Among them are a plank passage over a steep cliff, a huge canyon labyrinth and a staircase built 500 years ago.
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1. Walking the boards on Huashan Mountain in China
Mount Huashan in China is a sacred place for followers of Taoism. It is also one of the most popular and dangerous sights in the Middle Kingdom.
At the top of the mountain is a temple where you can drink tea and meditate. But to get to him, you have to overcome a path length of 100 meters. But you have to walk on planks 30 centimeters wide, and at an altitude of 2,000 meters.
Safety rope is mandatory, but even despite this precaution, tourists periodically die on the mountain. This does not prevent dozens and hundreds of thrill-seekers from regularly gathering on these dilapidated bridges.
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2. Inca staircase from Machu Picchu to Huayna Picchu in Peru
The ruins of Machu Picchu are one of the most remarkable places in South America. It is very easy to reach, and it is crowded with tourists. But beyond the ancient city lies a much more elusive destination: the ruins of Huayna Picchu. From there you have a truly magnificent view of the ancient, dilapidated citadel.
To get from one town to the other you have to climb a worn-out 183-meter staircase built more than 500 years ago. Add to that the fact that the path is 2,720 meters above sea level. On one side is a crude stone wall and on the other is a precipice two and a half kilometers deep. There is no insurance or fencing.
Many people have died on this staircase. For example, in 1997, an American tourist fell from this staircase and was crushed to death. In 2004, a Russian was struck by lightning. In 2013, as a result of a rockfall a German tourist was killed, and three more died the same year simply from heart attacks. So just the view from this staircase can kill.
3. Route through the Dragon Mountains in South Africa
This hiking route is located in the Natal National Park in South Africa. It is 240 kilometers long and the journey takes from 10 days to two weeks.
To reach the foot of the Dragon Mountains, you have to climb rope ladders on a steep cliff. Then you’ll pass through rocky deserts, overgrown grassy slopes, and rugged spurs at an altitude of a thousand meters. Driving here is extremely difficult. No signposts, no visible trails, it’s easy to get lost.
Piquancy adds to the situation wild animals, which are found in abundance here – and what do you expect – Africa. Particularly pleasing are wild rhinos that might trample you just in case, black gnu antelopes with a nasty temper, the occasional leopard and poisonous snakes. Tourists go missing from time to time in these parts.
4. The Royal Trail in the El Chorro Gorge in Spain
The Royal Trail is a structure of railroad rails and crutches hammered into the rocks, located between the Chorro and Gaitanejo waterfalls in Spain. It was built by workers in 1905 to facilitate their access to the site of the Conde de Guadalhorce hydroelectric dam.
After construction was completed, Alfonso XIII walked along the pathway on his way to the opening ceremony of the dam. In honor of this event, the place was named “El Caminito del Rey” – “The King’s Path”. Since then, for almost a hundred years, adventurers and thrill-seekers have been crossing this bridge to enjoy the view of the giant canyon, blue rivers, and green, picturesque valleys below.
Even though the trail has been reconstructed with mesh fencing, handrails, and safety carabiners for visitors, hikers still die here periodically. To commemorate the victims, a marble plaque with their names stands at the beginning of the trail as a warning to the careless.
5. Labyrinth in Canyonlands National Park, USA
As the name suggests, there are many canyons in the park. And at its most distant point, they gather into a structure called a labyrinth.
Only about 2,000 tourists visit the park each year, because even just getting there is no easy task. You must first traverse the arid, steep slopes of Canyonlands, crossed by numerous bluffs and ravines.
The labyrinth is a system of narrow cracks, caves, and passages in the rocks, which can easily get lost. Park staff and rescuers regularly have to get lost tourists out of there. If they are not found in time, they will die of heat and thirst during the day or from the cold at night. If they get stuck in one of the passages, it’s a disaster.
