Imagine a route that begins in the snowy expanses of Alaska, passes through the vast forests of Canada, crosses the sweltering deserts of Mexico, makes its way through the dense jungles of Central America, climbs the mountain passes of the Andes, and finally finishes at the southernmost point of Argentina. Sounds like the journey of a lifetime, right? So, such a road exists! This Pan-American Highway is one of the most ambitious engineering projects in human history.
From where and where?
This route covers 14 countries and connects the two American continents. Its beginning is in the tiny village of Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, and its end is in the Argentine city of Ushuaia, on the other side of the world. The length of the highway is a controversial value: some sources say 48,000 kilometers, others 30,000. The thing is that the Panamericana is not one integral highway, but a whole network of roads, including modern autobahns, dirt serpentines, and narrow paths where two cars can hardly pass each other.
Each country has added its own section to this network, with its own characteristics and "character":
- The USA and Canada are wide highways, where it is so pleasant to rush with the breeze,
- Central America – narrow roads with treacherous turns, winding between volcanoes and rainforests,
- South America is a combination of smooth asphalt, off-road, arid deserts, mountain passes and green valleys.
How was the Panamericana invented?
It all started in 1923, when at a conference of the Pan-American Union in Santiago, Chile, it was decided: "We need a road that will connect the entire continent!" The main argument was oil. In the United States at that time, huge deposits were found in California, and a powerful road network would have made it easy to export raw materials. But there were other reasons: the development of trade, the growth of tourism, the strengthening of ties between countries.
Despite all the ambition of the idea, the real work began only in 1937, when the countries signed an agreement on construction. The idea was good, but bringing it to life is a real puzzle. How to make a road through mountains, jungles, rivers, deserts? Who will pay for it? As a result, each of the 14 participants in the project built their own site at their own expense, based on the possibilities and conditions.
The Mexicans were the first to cope - in 1950 their section was completely ready. But other countries have been tinkering for decades.
By the way, the Panamericana still cannot be called fully completed.
A gap in the road that no one can asphalt
If you look at the map, you can see that the Panamericana is not continuous everywhere. So, in the area of the border of Panama and Colombia, there is the Darien gap - a section 160 kilometers long and 50 kilometers, where there is no road - and, most likely, there will not be. Why?
- Firstly, these are dense tropical jungles, swamps and rivers, through which it is incredibly difficult to lay a route.
- Secondly, indigenous peoples live here, who are categorically against construction: for them it is their land, their nature, their way of life, and they are not ready to change all this for the sake of the road.
- Thirdly, the terrain is full of wild animals, diseases, high humidity and difficult terrain.
Attempts to pave the way here have been made, but so far without success. The only options to cross this section are by air or sea.
Why is this road so important?
Despite all the difficulties, the Pan-American Highway has become a real transport artery for the entire continent, it unites countries, contributes to the development of the economy, tourism, and cultural exchange. Millions of people use it every day, and for travelers, driving the entire route is a real challenge and a dream.
Of course, the route is not always safe: somewhere the roads are broken, somewhere you can meet dangerous animals, and in some countries there is an unstable criminal (and even political) situation. But that doesn't stop enthusiasts from embarking on this epic journey across the Americas every year.
Yes, the Pan Americana is not just a road. It's a story, it's a challenge, it's a life-changing journey for some.
