Take a look at this collection of the most fascinating footage captured by drones in the sky, from the most haunting to the most secretive and dangerous places on the planet.

A Psychiatric Hospital in New York

The Hudson River State Hospital was a psychiatric hospital that operated from 1873 until the early 2000s. It features High Victorian Gothic architecture and has since been marked as a National Historic Landmark. The buildings were designed by Frederick Clarke Withers in 1867.

Upon opening in 1871 as the Hudson River State Hospital for the Insane, it catered to its first 40 patients. Over time, its services became obsolete as psychiatric treatment evolved and large hospitals were no longer necessary. It fell into a state of disrepair over the years and closed down in 2003.

The Battlefield in Syria

The Syrian Civil War began in 2011 as a result of discontent with the government, with the people calling for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad. This led to an armed conflict, one which continues to rage at present and is considered the 2nd deadliest war of the 21st century.

This image shows a drone capture of Syrian tanks as they plow through a neighborhood once occupied by civilians. Currently, an end to the ongoing conflict between the Ba’athist Syrian Arab Republic and their allies and those who oppose the Syrian government seems to be still out of reach.

The Chernobyl Nuclear Meltdown

On 26 April 1986, the No. 4 nuclear reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine overheated, causing an explosion and the worst nuclear disaster in the world. A steam explosion and a subsequent fire in the open-air reactor core caused dangerous levels of radiation to be carried out by the wind.

The explosion caused the instant deaths of two nuclear plant workers, the first of many more who would pass away as time wore on, mainly from acute radiation sickness. Most of the surrounding cities were forced to evacuate and still remain empty to date, including Pripyat. Chernobyl was rated a Level 7 in terms of nuclear energy disaster, also known as the maximum severity level.

The Mystery Surrounding Area 51

Area 51 is a highly classified facility located within the compound of the Nevada Test and Training Range of the United States Air Force. This secretive spot has been under scrutiny from conspiracy theorists for decades. The clandestine nature of Area 51 and reports of strange sightings in the region have combined to make it indelibly linked with unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in the minds of the public as much as the conspiracy theorists.

Aliens and their technology are said to be tucked away behind the perimeters, and perhaps deep below the ground in Area 51. Decades of secrecy have given fire to various rumors, the most famous of which surrounded the 1946 Roswell crash which triggered speculation that aliens were piloting the aircraft. Many still insist the remains of the ship are hidden on the grounds of Area 51.

The Horrific Battle of Debaltseve

In April of 2014, Debaltseve, a city in Donetsk Oblast, came under the control of pro-Russian separatists. While Ukrainian forces were able to regain control of the city by July of the same year, separatist forces tried to recapture the city in January of 2015, leading to the Battle of Debaltseve.

Debaltseve was the location of a crucial road and railway junction, which is why whoever controlled the city was important on so many levels for both the Ukrainians and the separatists. Violence and destruction ensued, the aftermath of which can be seen in this drone image. The battle lasted until 18 February 2015.

Securing Plant Life

Planning ahead for the future is important when it comes to any aspect of our lives. Cary Fowler, a conservationist, was definitely thinking big and planning for the future when she started the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a seed bank located in Spitsbergen, Norway, several hundred miles away from the North Pole.

The vault contains a wide variety of plant seeds, all of which are duplicate samples of plant seeds contained in other gene banks in the world. These backup seed samples are meant to be used in case a severe global crisis threatens the planet’s crops. The initiative is in partnership with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and cost about $8.8 million.

One of the Best Inventions

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, an initiative started in 2008, ranked #6 on Time magazine’s list of best inventions of the year. It was also awarded the Norwegian Lightning Prize in 2009. Given the fact that the seeds inside the vault are a last resort, no-one is allowed inside.

The seeds are stored in rooms that maintain a temperature of -4 degrees Fahrenheit. They are also packaged in 3-ply foil for protection. The facility has been designed to keep out moisture that could destroy the seeds and was built at 430 feet above sea level, a precaution in case all the ice caps melt.

Nike Site W-64

During the early 1950s, conventional anti-aircraft guns were employed by countries as part of their anti-aircraft defense systems. As tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States heated up, the army suggested the use of Surface to Air Missile (SAM) defense systems and by 1953, the new missile system had been established and called Nike, after the goddess of victory.

In the 1960s, the political climate took a sudden shift, leading to changes in defense tactics. The Soviet Union began to focus more on increasing their stocks of ICBMs and moved away from long-range bombers. The US, meanwhile, decided to focus on nuclear weaponry instead and Nike was subsequently abandoned.

The Abandoned Crimean Energy Station

Located near the banks of Crimea’s Aqtas Lake lies the unfinished and abandoned Crimean Nuclear Power Station. Construction of the energy station began in the year 1976, with the town of Shcholkine constructed nearby to provide homes for the workers.

After the Chernobyl incident in 1986, which resulted in a high number of casualties, the Crimean station was given a safety inspection. As it turns out, the site was in an unsafe area, so construction was stopped and the project abandoned in 1989.

Venue for the Reaktor Festival

After the Crimean energy station was abandoned in 1989, the plant was used as the venue for KaZantip or Reaktor, an electronic music festival populated by roughly a hundred thousand “paradiZers” every year. The entrance ticket to the festival was called a “viZa” and the festivities take place for two to three weeks in August.

From 1998 to 2004, the Ministry of Fuel in Ukraine had jurisdiction over the power plant, but this was later passed over to the government of Crimea. A year later, the power plant was sold by the Crimean representation of the State Property Fund to an unnamed buyer.

The City of Homs

Prior to the advent of the Syrian Civil War, the city of Homs was a major industrial center with a population of more than 600,000, making it the 3rd largest city in Syria. It was also known for having people with diverse religions, ranging from Christians to Alawite and Sunni Muslims. With such diversity, the city is also home to numerous historic churches and mosques.

Following the violence of the Syrian Civil War, Homs was laid to waste. There was a military confrontation between the Syrian government and those who were opposed to its rule, with the city seen as a strategic position to gain control. In 2018, restoration efforts began in some parts of Homs.

A Closed Down Women’s College

Bennett College is located in Millbrook, New York and was founded in 1890. By 1907, the school had 120 students with 29 faculty members and six levels of study on offer: four years for high school and another two years for higher study. By the early 20th century, it became a full junior college and dropped the high school courses.

This drone shot show’s the college’s Halcyon Hall. Over its 90 years of operation, Bennett College served as a school for young women coming from some of the most prestigious families in the US. When co-education rose in popularity, the college struggled financially because of low enrollment. Eventually, it had to close down.

What Happens When You Fly a Drone Over China’s Forbidden City?

Trey Ratcliff decided to push boundaries when he flew his drone over the Forbidden City. During his visit to China, Ratcliff decided to be bold and daring, sending his drone up to take an aerial shot, only to discover he had sent the quadcopter into restricted (and heavily monitored) government airspace.

Before long, a female police officer approached Ratcliff and his friend, with the two ending up in a detention facility while Ratcliff’s drone was confiscated. Luckily, his footage was left intact, and after his ordeal with Chinese authorities, he was still able to share some aerial shots of The Forbidden City.

Why is it Forbidden?

The Forbidden City, located in Beijing, China, was home to the Chinese Imperial Palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Apart from serving as the Palace for 500 years, housing emperors and their families, the city was also the political and ceremonial center of China.

The Forbidden City also currently houses the Palace Museum and contains the biggest collection of ancient wooden structures anywhere in the world, making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city got its name as a reference to a time when one needed to get the emperor’s permission before entering or leaving the place.

When a Dream Becomes a Nightmare

Theme parks are a hit and miss industry based entirely on the almost impossible task of capturing and maintaining the attention of the kids who beg their families to visit such places. With a lot of parks to choose from, many go bust, despite how much work was put into them. This is what happened with Nara Dreamland. While the park was initially successful, the opening of Disneyland nearby caused its rather swift demise.

Nara Dreamland opened in 1961 under the ownership of Kunizo Matsuo. The Japanese businessman was inspired after visiting Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Nara Dreamland officially closed in 2006 after seeing a huge decline in visitors. It remained abandoned but intact for ten years before being sold and demolished.

The Abandoned Duga System

This surreal drone image shows a Duga radar system that was left in the hands of nature by the Soviets in the aftermath of the Chernobyl meltdown. The radars were part of the Soviet’s early-warning network of radar systems, serving as an over-the-horizon alarm for any incoming visitors (welcome or unwelcome).

The program was in effect from 1976 to 1989 but only two radars in the system were ever used, the first one being in eastern Siberia and the second one located by Chernobyl. The radar, also known as the Russian Woodpecker, was so powerful that it would accidentally interfere with broadcasts from other countries.

A Neo-Gothic Castle in Belgium

Chateau Miranda, also known as Chateau de Noisy, was designed in 1866 by Edward Milner for the Liedekerke-De Beaufort family. Unfortunately, Milner passed in 1884 before the castle could be completed. Construction was eventually finished in 1907, marked by the erection of the clock tower.

During World War II, parts of the castle were used by German forces, and some portions of the property were damaged by the Battle of the Bulge. Since 1991, the castle has remained abandoned because of the high costs of maintenance and lack of interested investors. By 2017, the castle was completely demolished.

The Earthquake That Caused Subsequent Disasters

On the 11th of March 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake – which would go on to be called the “Great East Japan Earthquake” – struck Japan. This event triggered a wave of disaster and damage in Okuma, including the shutdown of the active reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant. The move was made in order to prevent further destruction.

Unfortunately, the earthquake also triggered an enormous tsunami that flooded more than 200 square miles of land along the coast, including the emergency generators of the power plant. This led to three nuclear meltdowns and explosions of hydrogen-air, releasing radioactive material in Fukushima over the following days. The nuclear disaster is one of two that have been rated a Level 7 or “maximum severity,” the other being the Chernobyl accident of 1987.

A Japanese Ghost Town

Ōkuma, one of the towns located in Fukushima, Japan, was one of the casualties of the chain of disasters caused by the earthquake back in 2011. The town was completely abandoned in the aftermath of the tsunami and nuclear meltdown, but the residents were eventually allowed to return after two years.

Despite the return of its inhabitants, the 30-square-mile township would never be the same, especially since people were told they were venturing in at their own risk. In 2010, the town had a population of 11,515, a number that has dwindled to 10,700 since disaster struck. While this may not seem like much of a drop, this is mainly due to the fact that the municipality hasn’t fully taken into account the residents who have moved away.

An Alaskan Gold Dredge

The Chatanika Gold Dredge was a historic relic owned and operated under the F.E. Company from 1928 to 1958. It can be found across the road from the Chatanika Lodge and a half-dug 60-acre pond. In 1997, the site was purchased by Patricia Peirsol and Jane Haigh for preservation purposes.

In August of 2013, an accidental fire destroyed the dredge. While the fire was reported immediately, no firefighters came to put it out because it apparently fell outside the jurisdiction of the Alaska Division of Forestry and the local fire department.

Getting Close to Area 51

In 2015, Hans Faulkner went to the Nevada desert with one goal in his mind: aliens. Faulkner wanted to catch a glimpse of the ever-elusive Area 51, a place long haunted by rumors of extraterrestrials and their technology. Since the area has always been a highly classified base meant for top-secret research, no-one is allowed close to it. So, the alien rumors may never be officially confirmed or denied.

Even without any prior warning, it is quite obvious that filming is prohibited in Area 51. Not to be deterred, Faulkner used a drone to capture several images of the base. Shortly after the footage of Area 51 was released, signs were put up around the area specifically prohibiting drones from being flown anywhere near the base.

The Most Powerful Generator In The World

The High Voltage Marx Generator, also known as the Istra High Voltage Research Center, was built in the 1970s outside the town of Istra. The research center was controlled by the Moscow Power Engineering Institute. It was operated mainly by the Soviets as a testing facility for military aircraft lighting insulation.

The facility has numerous Tesla Coils within its grounds, many of which are more than 20 feet high. When combined together, these coils create what is known as a “lightning machine.” Inside the facility, there is also a nine-megawatt pulsed voltage generator and a three-megawatt capacity transformer cascade.

Not as Dormant as We Think

Originally built in 1970, the Istra High Voltage Research Center was constructed for military and testing purposes. It even once housed the Allure, a huge ovular dome that was demolished in 1985 after the roof collapsed due to the weight of snowfall. The construction supervisor on the project was also terminated, for obvious reasons.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, this fascinating facility was deemed inactive. At least on paper. In reality, the facility was still used for private-sector testing, including testing the Sukhoi Superjet 100 for lightning strike resistance back in 2011. Despite not being used as frequently as before, the place is still heavily guarded.

Desolation in Michigan

While you might think that this was the work of another nuclear meltdown, the drone image you see here (captured by John Marton) shows a structure that was merely abandoned and left in the hands of nature. Indeed, such decay has sadly become the most common décor in Detroit, Michigan. The town is home to many places that have long been abandoned, despite the history they hold.

One of the most famous abandoned spots in Detroit is the Michigan Central Station, once bustling with commuters going about their businesses. Far from its former glory, Central Station now features smashed windows and spray-painted walls, with its future uncertain as to whether it will ever be restored.

Italy’s Ghost Town

One of the most mystery-filled ghost towns in Italy is Balestrino. The medieval town is located on a hilltop and little is known about what happened in the area after a series of earthquakes led its residents to abandon the place in 1953. For now, the desolate town is only accessible via drone.

A new town with the same name can be found below the hilltop, serving as a home to hundreds of people. While they are tantalizingly close to the original town of Balestrino, no-one is allowed to climb up and explore it. While it is fenced off from the public, you can still spot several historical structures from a distance, including the Byzantine Castle of Del Carretto and some churches featuring Gothic architecture.

The Village of Gletornan

Nestled along the shores of Dunlewey Lough under the shadow of Mount Errigal lies the ruins of a small and mysterious village called Gletornan. The abandoned hamlet is hidden away by trees, and even in its heyday (from 1841 to 1911), it only boasted a population of between 30 to 55 people. While not much is known about those who originally lived there, it is believed that they moved to the other side of the lake.

There are only about a dozen houses in the village, most of which feature beautiful old stone walls. The houses are all clustered together with a beautiful view of Lough Dunlewey and Errigal at their doorsteps. The reason the residents left remains a mystery to this day.

World’s Most Dangerous Roads: Guoliang Tunnel Road – China

What could be safer than a home-made road by villagers who didn’t necessarily have the right skills for the job? The Chinese government didn’t want to build this road themselves, so it was up to the people to create the Guoliang Tunnel Road themselves.

The road is located in the Taihang Mountains, and the villagers used explosives to forge this road into the cliffs. That has resulted in one of the world’s most dangerous roads. When it rains, drivers have to beware of rocks falling on top of them and contend with extreme fog, mud, and a lack of guardrails.

99-Bend Road to Heaven – China

Although it has a great name, you wouldn’t really want to find yourself on the 99-Bend Road to Heaven if you are a driver. There are a ton of tight corners that can result in a fatal accident if you take them too quickly or get distracted by the scenery around you.

This dangerous road is found in Tianmen Mountain National Park in China, and there are actually 99 turns that will all test your driving ability. The main things drivers have to fear from this road are the sheer drops alongside the very sharp corners, especially in bad weather.

Stelvio Pass Road – Italy

One of the biggest dangers for drivers on Stelvio Pass Road in Italy is getting distracted by the views. The road takes them through the picturesque Alps mountain range, and that typically means drivers are up high.

The narrow and twisting road can be challenging for some drivers, and the risk of falling off the side and down the mountain is high. Drivers need to keep their minds focused at all times, or they face plummeting to an early grave. The difficulty can often be ramped up due to the windy conditions many drivers face while on Stelvio Pass Road.

Trollstigen – Norway

The Scandinavian country of Norway gets pretty icy at times, and that can make driving on the roads next to impossible. Throw in the fact that Trollstigen is a winding road with plenty of switchbacks and you have got yourself one of the scariest roads to drive on in the world.

If you’ve ever slid on some ice on a regular road, you’ll know the experience of losing control of your vehicle can be a daunting one. On Trollstigen, the 11 switchbacks and deep drops make this road terrifying, especially as there are estimated to be around 200 annual fatalities.

Patiopoulo-Perdikaki Road – Greece

Steep roads can be tough for drivers due to the horizon often vanishing and nothing to stare at but the sky. The Greek road of Patiopoulo-Perdikaki is fearsome due to the fact there are no guard rails along the majority of it, meaning only the brave drive along it.

That would be okay on most roads, but Patiopoulo-Perdikaki has many potholes, loose gravel, no lights at night, and sheer drops down a cliffside. What makes matters even worse is that it’s actually super busy and on any given trip along it, you’ll come across cars, motorcycles, pedestrians, and even livestock.

Fairy Meadows Way – Pakistan

While driving through the mountains, one thing that reassures many drivers is the presence of barriers to prevent them falling over the edge. Even though we don’t always need them, knowing they are there can often settle many of our nerves.

Nanga Parbat Pass, otherwise known as ‘Fairy Meadows Way,’ is one of the most dangerous highways in Pakistan. Thanks to the unstable ground and high altitude, many drivers get into trouble on this stretch of road through the mountains. There is even a six-mile ascent on an uneven and unpaved road without a single barrier to stop you falling.

Pan-American Highway – Alaska to Chile

The Pan-American Highway is the longest in the world as it runs all the way from Alaska to Chile. This road stretches over 30,000 miles and passes through 10 countries, but it’s also one of the most dangerous

. The temperatures on this road can be extreme from hot to cold plus you’ll need to keep an eye out for livestock in the middle of the highway. In wet weather sections of this road that are impassable. Another thing drivers need to be aware of is the problem of cartels, particularly when making their way through Mexico and Central America.

Commonwealth Avenue – Philippines

Traffic is a real problem for most people, but the majority of the time, it is nothing more than a minor inconvenience to us. On Commonwealth Avenue in the Philippines traffic is more than annoying, it’s the cause of many fatalities each year.

Every year there are hundreds of cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles caught up in collisions. In fact, the Philippines is a particularly dangerous country to drive through no matter where you are. Annually there are estimated to be 6,941 people who lose their lives due to road-related accidents, and Commonwealth Avenue is perhaps the worst spot there.

Ruta 5 – Chile

Driving through the desert is never easy, and Ruta 5 in Chile is one of the most difficult desert drives in the world. Ruta 5 passes through the Atacama Desert, which is one of the driest places on Earth. Drivers face strong winds, extreme boredom, and a lack of gas stations along Ruta 5.

If the boredom doesn’t catch drivers out here, the ever-changing weather might. It has been known for a blinding fog to swoop in at times, making it impossible for drivers to see where they are going. Then they simply drive off the side of the road.

Killar to Pangi Road – India

Although the Killar to Pangi Road in India is one of the world’s most dangerous, driving along it is on many people’s bucket lists. The road stretches over 70 miles and is only for people with nerves of steel.

Killar to Pangi Road is only open during the summer months because it’s so treacherous, and even then it’s still super dangerous. Drivers face sliding mud on the road, not to mention a severe lack of guardrails to stop them from tumbling over the cliff edge. The road is also isolating s if you get into trouble you’re on your own.

Bruce Highway – Australia

Long boring roads can be a real problem for drivers. Trying to keep your concentration levels up on the 1,500 km Bruce Highway is a problem for many drivers and the road accounts for 17% of Australian driving fatalities.

The biggest danger to people is the dangerous and illegal overtaking maneuvers that many of the drivers on Bruce Highway perform. You can be driving along without seeing anybody for what feels like hours then before you know it someone’s on your outside. Drivers are lulled into a false sense of security, and that’s what ends up causing the collisions.

A683 – England, UK

When you look at the A683, it doesn’t seem like it should be dangerous at all. It looks pretty normal, but the safety on the road is notoriously bad for the people who live in the area. There are higher than average road fatalities on this stretch of road through the United Kingdom.

In just the last few years alone there have been hundreds of people losing their lives because of this road. It can be especially dangerous in the dark as the road makes its way through the English countryside without many lights to guide drivers along the way.

Passage Du Gois – France

Passage Du Gois in France is one of the most temperamental roads found anywhere in the world. The problem really comes from the fact that it is so close to the water that it inevitably floods and drivers can completely lose their bearings.

The road floods twice a day with the tide and if you time it wrong you can get stranded in no man’s land in your vehicle. Countless people and cars have been swept up by the water. Arrive at the wrong time, and you’ll have to wait it out or risk losing your car to the water.

Halsema Highway – Philippines

Not only is the Halsema Highway in the Philippines poorly managed, but there are stretches of the twisty road that aren’t even level. Instead, they seem to tilt toward the cliff face below, and it’s not uncommon for a bus or two to roll over each year on the Halsema Highway.

The road cuts through the popular tourist destination of Sagada in the Philippines, which brings many people to the Halsema Highway. It is poorly maintained and is prone to suffering from landslides which all add up to make this an extremely scary and dangerous road to find yourself on.

Karakoram Highway – Pakistan to China

Nature is the biggest danger to drivers along the Karakoram Highway, which leads from Pakistan through to China. The highway reaches heights of 15,000 feet above sea level, and the surface is very rough, making it almost impossible to travel safely.

Dangers for drivers include landslides, floods, falling rocks, and the steep cliffs that suck some people off the side of the road. The road cuts through one of the most dangerous mountain regions in the world, and having an emergency here is not ideal. Despite the dangers, Karakoram Highway is sometimes called the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Federal Highway 1 – Mexico

Federal Highway 1 in Mexico can be a troublesome route for many of the drivers who end up needing to take it. One of the biggest risks for drivers is a sheer drop from the side of the road, plummeting them all the way down into the sea below.

Of course, a road with dangerous pitfalls isn’t going to be straight, and the Federal Highway 1 is a winding route that feels unpredictable. Another serious problem for many people who have driven on Federal Highway 1 is the other drivers, who seem to take pleasure in performing dangerous overtaking maneuvers.

BR-116 – Brazil

Traffic accidents are all too common in Brazil, and there are more than 35,000 people who lose their lives on Brazilian roads each year. One particular stretch of road that is a common problem for Brazilian drivers is B-116.

This road is poorly maintained, which makes it very difficult to drive along without suffering some sort of damage to your vehicle. The worst part of driving on this road is when you stop. There are bandits and violent gangs based all along this long stretch of road who are willing to do whatever it takes to steal from you.

North Yungas Road – Bolivia

North Yungas Road is known as “The Road of Death” because so many people lost their lives there. The road connects La Paz and Coroico, but despite being a connection between the two communities, it’s not an easy passage.

It’s only wide enough for one vehicle at a time and taking a wrong turn could plunge you 3,000 feet below into the Amazon Rainforest. There are reportedly over 200 hairpin turns on the North Yungas Road, and almost 300 travelers lost their lives in one year. The road has finally been closed off to vehicles and a bypass built.

The Road of Bones – Russia

Traveling through Siberia can be a challenge at any time, but coming up against the ‘Road of Bones’ can be a challenge too far for some people. Siberia can be subjected to extreme weather, and that makes this road more treacherous than others in the region.

Drivers have to contend with unpaved roads, low visibility, mud, and ice. The ice is the trickiest part of this road as it’s essential for drivers, but only lasts from December through April. Many drivers have lost their lives by plunging into the icy water below as their vehicles accidentally broke through the ice.

Taroko Gorge Road – Taiwan

Although it’s a spectacle to be seen, the Taroko Gorge Road in Taiwan is not for the faint-hearted. Taroko Gorge Road has been carved through the mountains, but it comes with a fearsome reputation. The views are spectacular along the road, but a series of narrow and blind corners puts drivers in real danger.

There are a ton of vehicles on this narrow road that are all fighting for the same space, which can lead to people going over the edge. The condition of the road is also bad due to flooding, landslides, rocks falling, and earthquakes in the region.

A726 – Scotland, UK

Although the A726 in Scotland is just seven kilometers long, it is one of the most dangerous roads in the whole of the United Kingdom. The stretch of road is renowned for several fatal head-on collisions over the years, and the people most at danger on the A726 are pedestrians and cyclists.

The problem is that the road is particularly twisty, which means cars can be all over it at certain points, especially when driving too fast. There is the added problem of people entering and leaving the highway, which makes the A726 notoriously dangerous for people to be on.

Eyre Highway – Australia

Eyre Highway in Australia is long, and that’s always dangerous. The problem is that Eyre Highway doesn’t sound like it should be a dangerous road. It is very straight, it’s well maintained, and flat, so how can it be so dangerous to people?

At one stage the road stretches on for 90 miles in one direction, and that can be so painstakingly boring that people stop looking at the monotonous road. When they take their eyes off the road is the moment when they find the one other car on the same stretch of road and inevitably crash into it.

Luxor-al-Hurghada Road – Egypt

Although most places in the world don’t have to worry too much about bandits on the roads, in Egypt that’s not the case. Luxor-al-Hurghada Road in Egypt is notoriously bad for people getting stopped when they least expect it.

There is nothing dangerous about this road as far as terrain or environment are concerned, but you can easily lose your life on it regardless. Bandits are such a problem on the road that people actually would rather drive along it without their lights on at night than get stopped. People are choosing to drive blind to avoid detection from bandits.

Pasubio, The Road of 52 Tunnels – Italy

The Italian government has actually tried to shut this road down to protect local motorists from themselves. The Road of 52 Tunnels, otherwise known as Pasubio, is found in the mountains of Italy and it has some of the best views drivers will find on any road.

The issue is the views are much more interesting than this historic route through Italy, so people often spend more time looking around than forward. There are 52 hand-carved tunnels along this stretch of road, but it’s the terrible driving conditions that tend to cost people their lives on this route through Italy.

Skippers Canyon Road – New Zealand

This road is so scary that you will need to get a permit to drive it. It’s that scary and dangerous that only people who know what they are doing are allowed on Skippers Canyon Road in New Zealand. The road is very narrow which means you’re probably going to need to backup at some point.

There are few passing places, so you might end up having to back up for 3 km before you can go back in the right direction. New Zealand is a relatively safe place to drive, but Skippers Canyon Road puts that to the test.

Nairobi-Nakuru Highway – Kenya

This highway in Kenya sees people losing their lives on it every year. The Nakuru part of the highway, in particular, is very dangerous for people due to high levels of drink driving and high levels of speeding. There are plenty of failed overtaking attempts on this road too that add to the number of accidents reported every year.

Another danger on this road is the number of pedestrians who will wander into the way of traffic, which makes it dangerous not only for drivers, but people just walking. One year 320 people actually lost their lives on this highway.

Atlantic Road – Norway

It won’t take long on Atlantic Road to figure out why it has this name. The sea will introduce itself to you pretty quickly, making you question why you started driving on this Norwegian road, to begin with.

When the storms begin to pick up the curved portion of this road gets battered by the sea and wind, making it the one place on Earth you’d rather not be. The road is so hazardous for drivers, but it was the same when it was being built during the 1980s. Construction workers were hit by windstorms as they built this road.

Zoji La Pass – India

This road is so dangerous it has to be closed off during winter months because of snowfall. Even in good weather, people struggle to stay on the road and often plummet to their demise 11,000 feet below them. The Zoji La Pass in India is a narrow dirt track that has a clear lack of any protective guardrails.

Then there is the issue of avalanches and landslides, which can often leave people stranded waiting for someone else to come along and rescue them. The road is believed to contribute to around 100,000 people losing their lives each year.

James Dalton Highway – Alaska

The James Dalton Highway that runs through Alaska is one of the world’s deadliest roads. There are so many things that can go wrong for travelers on this road it’s best to avoid it if it’s possible. The road is used a lot by truckers who can often come into trouble in the difficult terrain.

Around three-quarters of the road is not paved, which makes it incredibly tough for most vehicles to get through safely. There is poor visibility, steep climbs, extreme weather, danger of hitting wildlife, and the fear of isolation to worry about when tackling this scary road.

Sichuan-Tibet Highway – China

The Sichuan-Tibet Highway in China will test the driving skills of even the most experienced drivers. There are a ton of landslides, rockfalls, and avalanches here to contend with. All of that activity means that the terrain is next to impossible to negotiate, especially when you consider the number of switchbacks.

What’s even worse still is the fact that this highway drags on for a total of 1,330 miles of pure stress and pressure. Those who travel along the highway often succumb to travel sickness due to the twists, bumps, and altitude; contributing to many fatalities over the years.