Roads That Have Become National Symbols
A road is not only a way to get from one point to another. The road is always an adventure and always a challenge. You never know what you can expect and how the journey will go, even if you have traveled to these places thousands of times.
The road is always a place for something unknown and interesting. And many roads in the world are much more than just transportation arteries. Some serve as a part of history, some as a symbol of an era or building, some roads were built against all odds, and some will never be seen by man again. Researching the development of transportation systems from the beginning to the present is a great topic for engineers and historians to delve into with the help of various services such as payforessay.net, where you can pick up a topic and find many interesting facts.
Next, we will talk about a few roads worldwide that have become real symbols and testimonies of human perseverance and sacrifice.
Route 66, USA
Highway 66, known as the "Main Street of America," is also called the main road or the mother road. It is not just a highway; it is a symbol of all of free America, and for many people, it has an iconic status. Route 66 opened in 1926 and connected Chicago to Los Angeles, passing through eight states and virtually the entire country from west to east. For over 50 years, it served as the most important highway for automobile travel in the United States. Especially during the Great Depression years, as people migrated westward in search of work, the highway became a symbol of hope.
Route 66 became an iconic symbol in the 1950s. It was an important route for many migrants heading to California for a better life. In the mid-50s, its key importance as a major highway began to fade as different states began to build better and faster routes. In 1985, the highway was removed from the U.S. highway system. However, anyone can get a taste of that freedom by visiting the many tourist areas open along Route 66 and seeing what the main highway looked like when the United States automobile culture was at its peak.
Karakoram Highway, China
The Karakum Road, or Karakum Highway, is a highway that defies the laws of physics and sometimes even common sense. Today, it is the highest international road in the world, connecting China and Pakistan in the Himalayan Mountains. Construction of the highway began in 1966 and was completed in 1979. During this time, 1300 kilometers of highways were laid in the most extreme conditions. And it was done at a huge cost. Numerous landslides and rock falls during the construction period claimed the lives of more than 800 people.
The Karakoram Highway has become a trade route and a point of interest for many extreme athletes. Precipices and dangerous sections surround the road for almost the entire route, which poses a risk of rock falls. After a landslide in January 2010, which blocked the riverbed of the Hunza River, part of the road was flooded, resulting in the formation of Lake Attabad, which swallowed about 20 kilometers of the highway. Over time, a bypass route was added along the shore, and the road connection was resumed in 2015.
Great Ocean Road, Australia
By modern standards, the Great Ocean Road in Australia is not long at all, merely 243 kilometers. It runs along the southern coast of the state of Victoria. Construction on the Great Ocean Road began on September 19, 1919 - practically immediately after the veterans returned to the continent following the First World War. They participated in the construction. This road was conceived as a memorial to the war dead.
This great construction was stretched for decades and was finished only in 1932. The whole thing is that almost no machinery was used during the building, and all the work was carried out by hand by a team of builders of about 3 thousand people. One feature of this route is the unique natural landscapes, such as the limestone rocks of the Twelve Apostles. The Great Ocean Road was worth visiting to enjoy the unique beauty of Australian nature and witness human hard effort and persistence.
The Great Silk Road, Central Asia
The Great Silk Road is no less famous than the iconic Route 66. This historic trade route through Central Asia has existed since ancient times. Its routes connected East and West, and it was a true road between two different worlds and cultures. There is probably no more significant road in mankind's history. This road directly influenced the development of human civilization.
Important inventions such as gunpowder, paper, and navigational compasses spread through it and greatly impacted European development. Today, the Silk Road is seen as a symbol of globalization and cultural exchange. Many historical sites along the route have become UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Ruta 40, Argentina
Ruta 40 is another iconic road that has made history in South America. It is as legendary as Highway 66 or the Trans-Canada Highway. It is 5194 kilometers long and is the longest highway in South America and one of the longest roads in the world. The highway runs from north to south, crossing 11 provinces and over 20 national parks. Ruta 40 unites regions with different climatic conditions and cultural traditions, representing a kind of "backbone" of Argentina. This route attracts local and international travelers seeking to see the country's natural and cultural contrasts. Conquering the entire route is considered a real achievement among travelers.
Conclusion
Not only are highways corridors of travel, but they can also mean pride, culture, and history. Highways join people across space and time through their legacy, culture, and spirit of the nation. These roads continue to inspire travelers and residents today and connect the past to the future.
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