This Is Why the Americas Aren’t Still Connected by a Road
Summary
TLDRThe Pan-American Highway, stretching 19,000 miles across North and South America, is the world's longest highway but is interrupted by the perilous Darien Gap. This 60-mile stretch between Panama and Colombia is a formidable barrier, traversed by thousands seeking a better life, facing treacherous terrain, wildlife, and human predators. Despite its dangers, the Gap remains unbridged due to environmental concerns, political tensions, and the illegal nature of many crossings. The video explores the history, challenges, and future prospects of this daunting natural and man-made divide.
Takeaways
- 🌉 The Pan-American Highway is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the longest highway in the world, spanning approximately 19,000 miles across North and South America.
- 🚧 The highway does not connect North and South America due to a break in the road known as the Darién Gap, located between Panama and Colombia.
- 🗺️ The idea for the Pan-American Highway originated in 1937 with an agreement among Canada, the US, and 12 Latin American countries to build a continuous road from Alaska to Patagonia.
- 🌳 The Darién Gap, covering 60 miles of dense rainforests, swamps, and mountains, is considered one of the most dangerous routes in the world for travelers.
- 🌍 In recent years, the Gap has become a perilous 'super highway' for migrants attempting to reach the US, with over 520,000 people crossing it in 2023 alone.
- 💸 The cost of crossing the Gap varies widely, from approximately $300 for the cheapest, most physically demanding route to over $11,000 for a boat trip.
- 🐍 The Gap is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including the bushmaster, the largest venomous snake in the world, and other dangerous species.
- 🏞️ Environmental concerns, including the impact on wildlife and indigenous peoples, have been a significant factor in halting the construction of a road through the Gap.
- 🛣️ Political tensions, changing economic priorities, and the rise of other transportation methods have diminished the motivation to complete the highway.
- 🌎 Despite the challenges, the potential for a rail connection is discussed as a possible alternative to a road, although it currently lacks political and public support.
Q & A
What is the Pan-American Highway?
-The Pan-American Highway is a network of roads stretching across both the North and South American continents, spanning a total of 19,000 miles. According to Guinness World Records, it is the longest highway in the world.
Does the Pan-American Highway fully connect North and South America?
-No, there is a section called the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia where the road stops. This area has no official roads and is one of the most dangerous and difficult routes to cross.
Why wasn’t the Pan-American Highway completed in the Darien Gap?
-The road wasn’t completed due to engineering challenges, including dense rainforests, swamps, steep mountains, unstable soils, and rivers. Additionally, environmental concerns and political opposition halted construction efforts in the 1970s.
What makes crossing the Darien Gap so dangerous?
-The Darien Gap presents numerous dangers such as thick jungle, mudslides, rapid rivers, venomous wildlife, and criminal organizations. Migrants often face dehydration, disease, and attacks from predators or criminals as they traverse the difficult terrain.
How many people crossed the Darien Gap in 2023, and how is this number changing?
-In 2023, around 520,000 people crossed the Darien Gap on their way to the United States, which is more than double the number from the previous year. This figure is expected to increase to over 800,000 in 2024.
Why haven’t governments built a road through the Darien Gap to make migration safer?
-Governments have avoided building a road through the Darien Gap due to environmental concerns, opposition from local tribes, and the political desire to deter illegal migration. Additionally, constructing the road would be costly and difficult.
What are some of the main dangers posed by wildlife in the Darien Gap?
-The Darien Gap is home to dangerous wildlife such as venomous snakes like the bushmaster and coral snakes, venomous frogs and spiders, as well as large predators like jaguars and pumas. These animals can pose serious threats to travelers.
What role do criminal organizations play in the Darien Gap?
-Criminal organizations control the migration route through the Darien Gap, extorting money from migrants and engaging in thefts, assaults, and smuggling operations. These criminals exploit the migrants’ vulnerability in this lawless region.
Why did some environmentalists and health experts oppose building the highway through the Darien Gap?
-Environmentalists opposed building the highway due to concerns about deforestation and damage to the region's biodiversity, which is one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet. Health experts also raised concerns about the spread of hoof and mouth disease through livestock movement.
How do migrants typically navigate the Darien Gap without roads?
-Migrants usually trek through the Darien Gap on foot, often hiring guides or smugglers for assistance. Some opt to travel by boat, but this can be costly. The journey takes about 10 days and involves navigating through dense jungle, rivers, and mountains.
Outlines
🌎 The Pan-American Highway: A Journey Across Continents
The Pan-American Highway is the world's longest highway, spanning 19,000 miles across North and South America. Despite its impressive length, it does not connect the two continents due to a break in the road known as the Darién Gap. This gap, located between Panama and Colombia, is a treacherous route through dense rainforests, swamps, and mountains, and is considered one of the most dangerous in the world. The highway was conceived in 1937 as a symbol of unity and economic opportunity, aiming to facilitate trade and travel between North and South America. However, the dream of a continuous road was never fully realized due to the challenges posed by the Darién Gap. Today, the gap has become a perilous path for migrants seeking to reach the United States, with many risking their lives to traverse this undeveloped and inhospitable terrain.
🐍 The Darién Gap: A Dangerous Passage for Migrants
The Darién Gap is not only a geographical barrier but also a dangerous passage for migrants attempting to reach North America. In 2023, it was reported that 520,000 people crossed the gap, a number that is expected to rise. The journey is fraught with hazards, including navigating through jungles, wading through rivers, and climbing steep slopes. The cost of hiring a guide can be prohibitive, with the cheapest option costing around $300 per person. The environment is harsh, with constant rain, high temperatures, and humidity exacerbating the challenges. The region is also home to numerous venomous species, such as the bushmaster snake, and large predators like jaguars, which pose significant threats to those who dare to cross. Despite the risks, the number of migrants using this route continues to grow, highlighting the desperation and determination to reach a better life.
🚧 The Unfinished Road: Challenges and Controversies
The construction of a continuous road through the Darién Gap has been a contentious issue for decades. The 1970s saw a major attempt to bridge the gap, but it was halted due to environmental concerns, potential impacts on indigenous peoples, and the spread of diseases. The political climate and changing international relations also played a role in the decision to halt construction. The gap serves as a natural barrier, preventing illegal entry into Panama and being seen as a route for illegal substances by the US. Environmentalists and local tribes oppose any development in the area due to its unique biodiversity. While some argue that a road or rail connection could boost the economy through ecotourism and agriculture, the project lacks political and popular support. The economic incentives for building the road have diminished over time, and the focus has shifted to other forms of transportation and trade.
🚴♂️ Crossing the Darién Gap: A Cyclist's Tale
The story of Liam Garner, a cyclist who attempted to ride from Alaska to Argentina, illustrates the challenges of crossing the Darién Gap. Despite the gap being impassable by land, Garner managed to complete his journey by flying over the gap, as it is not feasible to traverse by bicycle. His experience underscores the difficulty and danger of the Darién Gap, even for the most determined and adventurous travelers. The narrative serves as a testament to the gap's reputation as an obstacle that even the most intrepid explorers must circumvent.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Pan-American Highway
💡Darién Gap
💡Migration
💡Environmental Disaster
💡Indigenous Peoples
💡Smuggler
💡Ecotourism
💡Coyotes
💡Endemic Species
💡Infrastructure
💡Criminal Organizations
Highlights
The Pan-American Highway is the longest highway in the world, stretching 19,000 miles across North and South America.
The highway does not connect North and South America due to a section known as the Darién Gap, where the road stops.
The Pan-American Highway was conceived in 1937 with an agreement to build a continuous road from Alaska to Patagonia.
The highway's original goal was to facilitate trade and promote peace and friendship between the American continents.
The Darién Gap, located between Panama and Colombia, is a 60-mile stretch considered one of the world's most dangerous routes.
In 2023, over 520,000 people crossed the Darién Gap, more than double the number from the previous year.
The journey through the Darién Gap involves navigating dense rainforests, swamps, and steep mountains without a road.
Travelers through the Darién Gap face extreme conditions, including high humidity, heat, and the risk of landslides and floods.
The region is home to many venomous species, such as the bushmaster, the largest venomous snake in the world.
Large predators like jaguars, oselots, and pumas are known to attack humans in the area.
The Darién Gap is also a major route for illegal migration and is controlled by criminal organizations.
Despite the dangers, no road has been built in the Darién Gap due to environmental concerns and political issues.
The construction of the highway was halted in the 1970s due to environmental and health concerns.
The Darién Gap remains a significant barrier to illegal entry and a symbol of strained international relations.
In 2024, there were plans to build a bridge in the Darién Gap, funded possibly by China, to address the migration situation.
The bridge construction aims to change the dynamics of migration and potentially reduce the risks associated with crossing.
Despite the challenges, adventurer Liam Garner successfully cycled from Alaska to Argentina, avoiding the Darién Gap by flying.
Transcripts
this is the Pan-American Highway a
network of Roads stretching across both
American continents for a whole 19,000
mies according to the Guinness World
Records the Pan-American Highway is the
longest highway in the world it runs
through all of North America and all of
South America and no it doesn't connect
them together there's a section where
the road stops and it's not because the
road workers decided to take a coffee
break and then forget where they left
off by the way speaking of coffee don't
go anywhere I'll be right back
just an unobtrusive reminder not to
forget to hit the like button at the end
of the video so the Pan-American Highway
where did it all start naturally with an
agreement in 1937 Canada the US and 12
Latin American countries signed the
convention on the Pan-American Highway
committing to build their sections of
the road from Alaska to Patagonia the
goal was to realize the dream of UN uped
vehicle movement between both continents
the dream in turn was born from optimism
and friendly relations and American
companies wanted to boost sales through
South American markets they wanted to
sell cars tires and Roads basically
building the highway was the perfect
option it was supposed to be like an
international Corridor and the countries
connected by the highway would live in
peace and friendship maybe happily ever
after and although the highway was
indeed built none of this happened the
dream collapsed on the border between
Panama and Colombia in the Daran Gap
where the land was never cleared and
paved today Panama and Colombia are the
only neighboring countries on the planet
that don't have even the most basic kind
of Road Connection in the Darian Gap
there are no official roads so traveling
through it's considered one of the most
dangerous routes in the world Far From
Any settlements through dense
rainforests swamps and steep mountains
without a road and this place is the
only land route connecting Central and
South America the length of the route
through the Darion Gap is 60 Mi through
mountains forests and swamps I don't see
anything surprising in the fact that for
centuries the Darian Gap was considered
almost impassible both potential
colonizers and ordinary explorers who
ventured there usually just died from
Hunger or thirst and if they managed to
avoid such a death they would fall
victim to animal attacks drown in
rapidly Rising rivers or simply get lost
forever in the jungle all these dangers
still exist but in recent years the
Darion Gap has turned into a super
highway for people only there still
aren't any roads
here people who risk their lives are
trying to get to the US where they hope
to find safety and work and when I call
the route a super highway I'm not
exaggerating in 2023 520,000 people
crossed the Daran gap on their way to
the United States that numbers more than
double the number recorded the year
before 10 years ago only about 100 to
200 brave souls dared to take take this
route each year and it's expected that
the number of people risking their lives
to cross the Daran Gap will increase
it's quite possible that over 800,000
people may already pass through the
Darian Gap in 2024 all these people for
10 days and sometimes even longer are
forced to Trek through jungles Wade
through mud rivers and constantly climb
up Mountain slopes to get through the
jungle you can hire a guide but it costs
money there are many ways the most
exhausting route the cheapest one right
now cost about $300 per person and
you'll have to cross the jungle on foot
a boat trip along the coast might cost
more than $11,000 however those who
manage to cross the Daran Gap say that
it's just impossible to get through this
stretch of land without the help of a
Smuggler or guide the path is strewn
with rocks and covered with vines plus
it often crosses streams but even
without the stream it's still really
moist these are jungles after all the
hills are slippery with mud and so steep
that people often don't walk as much as
crawl on all fours grabbing onto Twisted
roots on Mountain sections everything
gets even harder and you often have to
climb steep rocks risking falling and
dying it's good if there's a rope to
hold on to but sometimes there isn't and
this is the clothing and gear that
people throw away along the way to
lighten their backpacks because moving
from one place to another means carrying
stuff with them but often the choice is
between keeping your stuff and keeping
your life the less you carry the easier
it is to overcome the obstacles the
Environ ment throws at you it represents
a serious problem the Daran Gap is one
of the wetest regions in the world and
frequent rains can cause land slides in
mountainous areas the Daran Gap is
located near the equator so temperatures
there can reach 95° f plus there's the
humidity from the rain plus there's
humidity from two oceans at once and
this humidity makes constant thirst and
hunger even worse don't forget about
rivers that cause sudden floods and even
if nothing like that happens you still
have to cross them people have to deal
with strong currents that sweep away
anyone who slips and people drown in the
muddy water on top of that there's the
rainy season which goes from late April
to December you'd think there couldn't
be any more water but if people don't
like dense forests with high humidity
animals are just thrilled by these
conditions these forests in Central
America are home to many different kinds
of venomous snakes insects and plants
for example only in the Daran Gap you
can find the bushmaster the largest
venomous snake in the world it can grow
up to 10 ft and weigh almost 20 lb the
bushmaster is often called the deadliest
snake on the planet though it's unclear
how true this is Bush Masters are poorly
studied besides them there are a lot of
coral snakes here they're also very
dangerous and can kill a person within a
few hours there are also many frogs and
toads and they're often deadly within a
few hours after contact spiders there's
plenty of them here too and some are
deadly venomous and don't forget the
Scorpions centipedes and all kinds kind
of bugs you definitely don't want to
mess with but they won't ask your
permission after all it's their jungle
the fiercest Predators Jaguars oselot
and pumas won't hesitate to attack if
they feel like it what's more their
paths cross with humans way too often
for example people are stepping over
Jaguar tracks crocodiles yeah there are
crocodiles here too it's not a jungle
it's an endless fight for
survival naturally in these wild areas
there's absolutely no infrastructure
roads buildings water supply or any
amenities people sleep in tents they set
up themselves and the only water is
bottled sold at rest stops and much more
expensive than it would be in a regular
store everything else you need to bring
with you including food and Medicine you
may object for I've mentioned Rivers
sure but the water in them is so dirty
that without filtering it's just
dangerous to drink and of course
Ordinary People don't have the right
filters besides having to constantly
make sure you don't die you have to deal
with injuries bruises Cuts animal bites
and broken B B are common high humidity
and the daily heat combined with a lack
of clean drinking water leave many
severely dehydrated there are also
diseases transmitted by blood sucking
bugs as well as fungal infections and
many others including typhus for example
there are times when diseases can't even
be diagnosed they simply last for months
bringing people pain but that's still
not all the route and basically the
entire path that people use to migrate
from South America to North America is
controlled by criminal organ
organizations they make millions if not
billions of dollars from it extortion
thefts assaults people do all this to
other people because they know they are
completely defenseless even Jaguars act
more humanely in the end not all of the
hundreds of thousands of migrants make
it through the dangerous stretch without
a road in the elal de Santa Maria
Cemetery in a village in eastern Panama
which can only be reached by river a new
melum was recently installed donated by
the Red Cross in March 23 the modest
concrete structure contains 100 niches
for human remains every year the
authorities in Panama pull dozens of
bodies out of the Jungle but that's only
the ones they managed to find far more
people are swallowed up by Nature from
time to time the public hears about
deaths for example more than 60 migrants
lost their lives trying to cross the
border in the first half of 2023
officials state that the real figure is
probably much higher recently in July
2024 10 people drowned in the Daran Gap
while attempting to cross the river that
had spilled over its banks so the
inevitable question is if so many people
keep passing through this area
endangering their lives why not build a
road here it would save hundreds of
lives to answer this question we need to
go back to the history of the
Pan-American highways creation when the
road reached the Daran gap an
engineering problem arose steep
mountains constant seasonal rains
inaccessibility unstable soils hundreds
of rivers and streams and and also the
ATR River Basin which was called a swamp
due to the lack of any Solid Ground it
was simply impossible to build a bridge
there imagine all the hardships and
dangers people face today construction
workers would go through the same thing
and they'd have to work under such
conditions and yes it's probably
possible to find a solution especially
today in the age of Technology when
money and desire make it possible to
build anything and anywhere however the
road is still not there because it's not
just about landscape issues spiders and
Jaguars the last major attempt to build
a continuous Road through the Daran Gap
was made in the 1970s when the US
offered to cover 2/3 of the projects
caused and by 1975 the US was sued the
highway had become an environmental
disaster for wildlife and Indigenous
peoples living in the jungle relations
between countries began to sour
environmentalists worried about
deforestation and health experts who
sounded the alarm over the spread of
hoof and mouth disease voiced their
objections the construction of the
highway was frozen for almost two
decades by 1992 the political climate
got better and it would have been
possible to go back to construction but
no one really wanted to be friendly with
the neighbors anymore people began
putting up fences rather than roads
sedarian gap for Panama became such a
natural barrier that it stops illegal
entry into the country on the other hand
the US saw the highway as a route for
moving illegal substances and South
America especially Argentina highways
came to be seen as a tool of American
imperialism so the road remained
unfinished and today they won't finish
it even for the sake of hundreds of
thousands of people who are forced to
risk their lives making their way
through the jungle all because these
people are Crossing Borders illegally
and therefore governments are actually
trying to stop them build a road to make
their Journey easier no one's going to
do that besides environmentalists and
local tribes are still against it the
Daran Gap is one of the most
biologically diverse places on the
planet with every fifth species being
endemic to this region so what's the
point of having a highway here in case
you're wondering why people choose this
path it's a complicated subject that
would take more than a single video to
cover so I won't dive into it but since
we're talking about migration it's
important to mention its reasons mainly
it's the social and economic conditions
in the region that keep getting worse
people suffer from organized crime
political instability and the
consequences of frequent natural
disasters all this forces them to leave
their homes in search of a better life
and the Darian Gap is unfortunately the
only existing route all the others are
closed off by the authorities but what
about the prospects for the highway
maybe someday in the future while the
Colombian government might have been or
might still be open to the idea of a
road or other means of Transit through
the dangerous area but the Panamanian
government is not thrilled about it at
the same time many locals today are
saying that the connection with Colombia
will benefit the economy through
ecotourism and agriculture well they're
actually talking about the rail way
connection it seems like it'll be more
gentle on the environment but it's a
project without support from politicians
and Broad segments of the population so
I wouldn't expect trains anytime soon
moreover the economic reasons for
building the road are now much fewer
than before if they even exist at all
this is because most InterContinental
trade with South America is carried out
by C and switching to Cargo transport
would hardly offer any benefit so it
seems pretty unlikely that they'll
finish the highway
how about the
bridge in April of this year there was
unexpected news in Panama at one of the
most dangerous border crossings for
migrants in the world they plan to build
a huge Bridge the structur is being
built in yava located in the rukako
river the point where Central and South
America split this is where the
Pan-American Highway ends from the North
American side it's believed that the
migration situation might change with
the construction of a new bridge but no
one understand who actually decided to
build it funding sources are also
unclear although one version suggests
it's China it would seem what does China
have to do with any of this but it's
this country that's involved in such
projects all over the world and in
recent years a lot of Chinese people
have been passing through the Darian Gap
I'm serious According to some data in
2023 Panamanian authorities counted
15,000 Chinese citizens in the country
which is almost eight times more than in
2022 and 40 times more than in 2021
moreover from January to September 2023
US border agents detained over 22,000
Chinese citizens trying to enter the
country from Mexico and now they're
planning to build a bridge fences don't
help the newly installed barbed wire
fence in the Daran Gap couldn't stop
people from crossing the border between
Columbia and Panama on their way to the
us nearly 3 Mi of barbed wire turned out
to be useless videos posted online show
that people are still apparently using
the crossing just finding a way to get
through or bypass the wire barrier
actually with all the other dangers on
the route the wire is hardly an
obstacle illegal
coyotes while the authorities are trying
to stop people North American coyotes
are already ready to expand their range
to a new continent this North American
animal has already reached the Darion
Gap if the coyote manages to get past it
it'll become a new chapter in The
evolutionary history of the last 50
years the thing is over this time
coyotes have spread so much that all
that's left is to grab some popcorn and
Watch What Happens
Next cycling from Alaska to
Argentina on August 1st 20121 Liam
Garner from California strapped a tent
and sleeping bag to his mountain bike
and headed south he decided he would
bike all the way from Alaska to
Argentina and on January 10th 2023
Garner finally reached his destination
usua the guy rode about 20,000 miles
through 14 countries over 527 days like
you I'm also curious how did he get
across the Darian Gap this area is
obviously not for bikes and here's what
Garner himself says you can either take
a boat or fly across there's no Crossing
by land I chose to fly because it was
much cheaper than sailing across pretty
slick of them looking forward to getting
a like from you see you later
[Music]
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