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Top Ten Strangest Places To Drive in the World
1.The Magic Hill, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland
Experience the feeling of rolling up a hill….In the wild and windswept landscape of Dundalk it seems anything is possible, even rolling up a hill!
The Science: The upward slope of the hill is an optical illusion, but it is entirely convincing. Although you feel like you’re rolling upwards, the hill is in fact completely ordinary and the effect is all in the mind. Disappointing we know, but a must-do weird driving experience.
Directions: If driving from the town of Dundalk, take the R173 route to Carlingford for 6 to 7 miles. Take a left turn at the petrol station and continue until you come to the T-junction. Turn right and then take a swift left turn. You’ll find that you are now in an uphill position. From here, drive to the top of the hill and then down the other side until you come to a hut at the side of the road. Stop the car here and let the brakes off. You’ll find yourself going back up the hill!
2. The Road To Nowhere, Swainy County, North Dakota, USA
Experience the feeling of going nowhere fast…Swainy County USA invites you to follow the road to nowhere.
The Science: It was the 1940s and World War II was in full swing. While Swain and Graham County’s finest were fighting for their country abroad, the US government and Tennessee Valley authority were hatching a plan to build a hydroelectric power dam, which would flood 11,000 acres of North Carolina Land. Authorities, leaving 1300 families with no place to live, bought up almost 68,000 acres of local land. At the time, the government promised to reimburse Swain County for Highway 288 and to build a road, which would give access to 28 cemeteries. Only 6 six miles of road was ever completed, with the remaining 26 miles left unfinished. The evicted families are still awaiting a road to their ancestral cemeteries.
Directions: Follow the Bryson City Exit from US 74 and drive downhill. At the first red light take a right. Take a left turn at the second red light and continue on straight at the third red light. Cross the railway tracks and head straight up the hill to Swain County High School. Drive for a further one to two miles past Swain County High School and you’ll see a sign on the left hand side for The Road To Nowhere. Make sure to bring a camera!
3. Hell, Michigan, USA
Experience Hell on Earth…Go to Hell…this Michigan town has given rise to bumper stickers galore, but forget about pointy pitchforks, fire and brimstone, we’re driving through Hell, Michigan, USA.
The Science: Hell was founded in 1838 by a Mr George Reeves, who set up a mill and general store with his family on the banks of Hell Creek in Michigan. According to local legend, the family worked closely with locals, providing a service for farmers to grind grain. With the first ten or so bushels of grain being pumped into a moonshine industry, the town soon began to get something of a reputation for late night revelry. In 1841, authorities from the state of Michigan asked George Reeves what he planned on calling the town. He is reputed to have replied, “Call it Hell for all I care, everyone else does.”
Directions: Follow the US 23 route to exit 54. Then, take the M-36 through Hamburg and Pinckney. Upon reaching downtown Pinckney, look on your left and for the sign for Hell! Hell is situated half an hour from Ann Arbor, 45 minutes from Flint, just over an hour from Detroit and one and a half hours from Toledo.
4. Death Valley, California and Nevada, USA
Experience very slow driving -the majority of Death Valley’s narrow twisty roads were constructed in the 1930s and cannot be driven on at a high speed.
The Science: Death Valley is regarded as one of the best examples of the Basin and Range geographical phenomena. The valley experiences vast extremes in temperature. During the summer months, temperatures can reach up 54˚C and below freezing at night. The landscape was first dubbed Death Valley in 1849, by Californian Gold Rush emigrants who made perilous trips crossing it on their way to the gold fields.
Directions: If travelling from the east, in Nevada, you’ll find Route 95 runs parallel to the park from north to south, with connections at Scotty’s Junction, Beatty and Lathrop Wells. From the south, Interstate 15 also goes through Baker California on the Los Angeles to Las Vegas route. Meanwhile, State Route 127 passes from Baker to Shoshone and Death Valley Junction with connections to the park on State route 127.
click to Read Part 2
Experience the feeling of rolling up a hill….In the wild and windswept landscape of Dundalk it seems anything is possible, even rolling up a hill!
The Science: The upward slope of the hill is an optical illusion, but it is entirely convincing. Although you feel like you’re rolling upwards, the hill is in fact completely ordinary and the effect is all in the mind. Disappointing we know, but a must-do weird driving experience.
Directions: If driving from the town of Dundalk, take the R173 route to Carlingford for 6 to 7 miles. Take a left turn at the petrol station and continue until you come to the T-junction. Turn right and then take a swift left turn. You’ll find that you are now in an uphill position. From here, drive to the top of the hill and then down the other side until you come to a hut at the side of the road. Stop the car here and let the brakes off. You’ll find yourself going back up the hill!
2. The Road To Nowhere, Swainy County, North Dakota, USA
Experience the feeling of going nowhere fast…Swainy County USA invites you to follow the road to nowhere.
The Science: It was the 1940s and World War II was in full swing. While Swain and Graham County’s finest were fighting for their country abroad, the US government and Tennessee Valley authority were hatching a plan to build a hydroelectric power dam, which would flood 11,000 acres of North Carolina Land. Authorities, leaving 1300 families with no place to live, bought up almost 68,000 acres of local land. At the time, the government promised to reimburse Swain County for Highway 288 and to build a road, which would give access to 28 cemeteries. Only 6 six miles of road was ever completed, with the remaining 26 miles left unfinished. The evicted families are still awaiting a road to their ancestral cemeteries.
Directions: Follow the Bryson City Exit from US 74 and drive downhill. At the first red light take a right. Take a left turn at the second red light and continue on straight at the third red light. Cross the railway tracks and head straight up the hill to Swain County High School. Drive for a further one to two miles past Swain County High School and you’ll see a sign on the left hand side for The Road To Nowhere. Make sure to bring a camera!
3. Hell, Michigan, USA
Experience Hell on Earth…Go to Hell…this Michigan town has given rise to bumper stickers galore, but forget about pointy pitchforks, fire and brimstone, we’re driving through Hell, Michigan, USA.
The Science: Hell was founded in 1838 by a Mr George Reeves, who set up a mill and general store with his family on the banks of Hell Creek in Michigan. According to local legend, the family worked closely with locals, providing a service for farmers to grind grain. With the first ten or so bushels of grain being pumped into a moonshine industry, the town soon began to get something of a reputation for late night revelry. In 1841, authorities from the state of Michigan asked George Reeves what he planned on calling the town. He is reputed to have replied, “Call it Hell for all I care, everyone else does.”
Directions: Follow the US 23 route to exit 54. Then, take the M-36 through Hamburg and Pinckney. Upon reaching downtown Pinckney, look on your left and for the sign for Hell! Hell is situated half an hour from Ann Arbor, 45 minutes from Flint, just over an hour from Detroit and one and a half hours from Toledo.
4. Death Valley, California and Nevada, USA
Experience very slow driving -the majority of Death Valley’s narrow twisty roads were constructed in the 1930s and cannot be driven on at a high speed.
The Science: Death Valley is regarded as one of the best examples of the Basin and Range geographical phenomena. The valley experiences vast extremes in temperature. During the summer months, temperatures can reach up 54˚C and below freezing at night. The landscape was first dubbed Death Valley in 1849, by Californian Gold Rush emigrants who made perilous trips crossing it on their way to the gold fields.
Directions: If travelling from the east, in Nevada, you’ll find Route 95 runs parallel to the park from north to south, with connections at Scotty’s Junction, Beatty and Lathrop Wells. From the south, Interstate 15 also goes through Baker California on the Los Angeles to Las Vegas route. Meanwhile, State Route 127 passes from Baker to Shoshone and Death Valley Junction with connections to the park on State route 127.
click to Read Part 2
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