches, and picturesque valleys stretch far below.

Road to Heaven (China)

In the Chinese province of Hunan there is a very beautiful, but dangerous road to the Sky, also known as the Great Gate Road.

This is the steepest serpentine road in the world, 11 km long. The track has 99 turns and rises 1.3 km above sea level.

Atlantic Road (Norway)

Atlantic Road in Norway it seems to jump from island to island.

This road, located in the Møre og Romsdal region, is 8.5 km long. There are 6 bridges and several tunnels on it. This road is especially impressive in the fall when storms rage beneath it.

Los Caracoles Pass (Chile-Argentina)

To get from Argentina to Chile, you need to drive through the Los Caracoles pass in the Andes.

The pass is snowy almost the entire year. On it, the traveler will encounter many steep climbs, slopes and turns. Despite extreme view the road is relatively safe.

Great Circle of the Colorado Plateau (USA)

When traveling around the United States, be sure to visit the Great Circle Road on the Colorado Plateau.

It is located west of the Rocky Mountains in the American Wild West. Passes through the famous Monument Valley and Arches Park.

(Madagascar)

Avenue of the Baobabs (Madagascar)

One of the most visited attractions in Madagascar is the Avenue of the Baobabs, which connects the cities of Morondava and Belonie Tziribiina.

The alley is a dirt road surrounded by majestic baobab trees. The stunning landscape of the area attracts tourists from all over the world.

Winter road to Tuktoyaktuk (Canada)

Second place in our top 10 rightfully belongs to the winter road in Canada. This is one of the most beautiful and unusual roads in the world.

It runs along the bed of the Mackenzie River and connects the remote province of Tuktoyaktuk with civilization. The road opens in November and operates only in winter.

Flower Bulb Road (Holland)

One of the most beautiful roads in the world is located in the Dutch community of Noordostopolder, in the province of Flevoland.

This road, more than 100 km long, passes through 2,500 acres of blooming tulips. However, you can enjoy tulips here only during their flowering period, from mid-April to the end of May.

Contemplating the most beautiful roads world, you understand how diverse and beautiful our world is. Often beautiful places are close to us, but we don’t notice them. To live and breathe deeply, you need to learn to see the greatness of nature and enjoy it through the prism of gray everyday life.

", "Who brews the most delicious beer?", or, "Which company produces and produces the best smartphones?" We are almost sure that these three questions have probably been discussed at least once by you with your colleagues or friends. But you, dear Have friends ever thought about or discussed, for example, the following topic: - “What is the best road in the world in terms of the route itself and the surrounding landscape?” Have you ever thought about it? We invite our readers to familiarize themselves with the first scientific research on this issue.

A similar scientific study was conducted by Avis. It provides car rentals all over the world. In order to find out which highway is the best in the world, they invited experts from various fields of knowledge. And in order to choose the best highway on the planet, the Avis company invited Mark Hadley, who is a quantum physicist by specialty, for such a study. Also, as experts on their part, the designer and hippodrome citizen Hermann Tilke and the design engineer were involved" roller coaster", John Worley.

The experts jointly developed a formula that includes estimates for various parameters, for each pre-selected route. So, for example, the formula includes four main indicators, namely: the beauty of the landscape, the number of curves (turns on the highway), the ability to accelerate in a straight line and the convenience of braking.

The experts gave their marks for each criterion. Next, the indicators were summarized. As a result, each route received a final score (score). Experts applied this formula to the 25 most famous and most beautiful roads in the world. As a result, the absolute winner was the road, which is located in Portugal, it received from specialists and experts highest rating. The length of this route is 27 kilometers. This section of the road has 93 turns.

The road follows the Douro River, overlooking the surrounding hills and vineyards. This one is simply ideal for a tourist visit.

The best roads in the world

1st place: Route to Peso da Regua (Peso da Régua, Pinhão N-222)

93 curves over 27 kilometers + beautiful scenery.

2nd place: Road from Big Sur, California, USA

36 turns on 74 kilometers of route + stunning scenery.

3rd place: The route from Bad Urach, it leads to Hohenzollern Castle

German roads, as always traditionally, are of amazing quality and beautiful nature around. But the road that leads to the famous fortress is the best in Germany and one of the best in the whole world.

4th place: A535 in the United Kingdom (England)

19 curves and bends of the road for 16 kilometers + amazing landscapes outside the window will not leave anyone indifferent.

5th place: Flüela Pass (pass in the Alps), Switzerland

The road has 27 curves along its 28 kilometers of route.

6th place: A road in Austria, starts in the city of Spiez and ends in the city of Krems an der Donau

35 curved bends and 20 long straight lines for maximum acceleration. The length of the road is 35 kilometers.

7th place: Highway B-3135, runs from the city of Cherder and ends in the village of Ashwick (UK)

23 kilometers of amazing impressions, on which: -22 bending curves and quite beautiful.

8th place: Route in Germany, starts from Titisee-Neustadt and goes to Bad Krozingen

The road passes through the L-126 highway and includes 55 curves over a distance of 61 km.

9th place: Great Ocean Road, Australia. Passes through the rock complex "12 Apostles"

The length of the road is 85 km. It has 48 turns and 8 long sections of road for.

10th place: Karamea Highway in New Zealand

The TOP 10 of the best roads in the world is closed by a road that originates in the city of Karamea, on South Island New Zealand. The length of the road is 54 kilometers.

11th place: ALP-822 highway in Spain, originating in the city of San Jose

13 bending curves and 30 straight sections of the road over 24 kilometers.

12th place: Highway N-634 in Spain

Another beautiful highway in Spain made it into the final rating. On the 22-kilometer route you will encounter 22 winding sections where you can enjoy the most beautiful scenery.

13th place: Highway N-247, which originates in the city of Sintra, Portugal

The length of the road is 12 km. On your way there will be 24 turns and 25 straight sections.

14th place: Highway HU-631 in Spain

Another one of the roads that every motorist should definitely drive along if he visits Spain.

15th: Road N-267 from Sao Marcos da Serra, Portugal

Drivers at a distance of 35 kilometers will encounter 84 curved sections along the way, where they can slow down and enjoy the scenery and beautiful places Portugal.

16th: Chugushi Romantic Highway, Japan

Great place to visit big waterfall. To get to this place you will have to drive through the picturesque places of the Chugushi area. On your way there will be 34 curved sections of the road where you can slow down or stop completely to take beautiful pictures as a souvenir.

17th place: Road in France D-81, originates in the village of Piana and leads directly to Porto

If you find yourself on the island of Corsica in France, be sure to visit the D-81 highway to enjoy the amazing views of the island. On your 39 kilometer route you will encounter 33 curved sections of the road.

18th place: Italian route from Portofino to Vetta, with 61 turns. Unfortunately, this road is very short, its length is only 13 km

19th: 16 km mountain road at Lysebotn Road, Norway

The road leads to the village of Lysebotn, which is visited by 100 thousand people annually for recreation and parachute jumping. The route is only open in summer.

20th place: Amalfi Coast, Italy

Along the 17-kilometer route, the road bends 75 times and has 37 straight sections.

21st place: Tail of the Dragon Highway, North Carolina, USA

This American Highway is called the Tail of the Dragon. If you are an adrenaline junkie, this is the highway in the USA for you. best place for the thrill. The length of the route is 15 kilometers.

22nd place: A-591, UK from Kendal to Keswick

The length of the road is 47 kilometers. There will be many curved sections on your way.

23rd place: Route de Napoleon, France

This road was opened in 1932, it runs along the same route that Emperor Napoleon once took during his 100-day trek to Golfe-Juan, ending in Waterloo.

24th: National Route 40, Argentina

A route in western Argentina that extends from Punta Loyola near Rio Gallegos in the province of Santa Cruz in the south all the way to La Quiaca in the province of Jujuy in the north and runs directly parallel famous mountains Andes. Length 112 kilometers. Along the entire road you will encounter 32 curved and winding sections and 16 straight and long lines of road.

25th place: Florida Keys Highway, USA

This highway links a chain of coral islands and reefs in the southeastern United States. The 87-kilometer highway has only 3 curved sections of road. However, despite this, the Florida Keys Highway is great place for traveling by car, especially for tourists. You will never see such beauty of ocean landscapes from your car windows anywhere else.

In conclusion, we would like to note that our country also has many beautiful roads that run through the most beautiful places in our Russia. Unfortunately, foreign experts did not include more than one Russian company in the final rating. highway. But the roads of our country are a separate issue. Therefore, in the very near future we will try to publish Russian rating the most beautiful.

We at TravelAsk have already talked about the most unusual road and the most dangerous. And today we found the steepest road in the world and are in a hurry to show it to you.

Worse than a snake

The road workers are capable of surprising people, it seems that this route was invented for passing a snake, the turns are so sharp.

This road was built in the Californian city of San Francisco on Lombard Street. Of course, the road is very popular among city guests; it is intentionally included in all tourist routes.

In just 400 meters of this road there are eight sharp turns! And the slope of the street is also impressive - as much as 27 degrees.

As you understand, you won’t be able to drive along this route with the breeze: it’s too difficult. And according to the law, the speed here should not exceed 8 kilometers per hour. Therefore, cars literally crawl along the street, and there is even a queue of cars.

By the way, the street is in an area called Russian Hill. No, don't think that steep road is located in an area where Russians are considered cool)) The fact is that in the 19th century there was a Russian cemetery here, which was later moved. And then emigrants from the Russian Empire lived on this territory at the beginning of the twentieth century. Now, however, there are few Russians here; they settle in other areas of San Francisco.

History of sharp turns

In fact, the street did not always have such sharp turns. The reason is the spread of automobile traffic, which began in the 20s of the twentieth century. The fact is that local residents could not drive cars normally on the street, since it was very steep. And the road was not particularly convenient for pedestrians. Accordingly, there were fewer and fewer housing landlords here. Then local authorities found a way out of the situation: they decided to make the road winding, thanks to which the slope of the route decreased from 27 to 16 degrees.

After reconstruction, traffic speed was limited to 8 kilometers per hour (or 5 miles), and one-way traffic was introduced in this area: cars can only move from top to bottom. Parking is prohibited on Lombard Street; the street is narrow and may interfere with traffic. Therefore, those who want to stop will have to pay a hefty fine.

Red brick road

But Lombard Street is not only winding, it is also notable for its beauty, and not every city road can boast of this.

Lombard Street is actually worthy of being inhabited by the heroes of some fairy tales: the houses here are colorful and bright, the road itself is paved with red brick, and shrubs and trees are planted along its edge. The vegetation here is strictly monitored: it is trimmed and watered. In the summer, even more brightness is added: numerous flower beds bloom. Well, why not a fairy tale?

By the way, the street itself was even temporarily turned into a real playing field in 2009. For the 60th anniversary of the children's board game CandyLand, the road was painted in different colors, adding even more color and unusualness to Lombard Street.

The street has the status of the most winding in the world.

Another road with sharp turns

But, despite the fact that Lombard Street has the official title of the most winding road in the world, there is another equally steep street - Vermont Street. And it is also located in San Francisco (it’s truly not for nothing that San Francisco is called the city of hills!). Moreover, several programs dedicated to this road were broadcast on American television. The presenters compared the steepness of Lombard Street and Vermont Street. So, in their opinion, the second was in the lead.

Vermont Street has seven winding turns, is paved with concrete, and is steeper than Lombard Street.

Another road that deserves to be called the steepest is located in Burlington, Iowa. It's called Snake Lane. It also has 8 turns, but it is many times shorter than Lombard Street - only 83 meters. The road was built by emigrants in the 19th century, trying to replicate the vineyard trails of Germany and France. The lane was paved with clay and limestone. There is also only one-way traffic here, from top to bottom. Once upon a time, it was possible to drive up the hill along the road, but horses constantly knocked out bricks, so since then there has been one-way traffic here, although they no longer ride horses.

But once a year you can ride a bicycle up the hill: a bicycle race is held annually in Zmeiny Lane, in which athletes compete to see who can conquer this steep road the fastest.

Independent car and motorcycle travel is becoming more and more popular view recreation. We have selected for you the ten most interesting roads on four continents, which can be a good reason to travel.

1. On the edge of the abyss. France: Verdon Gorge

The Grand Canyon, but not in the USA? Rocky gorge, but not in the desert? Whatever the Verdon Gorge is called, the fact remains that today it is the most grand canyon throughout Europe: its length is 25 kilometers and its depth reaches 700 meters! Although the Verdon Gorge is inferior in scale to the Arizona canyon, it clearly surpasses it in beauty: in spring and summer, trees and shrubs cover the slopes with a thick layer, grazing only in front of the steepest cliffs. It will take a whole day to go around the gorge, although there are only a hundred kilometers. But they all consist entirely of bends, descents and ascents, man-made tunnels and passages under rocks hanging overhead and hiding the sky. The most beautiful views of the gorge open from the old Cretan road, or Cretan loop (Route des Cretes, D23), built in ancient times and passing along the northern edge of the canyon. This narrow winding path comes close to the cliff in places. Along its edges there are observation platforms, each of which offers breathtaking views of the Verdon. The Cretan loop is considered one-way: you need to drive along it clockwise, starting from the town of Castellane towards the artificial lake of Sainte-Croix, which was formed after the construction of a dam in 1975. You can swim in the lake and spend a few contemplative hours in the shade of the trees with wine and a crispy French baguette. The Luberon Nature Reserve is located 100 kilometers from the Verdon Park. It’s worth visiting here to admire the leisurely village life and visit the ruins of one of the castles of the famous Marquis de Sade. 2. High in the mountains. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan: Pamir Highway
Travelers are always attracted to places marked “the very best”: the most northern point Europe, the westernmost point of Russia, the most high mountain, the deepest depression. The Pamir Highway is one of these places. After all, the most high Mountain road on the territory of the former USSR. This almost entirely dirt road climbs the spurs of the Pamir Mountains and passes through the three main mountain passes of the Pamirs: Taldyk (3615 m), Kyzyl-Art (4280 m) and the closest point to the “Roof of the World” – Akbaital Pass (4655 m). The eastern part of the tract - from the Kyrgyz city of Osh to the Tajik Khorog - was built in 1931-1934, when the USSR was actively developing the territory of the mountain Pamirs. It passes through green foothills where horses graze and lonely yurts and dung-smeared huts stand, and past the Pamir National Park, dominated by Lenin Peak (7134 m).

AWL Images/Fotodom The Pamir Highway is open to travel only in warm weather - in winter there is a high risk of avalanches.

One of the most exciting stops along the way is Lake Karakul, the largest in Tajikistan, located at an altitude of 3914 meters above sea level. From here begins a steep climb to the spurs of the great Pamirs. Rocks, gorges, tunnels, dirt roads, dust, lack of vegetation, rare villages and flocks of sheep - almost Martian landscape stretches all the way down to the valley already on the Tajik side. Your companions all this time will be trucks, donkeys and jeeps, crammed inside and hung with luggage outside. Turning off the road, you can visit a few more interesting places: villages of local residents, the “Farewell to Youth” pass, the fortress of fire worshipers Yamchun, the hot springs of Bibi Fatima and much more.

3. From north to south. USA: Dalton Highway

The Dalton Highway is 666 kilometers of dirt road that crosses almost halfway across Alaska from north to south. The route was built in 1974 to deliver cargo to the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and service the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. And it was named in honor of engineer James Dalton, a specialist in Arctic construction. On a motorcycle or some overly voracious car, one must go here with caution: on the entire highway between Fairbanks, 100 kilometers from where it begins, and Deadhorse, where it ends, there are only two gas stations: at the Yukon River crossing and in Coldfoot (400 km from Fairbanks), so required stock gasoline, as well as tires, tools, food and other essentials, it is better to take it with you right away. Medical care is also only available in Coldfoot or Deadhorse. This is Alaska, gentlemen! A harsh and at first glance unfriendly region, which will give only to a prepared and responsible traveler unforgettable experience and will reveal his riches. Alaska really has something to share: the most large staff The USA is still almost unspoilt by civilization; on its territory there are 23 (!) national parks and a nature reserve. Through some of them: "White Mountains", national reserve wild Arctic nature, nature reserves on the banks of the Yukon River, the Gates of the Arctic Nature Reserve - this is exactly what the Dalton Highway passes through, sometimes getting lost in a flat snow-covered or grass-covered plain, sometimes winding between wooded mountains encircling on all sides. Another obligatory ritual for all travelers driving along the highway is to take a photo in front of the sign indicating the Arctic Circle.

4. To the homeland of Dracula. Romania: Transfagarasan Highway

When planning the construction of a high-altitude highway through the Fagaras massif in 1970, the last thing Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu thought about was creating an attractive tourist route. Concerned about the events in Czechoslovakia, he feared a military invasion of the country and therefore decided to connect the regions of Wallachia and Transylvania with an inaccessible mountain road for the speedy transfer military equipment. Now Transfagaras is one of the rare examples of how an object created for military purposes becomes famous throughout the world and attracts many tourists to the country. The 261-kilometer-long highway passes through picturesque valleys and fields of wheat, which Romanians sometimes still reap by hand, past lakes and reservoirs, through cute Romanian villages with identical dark stone houses. Not far from the beginning of the highway there is nice town Sibiu has classic Romanian architecture, where, like the Romanian language, Latin, Romanesque and Slavic heritage is mixed. Almost every village along the way has Orthodox Church, and a church, and a mosque. And in the town of Curtea de Arges you can admire the cathedral with stunning carvings and stucco on the walls. Count Dracula awaits travelers on the Transylvanian side of the Carpathians. It is found everywhere: in the names of streets, restaurants and hotels, in souvenir shops, in ancient castles. One of them, Poenari Castle, towering over the canyon of the Arges River, belonged to Prince Vlad II Tepes in the 15th century, who became the prototype of the famous Dracula. The other is Bran Castle, a little away from the Transfagarasan Highway, where Count Dracula never visited, but where he was “settled” by the writer Bram Stoker, thanks to whom the world learned about Dracula. 5. The expanses of Altai. Russia: Chuysky tract
This ancient road is the first line that connected Russia and China many centuries ago. Driving along the Chuysky tract is like crossing the whole of Russia. The path begins in Biysk, with birch groves and villages, in one of which the writer Vasily Shukshin was born. And after a hundred kilometers, once you pass Gorno-Altaisk, it seems as if you are in the times of the development of Siberia: the stormy waters of the Katun, rocky gorges and green valleys. The mountain taiga begins. Turn left and you will get to Lake Teletskoye, right - to the foot of Belukha, where Roerich looked for Shambhala on his way to the Himalayas. And if you drive straight all the time, you will see the Kurai steppe at the foot of the North Chuysky ridge. If you wish, you can drive a few kilometers and walk up to eternal snows. In the Kurai steppe there are the last islands of the taiga, and already beyond the pass the real steppe begins, where nomadic yurts stand and camel caravans roam. You shouldn’t plan such a trip for a week, because every turn is a reason for a separate short trip. Mentions of the current Chuisky tract, formerly called Mungalsky, can be found in Chinese sources dating back thousands of years. From then until the beginning of the 20th century, it was simply a mountain path used by merchants and pilgrims going to the sacred tree in the upper reaches of the Katun River. The wheeled road from Ongudai to Kosh-Agach (255 km) was built only in 1903. Today, the Chuysky tract is one of the few roads in the world that has been awarded its own museum. It is located in the building of the Biysk Museum of Local Lore - here you can see archival documents and photographs, a three-dimensional model of the road, paintings and dioramas. 6. Visit the trolls. Norway: Atlantic Road
The Atlantic Road (No. 64) goes almost along the ocean itself, jumping from island to island with the help of bridges and tunnels. This is a unique technological structure: the route is only 8.5 kilometers long - as many as six bridges! The main one is the Storseisundet Bridge, which is also called the “Bridge to Heaven”. If you approach it from the mainland, it seems as if the road surface ends at highest point and the traveler can only jump straight into the sky. The impression is intensified if you drive along the Atlantic Road in the fall, when the storm season begins: huge waves roll onto small islands, crash against bridge supports with a roar, and sometimes cover the entire road, trying to lick the cars driving along it. However, the Atlantic Road is only part of the route along the fjords. Moving along it further towards Oslo, you will come to one of the most famous serpentines in Europe - the Trollstigen (Trollstigen) climbing the mountainside. Harmful trolls often curtain their stairs with thick fog, but this makes the serpentine even more beautiful: gray stones and bizarrely shaped rocks, densely overgrown with lush bright green grass and moss, appear through the “milk”. At the top of the mountain, visibility sometimes drops to 3–5 meters: it is all the more interesting to see sheep suddenly appearing from the fog, black lakes and numerous pyramids of stones built by tourists, and maybe even the trolls themselves... If you drive even further along Route 63 ( and there is almost nowhere to escape from it), you will come to one of the most beautiful fjords in Norway - Geiranger. Here you can admire the numerous waterfalls, fish or just wander around the surrounding area. 7. Stand above the clouds. China: Great Gate Road
The Chinese are famous not only for their hard work and perseverance (which is worth only the Great Chinese Wall!), but also a love for symbols, signs and numbers. Therefore, even a person far from Asian culture will not be able to simply drive along the “Big Gate Road”. The fact is that this road is one of the steepest serpentines in the world in every sense. She climbs Tianmen Mountain, which is located 8 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie in southeast China. This asphalt ribbon, only 11 kilometers long, rises to a height of 1300 meters, making 99 turns along the way! For the Chinese, the number 9 is sacred: it is the number of the emperor, as well as the number of palaces that, according to legend, await a person in heaven. That is why the road to Tianmen is also called the “Road to Heaven.”

Age/East News In China, traditional boats are still a popular means of transportation.

The main attraction of the route is the Heavenly Gate cave. It was formed in the 3rd century, when a huge block broke off from the rock. The 131.5 meter high "Gate" is often completely shrouded in fog. Locals They believe that by going through them, you can actually go to heaven. But to earn this right, you have to work hard. There are several ways to get to the cave. The easiest way is to drive a car or tourist bus, the more extreme is to make an “express climb” in a sports car with a professional racing driver at the wheel, and the most difficult is to overcome an impressive staircase with 999 steps. If you want a truly breathtaking experience, you should climb to the top on the world’s longest funicular (7455 meters!) - from its windows you can see views of the entire winding line of the road.

8. Through the pampas. Argentina: Route 40

Route No. 40 (Ruta 40) crosses almost the entirety of Argentina from north to south and runs along the high Andean ridges. This is one of the longest roads in the world: 5000 kilometers is no joke! Especially if they go through several climatic zones. The landscape around is constantly changing: forests, rocks, lakes, fields, meadows, deserts, almost uninhabited pampas, asphalt and gravel, dust and red sand, sun and knocking wind, 27 mountain passes, 18 large rivers finally 20 national parks, in each of which you can spend several days. For example, in Los Glaciares Park, listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, you can visit the Perito Moreno Glacier, where the third largest reserve is concentrated. fresh water in the world. Its area is quite comparable to the area of the entire Buenos Aires, while the glacier is in constant motion, changing its location by an average of 2 meters every day. You can admire them like observation platforms, and went for a walk right on the ice crumbs, accompanied by a climber. The same road will lead to the famous “Cave of Hands” (Cueva de las Manos), where all the walls are dotted with prints of human palms and images of hunting scenes, the oldest of which date back to the ninth millennium BC. The second largest one deserves special attention national park Argentina - “Calchaqi Walley”, in which you can get from mountain deserts to subtropical forest in one day - the climate changes so dramatically in one relatively small area land. And, of course, it’s worth driving along Ruta 40 to be impressed by the “Martian” desert landscapes and see the flamingos living on the lakes of Patagonia. 9. Colorado Plateau. USA: Great Circle
The American Wild West is the territory west of the Rocky Mountains. When the pioneers first began to explore the Indian territories, they came across unique natural attractions that they could not appreciate. Today this area is called the “Grand Circle”. The name comes from bus tour, which was called the Grand Circle Tour. The most convenient way to travel from Denver is to first go up to the national park " Rocky Mountains”, where the Colorado River begins, and continue through Aspen to the Colorado Plateau. On the way, it is worth seeing Arches Park (arches.national-park.com) and the famous Monument Valley in the territory of the Navajo Indians. Near the town of Page, you can't miss the inconspicuous Antelope Canyon - there will be a simple wooden sign on the side of the road with the appropriate inscription. It’s also worth going on a boat trip on Lake Powell; fortunately, you can rent a boat. Just south of Page begins the famous Grand Canyon (grandcanyon.com). If you drive along its southern part, then in addition to views of the canyon you will be able to catch a preserved piece of the first trans-American Route 66 (illinoisroute66.org) from Chicago to Los Angeles. Here it’s worth turning again towards the Grand Canyon and living on a real ranch (grandcanyonranch.com). And only then go to the Hoover Dam - a gigantic monument from the era of the 30s of the last century, from where the direct path to Las Vegas begins. This way you will cross the Great Circle from east to west, visiting four states - Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. You won’t be able to see all the beauty of the Grand Circle in one trip—after all, the Colorado Plateau has the largest concentration of parks in the United States—so be prepared to come back here again. 10. Along the edge of the continent. Australia: Great Ocean Road
Great ocean road 243 kilometers long runs along the Pacific coast of Australia. The road has no practical significance - it was built by soldiers returning from the First World War as a monument to the victims of the battles. After its opening in 1932, the road became the largest war memorial in the world, and thirty years later it was recognized as one of the most picturesque on the planet. And for good reason: the route runs almost along the very coast, offering views of endless expanses of water and quiet, secluded lagoons. Among the main attractions along the way is the mysterious Shipwreck Coast, where 638 ships have crashed. And the “Twelve Apostles” is a group of limestone rocks standing separately in the ocean up to 45 meters high. In fact, there are only eight rocks here, and until recently they were called nothing more than “Pig and Pigs.” The poetic name “Twelve Apostles” appeared simply to attract tourists. Another rock about 20 million years old, the Arch of London, has a similar story. For a long time it was called “London Bridge” for its amazing resemblance to the Tower Bridge, and in 1990, when the span closest to the mainland collapsed under the pressure of ocean waves, it turned into an “arch”. This is the uniqueness of the Great Ocean Road: the coastline changes so quickly that tomorrow you may no longer see what you saw today. It’s worth driving here not only to admire the scenery, lie on the beach or ride the waves. This is also an Australian safari route: in Warrnambool you can watch the migration of southern right whales, and in the Tower Hill Game Reserve you can walk with kangaroos and emus and look at koalas and seabirds.

Just driving along any road on our list is enough to have an amazing vacation! After all, along the way you can see the most beautiful places on our planet and feel the spirit of life on wheels. You will never be able to forget these places. We are publishing an article about the most stunningly beautiful roads in the world.

1. On the edge of the abyss. France: Verdon Gorge

The Grand Canyon, but not in the USA? Rocky gorge, but not in the desert? Whatever the Verdon Gorge is called, the fact remains that today it is the largest canyon in all of Europe: its length is 25 kilometers and its depth reaches 700 meters! Although the Verdon Gorge is inferior in scale to the Arizona canyon, it clearly surpasses it in beauty: in spring and summer, trees and shrubs cover the slopes with a thick layer, grazing only in front of the steepest cliffs. It will take a whole day to go around the gorge, although there are only a hundred kilometers. But they all consist entirely of bends, descents and ascents, man-made tunnels and passages under rocks hanging overhead and hiding the sky.

2. High in the mountains. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan: Pamir Highway

Travelers are always attracted to places marked “the very best”: the northernmost point of Europe, the westernmost point of Russia, the highest mountain, the deepest depression. The Pamir Highway is one of these places. After all, it is the highest mountain road in the territory of the former USSR.

3. From north to south. USA: Dalton Highway

This is Alaska, gentlemen! A harsh and, at first glance, unfriendly land that will only give a prepared and responsible traveler an unforgettable experience and reveal its riches.

Alaska really has something to share: the largest US state is still almost unspoilt by civilization; on its territory there are 23 (!) national parks and reserves. Through some of them: the White Mountains, the National Arctic Wildlife Refuge, nature reserves on the banks of the Yukon River, the Gates of the Arctic Nature Reserve - the Dalton Highway passes through, sometimes getting lost in a flat snow-covered or grass-covered plain, sometimes winding between surrounding on all sides by forested mountains.

4. To the homeland of Dracula. Romania: Transfagarasan Highway

Transfagaras is one of the rare examples of how an object created for military purposes becomes famous throughout the world and attracts many tourists to the country. The 261-kilometer-long highway passes through picturesque valleys and fields of wheat, which Romanians sometimes still reap by hand, past lakes and reservoirs, through cute Romanian villages with identical dark stone houses. Not far from the start of the highway is the pretty town of Sibiu, with classic Romanian architecture and, like the Romanian language, a mixture of Latin, Romanesque and Slavic heritage.

5. The expanses of Altai. Russia: Chuysky tract

This ancient road is the first line that connected Russia and China many centuries ago. Driving along the Chuysky tract is like crossing the whole of Russia. The path begins in Biysk, with birch groves and villages, in one of which the writer Vasily Shukshin was born. And after a hundred kilometers, once you pass Gorno-Altaisk, it seems as if you are in the times of the development of Siberia: the stormy waters of the Katun, rocky gorges and green valleys. The mountain taiga begins.

Turn left - you will get to Lake Teletskoye, right - to the foot of Belukha, where Roerich looked for Shambhala on the way to the Himalayas. And if you drive straight all the time, you will see the Kurai steppe at the foot of the North Chuysky ridge. If you wish, you can drive a few kilometers and walk up to the eternal snow. In the Kurai steppe there are the last islands of the taiga, and already beyond the pass the real steppe begins, where nomadic yurts stand and camel caravans roam.

6. Visit the trolls. Norway: Atlantic Road

The Atlantic Road (No. 64) goes almost along the ocean itself, jumping from island to island with the help of bridges and tunnels. This is a unique technological structure: the route is only 8.5 kilometers long - as many as six bridges! The main one is the Storseisundet Bridge, which is also called the “Bridge to Heaven”. If you approach it from the mainland, it seems as if the road surface breaks off at the highest point and the traveler can only jump straight into the sky.

However, the Atlantic Road is only part of the route along the fjords. Moving along it further towards Oslo, you will come to one of the most famous serpentines in Europe - the “Troll Staircase” climbing the mountainside. Harmful trolls often curtain their stairs with thick fog, but this makes the serpentine even more beautiful: gray stones and bizarrely shaped rocks, densely overgrown with lush bright green grass and moss, appear through the “milk”.

7. Stand above the clouds. China: Great Gate Road

This road is one of the steepest serpentines in the world in every sense. She climbs Tianmen Mountain, which is located 8 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie in southeast China. This asphalt ribbon, only 11 kilometers long, rises to a height of 1300 meters, making 99 turns along the way! For the Chinese, the number 9 is sacred: it is the number of the emperor, as well as the number of palaces that, according to legend, await a person in heaven.

8. Through the pampas. Argentina: Route 40

Route 40 (Ruta 40) crosses almost the entirety of Argentina from north to south and runs along the high Andean ridges. This is one of the longest roads in the world: 5000 kilometers - no joke! Especially if they pass through several climate zones. The landscape around is constantly changing: forests, rocks, lakes, fields, meadows, deserts, almost uninhabited pampas, asphalt and gravel, dust and red sand, sun and knocking wind...

In Los Glaciares Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can visit the Perito Moreno Glacier, home to the third largest freshwater reserve in the world. Its area is quite comparable to the area of the entire Buenos Aires, while the glacier is in constant motion, changing its location by an average of 2 meters every day. You can admire it both from observation platforms and by going for a walk directly on the ice crumbs, accompanied by a climber.

9. Colorado Plateau. USA: Great Circle

The American Wild West is the territory west of the Rocky Mountains. When the pioneers first began to explore the Indian territories, they came across unique natural attractions that they could not appreciate. Today this area is called the "Great Circle".

The most convenient way to travel from Denver is to first climb to the Rocky Mountain National Park, where the Colorado River begins, and continue through Aspen to the Colorado Plateau. On the way, it is worth seeing Arches Park and the famous Monument Valley in the territory of the Navajo Indians. Near the town of Page, you can't miss the inconspicuous Antelope Canyon - there will be a simple wooden sign on the side of the road with the appropriate inscription. It’s also worth going on a boat trip on Lake Powell; fortunately, you can rent a boat. Just south of Page the famous Grand Canyon begins. If you drive along its southern part, then in addition to views of the canyon you will be able to catch a preserved piece of the first trans-American Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles.

10. Along the edge of the continent. Australia: Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is 243 kilometers long and runs along the Pacific coast of Australia. The road has no practical significance - it was built by soldiers returning from the First World War as a monument to the victims of the battles. After its opening in 1932, the road became the largest war memorial in the world, and thirty years later it was recognized as one of the most picturesque on the planet. And for good reason: the route runs almost along the very coast, offering views of endless expanses of water and quiet, secluded lagoons. Among the main attractions along the way is the mysterious “Shipwreck Coast”, where 638 ships have crashed. And the “Twelve Apostles” is a group of limestone rocks standing separately in the ocean up to 45 meters high. In fact, there are only eight rocks here, and until recently they were called nothing more than “Pig and Pigs.”