Is Baldwin Street in New Zealand the world's steepest residential street?
Baldwin Street, located in Dunedin, in New Zealand, is often recognized as the world's steepest residential street with a gradient of 35 percent. The steepest part of the street is surfaced with concrete to prevent asphalt from melting and flowing downhill on hot days.
Where is Baldwin Street?
Baldwin Street is situated in the residential suburb of North East Valley, northeast of Dunedin's city centre, near the head of Otago Harbour on the southeast coast of the South Island.
Why is it called Baldwin Street?
The street is named after William Baldwin, who was a member of the Otago Provincial Council and founder of the Otago Guardian newspaper in 1873.
How long is Baldwin Street?
This straight and relatively short street stretches for 350 meters (1,150 feet) from North Road to Buchanan Street and is fully paved.
Is Baldwin Street the steepest street in the world?
Baldwin Street was recognized as the world's steepest residential street in 1987. Although it briefly lost this title in 2019, it was reinstated in April 2020 by Guinness World Records. A brisk walk along its 350-meter length takes about ten minutes. At its steepest, Baldwin Street has a slope of approximately 1:2.86 (35%), meaning for every 2.86 meters traveled horizontally, there's a rise in elevation of 1 meter. Over the years, Baldwin Street has attracted both tourists and thrill-seekers due to its unique and challenging incline.