Why There’s No Road Between North and South America

0:00So, it turns out that you can't drive between South America and North America, and there's a simple reason for that. There are no roads connecting the two continents, not even a rudimentary one. Technically, you could try your luck crossing on foot, but let me tell you, that would be a huge, huge mistake. The region that connects the two continents is called the Darian Gap. It stretches across southern Panama's Darian province and the northern part of Columbia. The only land route there is is a 60-mile jungle track. Crossing it can take anywhere from three to ten days. It depends on weather conditions, how much you're carrying, and honestly, just pure luck. Chance plays a big role here, because this isn't some chill, relaxing nature walk. It's a harsh, extreme environment, known for being completely isolated and one of the most dangerous places on Earth. Still, people seem to forget that and go there anyway.

1:00Every year, the number of people crossing just keeps growing. In 2014, fewer than 10,000 people crossed the gap. In 2023, that number increased to 520,000. Now, you might be wondering, what are so many people doing in the middle of the two America continents, risking all that danger? Well, that's because the Darian Gap has become a route for refugees migrating to North America. But, to get there, they face all kinds of dangers. From insect bites and infections to serious fractures, we're talking about a no-man's land. Since there are no police stations, immigrants must also watch out for thieves. Along the way, they have no choice but to rely on and support each other. Most people start to crossing with at least a tent or a tariff, rain boots, water, and some foods. But these things get heavy fast, and people normally can't carry enough supplies for the entire journey.

2:00At some point, people start drinking river water to avoid dehydration. But the waters full of bacteria and dirt, so it causes intestinal issues. And if things get serious, there's no medical help there. To make this whole scenario even worse, the temperatures are brutal, often hitting over 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, a small subset of people who venture through the Darian Gap are hardcore adventurers and travelers looking for a survival experience in the jungle. But this region is no place for a relaxing vacation. A group of tourists who went there in 2023 ended up getting jungle ride, a fungus that affects the feet. The situation got so bad that a woman had to be carried out by the group on the last day because she couldn't walk. No matter how prepared people are for the Darian Gap, in the end, survival mostly comes down to luck. Out there, travelers won't find cities with solid infrastructure, where they can crash at a hotel and gear up for the next day.

3:06In some spots, they might stumble across basic camps right in the jungle. These camps might offer wooden platforms for tents, bucket showers, toilets, and even plates of chicken and rice. But it all comes at a price. Wi-Fi, for example, might cost two dollars an hour. And that seems like a pretty good deal, considering there's no cell phone service on the trail. They pretty much lose all contact with the outside world. Now, picture a dense rainforest with steep muddy terrain. The hiking trail is littered with boulders and tangled with vines, like nature's own trip wires. It climbs sharply over a mountain, becoming a serious challenge even for someone in good physical shape. The area also gets constant heavy rainfall, which can lead to landslides, flash flooding, and extremely muddy conditions. The situation gets so intense that even the t-shirts and faces of those who make the crossing end up covered in mud.

4:07They'll also have to cross a lot of fast-moving rivers. A Venezuelan dad, who recently went through the area with his two kids, said their sneakers ripped apart on the very first day. That's how powerful the rivers can be. And they're deep, too. Sometimes the water reaches all the way up to their shoulders. But the dangers in that area aren't recent. For centuries, the Darian gap was thought to be impossible to cross. The first Europeans who ventured into Latin America saw it as kind of a jungle training school. They totally knew about his dangers. But still, many adventurers tried to make the crossing in the years that followed. In 1854, for example, an expedition disappeared for 49 days in the jungle, battling starvation and exhaustion. Then again, in 1870, a group of 100 men set out to cross it. Even though they were well-prepared and carried cutting-edge equipment for the time, they still suffered tremendously during the journey.

5:08They had to rely on incredible resilience to survive the challenge. Over the years, people who ventured in often ended up passing away from hunger, thirst, and even drowning in rivers. They also faced the risk of being attacked by dangerous animals, like jaguars, white-lipped pecky areas, and the fur delans, a fast, irritable snake that is one of the most venomous out there. The area is also swarming with mosquitoes, which can spread serious health problems. Leaning against trees to rest can also be risky. This jungle is full of spiked chunga palm trees, which are covered in long black spines, up to eight inches long. Unfortunately, for us, these spines are covered in all sorts of bacteria, just brush against a chunga, and you could end up with infected wounds. And yet, another danger is getting lost in the dense forest and never finding your way back to safety. These days, though, this risk is a lot lower. Some people have mentioned color-coded markers that help guide travelers and keep them from going the wrong way.

6:14If they see blue or green fabric tied to trees, it means keep walking. But if they spot red fabric, that's a sign they're going the wrong way and need to turn around quickly. Since there are so many dangers, why not just build a road through the Darian gap? Well, it might seem like a good idea. Building a road connecting Panama and Colombia isn't really that simple. The Darian gap has a humid climate, tough terrain, and constant rainfall, which means any attempt to build a functional road would be highly challenging and super-expensive. Even though there have been previous attempts to fill in the gap, seat there's a huge road system called the Pan American Highway, which stretches all the way from Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina. Nowadays, this highway hits a roadblock right at the Darian gap. But it wasn't supposed to be like this, as the original idea was for the road to go through there. Leaders from Latin American countries tried to make this plan happen in the 70s,

7:17and then again in the 90s, but a lot of people were against it, mainly because they wanted to protect the local communities and the rainforests. Since the Darian gap is mostly untouched by humans, it's one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. It's believed that one in five species are endemic to the region, meaning they only exist in that specific area, like the Darian Pocket Gofer and the Sladi Slender Mousopossum. A road would have really damaged the ecosystem in the area, so the plans were scrapped. Eventually, an alternative was created to travel by sea, at least two companies started a ferry service connecting the two countries. However, the business was unprofitable, and they ended up shutting down. Not long ago, Panama decided to close the Darian gap route, now they're sealed off with barbed wire fencing. It might just be a matter of time before other routes are created, but if you are an adventurer looking to visit South America,

8:18it's probably not best to wait for them. Traveling by plane to Colombia will always be a much safer option. That's it for today, so hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your friends, or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side.