The eighth wonder of light as in the impregnable mountains have built an incredible highway.

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It is called the eighth wonder of the world. Behind this shabby label is actually an outstanding engineering structure, once again proving that there are no limits to human capabilities. In just 10 years, at the cost of hundreds of lives, the builders of the two countries, which were full of opposites, did seem unthinkable: through the previously inaccessible edge, through the highest mountains of the world, on the slopes of which previously roamed only shaggy yaks, passed a real international highway, eventually climbed to a record height of 4700 meters above sea level. This story is about the strength of spirit, stunningly beautiful nature, friendship of nations and big politics.

The movement of people, civilian and military cargo in difficult mountain conditions remains relevant for Asian states such as the People's Republic of China and Pakistan. The two states share the highest mountain peaks in the world, 100 of which reach a height of 7000 meters or more.

Karakoram ("Black Rocky Placer") is a mountain system, which has been bristling with icy peaks, only slightly inferior to the Himalayas to the "Roof of the World". It is here that the terrible Chogori, or K-2, the second highest peak in the world, is located. 8611 brutal meters, much more impregnable than Everest. It could never be taken in winter, but in other seasons, every fourth daredevil, trying to conquer this ruthless mountain, perishes. The borders of China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan converge here, and until the late 1970s it was extremely difficult to penetrate even the Karakoram valleys. But in the end, this isolated but stunningly picturesque country also opened up to the world, and the games of thrones were to blame.

According to the Chinese side on the route of the Karakoram Highway built 24 bridges, 70 overpasses. The highest point of the highway is at an altitude of 5425 meters above sea level, and the lowest at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level.

More than 8000 tons of explosives, 80000 tons of cement were used during the construction, and 30 million cubic meters of rocky soil was transported. On the Chinese side, 22000 workers were involved in the construction works, while on the Pakistani side only 6000.

For the construction of the first phase of the Karakoram Highway, official Beijing has invested about $39 million and another $7 million was allocated to the Pakistani side in the form of interest-free loans.

According to Chinese sources, more than 600 people died in construction work and more than 300 were seriously injured.

Large-scale works on the whole length of the road have led to the fact that now it really looks like a modern highway with excellent asphalt, not a single-lane semi-primer with a constant risk of falling into the abyss of kilometers deep. New bridges, new tunnels were built, and on some sections the width of the highway was increased to four lanes. The unique project got a completely new meaning, but the main thing is not even in the additional billions of turnover, which brought the highway upgrade.

Karakoram Highway first of all remains one of the most beautiful roads in the world, allowing not only truckers, but also ordinary tourists, who will not be afraid to travel through the always turbulent Kashmir, enjoy a fantastic spectacle of the great mountains, and do it without leaving the cabin of his personal car. The eighth miracle of the world is in such a pleasure.

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