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Called "the 8th wonder of the world"/ This is the most legendary road on the planet

2023-09-20 08:27:00, Kuriozitete CNA
Called "the 8th wonder of the world"/ This is the most legendary road
Illustrative photo

The Karakoram Highway is the world's highest international road and runs between Western China and Pakistan passing impressive mountains and some of the most inaccessible terrain in Asia.

Unofficially called the "Eighth Wonder of the World", the 1,300 km highway was built with the cooperation of the governments of Pakistan and China, originally called the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway, and took almost 20 years (from 1959 to 1979) and 24,000 workers to complete. completed.

Its history and geopolitical significance

The route was one of the branches of the "Ancient Silk Road" that traversed the Himalayas and the westernmost part of them, with a history dating back to the second century BC.

Although Pakistan initially proposed the route through the Mindaka Pass, in 1966 China recommended the steep Kunjarab Pass, citing Mindaka's vulnerability to air strikes. About 800 Pakistani and 200 Chinese workers died during the construction of the highway, many of them from landslides and falls.

Called "the 8th wonder of the world"/ This is the most legendary road

Landslides, rock slides, floods and avalanches are a permanent hazard from the time the road was built until today. Even after its completion, the highway requires constant maintenance and continues to function as a major trade and transport route that strengthens economic, cultural and military ties between the two countries, crossing the belt between the Eurasian and Indian plates where China, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan is 250 kilometers from each other.

Street

The route, which follows one of the many routes of the "Ancient Silk Road", stretches from the small town of Hassan Abdal in Kashgar in China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region, via Kunjerab, the highest accessible border crossing in the world, at an altitude of about 4700 meters.

Called "the 8th wonder of the world"/ This is the most legendary road

The official start of the grand route starts from Hasan Abdal, about 60 km from Islamabad and passes through some of the most stunning landscapes and tourist spots like the ninth highest mountain on Earth, Nanga Parbat, Hunza Valley, Lake Atabad etc.

In the valley of Hunza and for 194 kilometers the road is surrounded by the Karakoram mountains that give the highway its name.

Called "the 8th wonder of the world"/ This is the most legendary road

The story of Lake Athabat begins with a huge landslide that leveled many villages with dozens of houses and people dead, closing the bed of the Hunza River and gradually creating the current lake that took the name of Athabat village.

The Hunza region and the districts of Gilgit-Baltistan until the 20th century were largely cut off from the world. The remote region, home mainly to Buruso and Waki, has its own languages, music and culture, unlike anything in Pakistan – or anywhere else in the world. In fact, many locals often claim that their ancestors came from Macedonia, referring to Alexander the Great, and insist that the Burusaski dialect spoken by the tribes in the valley is derived from the Macedonian language.

Called "the 8th wonder of the world"/ This is the most legendary road

Travel destination

The impressive height of the road, as well as the difficult conditions in which it was built, gave it the nickname "The 8th Wonder of the World". It is a permanent destination for adventure travelers or mountain and cycling expeditions seeking access to three of the world's most important mountain ranges: the Karakoram, the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush.

Called "the 8th wonder of the world"/ This is the most legendary road

To get there you can take the night bus from the main NATCO bus terminal in Islamabad for just under $20. Alternatively, you can take a flight from Islamabad International Airport at a cost of around $95 or rent a car for a 12-hour drive from Hassan Abdul to the Hunza Valley.

Called "the 8th wonder of the world"/ This is the most legendary road

Despite its reputation as a dangerous road, the highway is generally safe. The Pakistani government has made many efforts to improve its safety in recent years and the number of accidents has decreased significantly.

Called "the 8th wonder of the world"/ This is the most legendary road

The ideal time to travel is between June and September. The highway is open all year round, except for the Kunjerab pass, which is only open from May 1 to December 31.

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