Life-threatening travel destinations: adventure or insane danger?

Life-threatening travel destinations: adventure or insane danger?

The fascination for adventure draws many travelers to the most dangerous places in the world. Despite the risks, tourists visit places notorious for their challenges and dangers. A current list provides an overview of some of these dangerous but popular travel destinations.

The Travel Reporter names Death Valley in the USA as one of the most extreme places. With the highest temperatures in the world and the lowest point in the USA, it is a magnet for many. Nevertheless, extreme weather conditions, such as flash floods, have resulted in at least 66 people losing their lives there since 2007. Popular attractions in Death Valley include Zabriskie Point, Artists Palette and Badwater Basin.

The Dangers of Yungas Road

Another notorious destination is the Yungas Road in Bolivia, often known as the Death Road. It connects La Paz with the Yungas region and is 64 kilometers long. The road has become famous for its dangerous conditions, including narrow sections less than three meters wide, steep slopes and frequent landslides. This dangerous place attracts about 25,000 tourists every year who want to try mountain biking. However, until 2006 there were around 200 to 300 deaths annually on this route.

The Yungas Road was built in the 1930s to connect La Paz with the Amazon, and some sections were built by Paraguayan prisoners during the Chaco War. Conditions are so critical that in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank declared it the most dangerous road in the world. A shocking 18 cyclists have died on the road since 1998.

More dangerous travel destinations

The list of dangerous travel destinations also includes the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, which can only be safely visited between August and January. Although there have been no deaths since the pool opened, many travelers dismiss the risks as outlandish.

The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland are also a popular site, but they are unsecured, leading to 66 deaths between 1993 and 2017. Adventure seekers find their appeal despite the dangers of the slippery, uneven terrain.

In Hawaii, the Ha'iku Stairs attracts hikers, even though the stairs have been closed since 1987. Legal disputes are delaying closure plans. In Yosemite National Park, Half Dome is another attractive destination, despite more than 32 documented deaths over the last 85 years.

China also has a dangerous hiking trail, the Hua Shan, which is notorious for 100 documented deaths. For the adventurous who visit the Derweze Crater in Turkmenistan, there is the Burning Gas Field, also known as the “Gate to Hell.” Finally, Mount Everest in Nepal attracts experienced climbers, but they face strict safety precautions and numerous risks.

Visitors to these dangerous places should be aware of the risks and always take appropriate precautions. Nevertheless, many acknowledge their thirst for adventure and the appeal of taking on these challenges, as the numbers of tourists visiting each year show.