The abandoned old road to Krasnaya Polyana
Located in Krasnodar Krai, on the Black Sea area of Russia, the abandoned mountain road to Krasnaya Polyana is said to be one of the most dangerous roads of the country.
Set high in the Caucasus Mountains, within the Sochi national Park, the road was constructed in 1899 leading to the village of Krasnaya Polyana. It was a defiant drive through the Akhtsu gorge between Adler and Krasnaya Polyana. During the construction of the road, there was no technology for building long tunnels so the road was cut off on a steep cliff.
It was a very picturesque cliff road with zigzags and permanent rock slides. The road was not easy, with countless turns and twists. One of the road’s most dangerous sections was commonly known as “God, if only it turns out all right!”. The road was also very narrow, which did not allow oncoming cars to pass. The landscape is stunning.
The old road is today totally closed to vehicles and hikers due its hazardous characteristics. Rockfalls are frequent there, especially in windy and rainy weather. Its entrances are guarded, but extreme bikers and thrill-seekers still manage to reach it. The road is full of memorials to accident victims and even to dozens of Red Army soldiers who were executed here by the Whites during the Civil War in Russia (1917-1922). It was bypassed by a modern highway in 2005.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez
Pic: Никита Никита