Right of Way issues
by James Brunker
Title
Right of Way issues
Artist
James Brunker
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
A truck and a pickup meet on a narrow section of the infamous old road from La Paz to Coroico in Bolivia's Yungas region. Commonly known as the "Death Road" / "Camino de la Muerte", it was described in the 1990s by an Inter-American Development Bank official as "the world's most dangerous road" due to the large numbers of fatal accidents. It was built by Paraguayan prisoners of war in the 1930s (after the Chaco War) and drops around 3500m / 11,500ft in 65km / 40 miles as it descends from a high pass over the Andes Mountains to the tropical lowlands. Cut out of jungle clad cliffs with large sheer drops, it is single track in many places. Unlike most roads in the Americas you drive on the left rather than the right so drivers going down have better visibility (fog permitting) to see vehicles coming up and choose an area for them to pass as uphill vehicles have right of way.
The road was once the main highway from La Paz to the North Yungas region and the lowlands of northern Bolivia. Nowadays it sees very little traffic as there is a new, wider paved road on the other side of the valley which opened at the end of 2006. It is still a popular trip with mountain bikers though, makes for a nice hike with great views and its cloud forests are excellent for birdwatching.
Photograph © James Brunker. Reproduction, transmission or publication in any form without prior written permission strictly prohibited.
Uploaded
May 6th, 2022
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Comments (4)
James Brunker
Many thanks to the buyer in Lebanon, PA who recently bought a print of this image, greatly appreciated!
Hanne Lore Koehler
Fantastic capture of this amazing road, James! Fascinating description! L/F
James Brunker replied:
It's an amazing road, and much less stressful these days now it sees very little traffic.....!
Bette Devine
My goodness! What happened next? Great shot.
James Brunker replied:
If I remember the pickup ended up reversing a bit to a wider area. Not a road for the faint hearted!