5 of the most unique road systems from around the world every traveller should experience at least once

Roads are normally seen as scenic routes; however, sometimes roads become an attraction themselves. Engineers across the globe have managed to cross oceans, cliffs, mountains, and even harsh environments in order to build transportation systems that appear to be unbelievable. Roads do not serve only as connections between two places; on the contrary, they represent geographical, pragmatic, and sometimes even ambitious works of mankind.
Here are five of the most unique road systems on Earth that every traveller should experience at least once.

Photo Courtesy: Visit Faroe IslandsThe Faroe Islands, an isolated archipelago located in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Norway, have become host to a road project like no other before. Constructed in 2020, the Eysturoyartunnilin tunnel is a massive 11.2 kilometers long structure that connects the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy beneath the seabed. The uniqueness of the tunnel lies in its underwater roundabout, which apparently holds the distinction of being the first such construction anywhere in the world. Situated at an impressive depth of 187 meters below sea level, the roundabout itself sits inside a massive underground chamber adorned with an impressive work of art by Faroese artist Tróndur Patursson.
The tunnel has drastically shortened travel distances in the islands but, for travellers, it offers a rather surreal experience. Driving down a well-lit roundabout located deep under the Atlantic Ocean sounds quite bizarre indeed.

Hardly any road carries an incredible story like the Guoliang Tunnel Road in Henan province in China. Before the construction of the road, people from the secluded mountain settlement of Guoliang had no choice but to get to other areas using a risky staircase carved in the rock cliffs. In the 1970s, however, the villagers of Guoliang decided that they would take matters into their own hands, quite literally. Using basic tools such as explosives, the locals managed to dig out a tunnel within five years in the Taihang Mountains. This amazing man-made tunnel runs for about 1.2 km through hard rock. The unique aspect of this tunnel is its numerous openings in the rock faces.

The Norwegian highway of Atlantic Ocean Road showcases how engineering works under some of the toughest conditions in Europe. With an overall length of about 8.3 km, the road links a number of small islands and skerries located along the west coast of Norway via a series of bridges and causeways. One of the best features of the road is the Storseisundet Bridge, known for its unique design, which gives an illusion of ending abruptly mid-air from a specific angle. In contrast to other coastal highways, this one is vulnerable to the might of the North Atlantic. The ocean waves hit the bridge and highway during heavy rains, and make for beautiful photographs and tourist attractions.

Among the many marvels found within the heights of Ladakh, there is a road that challenges the engineering capabilities of man. The Umling La built by the Indian Border Road Organization is built on a height above sea level of over 5,800 meters. (The highest motorable road in the world is Mig La Pass in Ladakh, India, which is situated at a height of 19,400 feet.) It is not an easy task to build and maintain a road at such a high altitude. Oxygen content becomes less when compared with sea level, and winter weather becomes extremely cold.

Tianmen Mountain Road, located in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, is perhaps one of the most remarkable mountain roads in the world. The road leads up to Tianmen Mountain via 99 expertly constructed twists and turns, covering a distance of around 11 kilometres. The selection of the number 99 for this road stems from the cultural value of the figure in China, which means everlasting life and heaven. The road climbs to over 1,000 metres above sea level, making it look like an endless sequence of twists when viewed from overhead. The road acts as a gateway to Tianmen Mountain, one of the most renowned sites in China.