Pan-American Highway, The Longest In The World

The Pan-American Highway is an interconnected system of highways that connects most of the countries of the American continent. The project was conceived during the V International Conference of American States, in 1923.

The mega-project covers about 50,000 kilometers in length; however, it is not yet completely finished. This is because a 90-kilometer stretch between Colombia and Panama, known as El Tapón del Darién, is occupied by the jungle.

 The Pan-American Highway, project or idea

In reality, the Pan-American Highway, more than a construction site as such, is an idea that seeks to link sections of pre-existing highways in each country. Therefore, to merge them you only have to build fragments that communicate them.

The objective of the Pan-American Highway is to connect Alaska , in the United States, with Buenos Aires, in Argentina, uninterruptedly and through a passable road. However, the Darien Gap region has historically represented the greatest obstacle.

The stone in the shoe

The Darien Gap goes from Yaviza, in Panama, to Isolated Hills, in Colombia. It is a land known and valued worldwide as a biosphere reserve. This area is home to countless species of plants and animals, most of which are still unidentified.

Additionally, this tropical forest is home to several indigenous cultures  of different ethnic groups and natural parks of particular beauty and great importance. In addition, the Darien Gap serves as a natural barrier against the spread of different types of diseases.

Unfortunately, this area has also become a place of permanent social conflict. This is mainly due to the presence of guerrillas and paramilitaries, as well as human and drug trafficking, with regard to the Colombian sector.

Various aspects of the journey

The Pan-American Highway runs through all kinds of ecological systems and climates, from dense jungles to frozen mountains. Hence, its route is so irregular and traveling through it in some sectors represents a high risk.

The route that connects Alaska, in the United States, with Yaviza, in Panama, is also known as the Inter-American Highway. One of the most traveled stretches, especially by tourists, is between the United States and Mexico.

The highway also crosses the mountain systems of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, the Peruvian coast and the Chilean desert. Countries such as Paraguay , Uruguay, Bolivia and Brazil are connected to the Pan-American Highway through its ramifications.

Due to the frequent snowfalls in the southern cone, it is recommended not to travel this road from May to August. Similarly, it is suggested to avoid traveling from November to March in the northern part of the continent.

Some history on this road

Some historians agree that the idea of ​​a road connecting large areas of America is not new. During the pre-Columbian period, the Inca Empire  had built a road that connected Quito and Santiago de Chile and that was more than 15,000 kilometers long.

Since the end of the 19th century, the idea of ​​unifying the American continent was in the air, in particular, at the head of the railroad owners. Legislation was even passed in support of this initiative, which in the end was frustrated.

The possibility that it was a road and not a railroad gained acceptance with the passing of time, and then it would materialize in 1923. However, many think that rather than seeking to strengthen ties between nations, the real purpose of this project was to military type.

It should be noted that the Pan-American Highway has been the subject of dispute in several countries, between governments and residents. Especially since its construction has implied having to sacrifice emblematic places or sites of particular natural importance.

The curiosities of the Pan-American highway

The highest point of the Pan-American Highway is located in the Cerro Buenavista in Costa Rica. This is a place where the land route easily exceeds 3000 meters above sea level.

The Pan-American Highway is considered the longest road in the world, or at least that’s how it is recorded in the Guinness Record. Even so, those who travel it in motor vehicles must transport their cars by sea during the journey of the Darién Gap.

It is possible to travel the Pan-American Highway in a period equivalent to three months, as long as one drives eight hours each day. In fact, it took the Englishman Dean Stott 110 days to do this tour, but by bike. In any case, the dream of uniting the three Americas in a single land route has not yet come true.