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The Pan American Highway from Prudhoe Bay, United States, to Ushuaia, Argentina.
The Pan American Highway from Prudhoe Bay, United States, to Ushuaia, Argentina.

The Pan-American Highway (see below for its name in other Western European languages) is a network of roads nearly 48,000 kilometres (29,800 miles) in total length. A road is an identifiable route, way or path between two or more places. Except for an 87 kilometre (54 mi) rainforest gap, the road links the mainland nations of the Americas in a connected highway system. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's longest "motorable road". Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records (and in previous U

The Pan-American Highway system is mostly complete and extends from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, in North America to the lower reaches of South America. Prudhoe Bay (ˈpruːdoʊ is a Census-designated place (CDP located in North Slope Borough in the U South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Several highway termini are claimed to exist, including the cities of Puerto Montt and Quellón in Chile and Ushuaia in Argentina. Puerto Montt is a port city and commune in southern Chile, located at the northern end of the Reloncaví Sound in the Llanquihue Province, Los Lagos Quellón is a Chilean city commune and port in southern Chiloé Island, Los Lagos Region. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Ushuaia (u'swaia is the capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego and is sometimes considered to be the southernmost city in the world For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. No comprehensive route is officially defined in Canada and the United States, though several highways there are called "Pan-American". Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

The Pan-American Highway passes through many diverse climates and ecological types, from dense jungles to cold mountain passes. Since the highway passes through many countries, it is far from uniform. Some stretches of the highway are passable only during the dry season, and in many regions driving is occasionally hazardous.

Famous sections of the Pan-American Highway include the Alaska Highway and the Inter-American Highway (the section between the United States and the Panama Canal). The Alaska Highway (also known as the Alaskan Highway, Alaska-Canadian Highway, or ALCAN Highway) was constructed during World War II and connects The Inter-American Highway (IAH is the Central American section of the Pan-American Highway and spans 3400 miles (5470 km between Nuevo Laredo, Both of these sections were built during World War II as a means of supply of remote areas without danger of attack by U-boats.

Jake Silverstein, writing in 2006, described the Pan-American Highway as "a system so vast, so incomplete, and so incomprehensible it is not so much a road as it is the idea of Pan-Americanism itself…" (Silverstein, p. Pan-Americanism is a movement which through diplomatic political economic and social means seeks to create encourage and organize relationships associations and cooperation between 71).

Contents

Pan-American Highway system overview

Map of the Alaska Highway portion (in red) of the Pan-American Highway system
Map of the Alaska Highway portion (in red) of the Pan-American Highway system

The Pan-American Highway travels through 15 countries:

Important spurs also lead into Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest El Salvador ( República de El Salvador,) is a country in Central America. Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( Spanish: Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica,) is a Country in Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay ( Spanish: República del Paraguay; Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái) is one of the only Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the

For tourism purposes, the Pan-American Highway north of Central America is sometimes assumed to use the Alaska Highway and then run down the west coast of Canada and the United States, running east from San Diego, California and picking up the branch to Nogales, Arizona. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel The Alaska Highway (also known as the Alaskan Highway, Alaska-Canadian Highway, or ALCAN Highway) was constructed during World War II and connects Nogales is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States.

Darién Gap

Main article: Darién Gap

The notable stretch that keeps the highway from being completely connected is a section of land between the Panama Canal in Panama and the Colombian border called the Darién Gap, which is an 87 km (54 mile) stretch of rainforest. The Darién Gap is a large swath of undeveloped swampland and forest separating Panama ( Central America) and Colombia ( South America) The Panama Canal is a man-made Canal in Panama which joins the Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. The Darién Gap is a large swath of undeveloped swampland and forest separating Panama ( Central America) and Colombia ( South America) Rainforests are Forests characterized by high Rainfall with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750–2000 mm (68-78 inches The gap has been crossed by adventurers on bicycle, motorbike, all-terrain vehicle, and foot, dealing with jungle, swamp, insects, and other hazards. The bicycle, cycle, or bike is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV is defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires with a seat that is straddled by Jungle usually refers to a dense Forest in a hot climate such as a Tropical rainforest. A swamp is a Wetland featuring temporary or permanent inundation of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described

There are many people, groups, indigenous populations, and governments that are opposed to completing the Darién portion of the highway, with reasons as varied as the desire to protect the rain forest, containing the spread of tropical diseases, protecting the livelihood of indigenous peoples in the area, and preventing foot and mouth disease from entering North America. Foot-and-mouth disease ( FMD) or hoof-and-mouth disease ( Aphtae epizooticae) is a highly contagious and sometimes fatal viral Experience with the extension as far as Yaviza included severe deforestation within a decade alongside the highway route. Yaviza is a town in the Darién Province of Panama. The town marks the northwestern end of the Darién Gap of the Pan-American Highway

One option proposed, in a study by Bio-Pacifico, is a short ferry link from Colombia to a new ferry port in Panama, with an extension of the existing Panama highway that would complete the highway without violating these environmental concerns. The ferry would cross the Gulf of Urabá from Turbo, Colombia, to a new Panamanian port (possibly Carreto) connected to a Caribbean coast extension of the highway. The Gulf of Urabá is a gulf on the northern coast of South America. Turbó is a port town in Antioquia Department, Colombia. It is located at around. Efficient routing would probably dictate that the existing route to Yaviza be relegated to secondary road status.

Development and completion

The concept of a route from one tip of the Americas to the other was originally proposed at the First Pan-American Conference in 1889 as a railroad; however, nothing ever came of this proposal. Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The idea of the Pan-American Highway emerged at the Fifth International Conference of American States in 1923, where it was originally conceived as a single route. Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The first Pan-American highway conference convened October 5, 1925 in Buenos Aires. Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Mexico was the first Latin American country to complete its portion of the highway, in 1950. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. (Silverstein, p. 71)

Northern section of the Pan-American Highway

Main article: Pan-American Highway (North America)
1933 map of the Inter-American Highway portion of the Pan-American Highway.
1933 map of the Inter-American Highway portion of the Pan-American Highway. This article describes the Pan-American Highway 's routing in North America.

No road in the U. S. or Canada has been officially designated as the Pan-American Highway, and thus the primary road officially starts at the U.S.-Mexico border. The original route began at the border at Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas (opposite Laredo, Texas) and went south through Mexico City. Nuevo Laredo is a city located in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. Laredo ( "luh-RAID-o" in English in Spanish is the County seat of Webb County, Texas, United States Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México DF, México or simply Méjico) is the Capital city of Mexico Later branches were built to the border at Nogales, Sonora (Nogales, Arizona), Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (El Paso, Texas), Piedras Negras, Coahuila (Eagle Pass, Texas), Reynosa, Tamaulipas (Pharr, Texas), and Matamoros, Tamaulipas (Brownsville, Texas). Heroica Nogales more commonly known as Nogales is a city and its surrounding municipality on the northern border of the Mexican State of Sonora. Nogales is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. Ciudad Juárez, also known as just Juárez, is a city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua formerly known as El Paso del Norte. Piedras Negras is the name of a city as well as the name of its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of } Eagle Pass is a city in Maverick County, Texas, United States. Reynosa is a city in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It is located at, across the Rio Grande (Río Bravo from McAllen ( Hidalgo Pharr is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census the city population was 46660 Brownsville is a city in and the County seat of Cameron County, Texas, United States.

On the other hand, several roads in the U. S. were locally named after the Pan-American Highway. When the section of Interstate 35 in San Antonio, Texas was built, it was named the Pan Am Expressway, as an extension of the original route from Laredo. Interstate 35 (I-35 is a north–south Interstate highway in the central United States. Interstate 25 in Albuquerque, New Mexico has been named the Pan-American Freeway, as an extension of the route to El Paso. U.S. Route 85, which goes north from El Paso, is designated the CanAm Highway, which continues into Canada in the province of Saskatchewan, before terminating at La Ronge. US Route 85 is a north-south United States highway that runs for 1479 miles (2380 km in the Midwestern United States. Saskatchewan (səˈskætʃəwən) is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of 588276 La Ronge is a Community of about 3500 people in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, 250 km north of Prince Albert. The CANAMEX Corridor is also similarly designated throughout the western United States, and continuing into the Canadian province of Alberta. The CANAMEX corridor is a corridor linking Canada to Mexico through the United States. Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905

The original route to Laredo travels up Mexican Federal Highway 85 from Mexico City. Mexico 's Federal Highway 85 ( Carretera Federal 85) connects Mexico City with the U The various spurs follow:

From Mexico City to the border with Guatemala, the Highway follows Mexican Federal Highway 190. Federal Highway 15 is a primary north-south Highway in Mexico. Mexican Federal Highway 40, also called the "Carretera Interoceánica" (Interoceanic Highway is a road beginning at Reynosa, Tamaulipas, and This article is about the Mexican city for other uses see Monterrey (disambiguation. Victoria formally Ciudad Victoria is the capital city of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Through the Central American countries, it follows Central American Highway 1, ending at Yaviza, Panama at the edge of the Darién Gap. Yaviza is a town in the Darién Province of Panama. The town marks the northwestern end of the Darién Gap of the Pan-American Highway The Darién Gap is a large swath of undeveloped swampland and forest separating Panama ( Central America) and Colombia ( South America) The road had formerly ended at Cañita, Panama, 110 miles (178 km) north of its current end. United States government funding was particularly significant to complete a high-level bridge over the Panama Canal, during the years when the canal was administered by the United States. The Panama Canal is a man-made Canal in Panama which joins the

Southern section of the Pan-American Highway

Main article: Pan-American Highway (South America)
A Vía PanAm shield sign is sometimes found on routes in South American countries associated with the Pan-American Highway.
A Vía PanAm shield sign is sometimes found on routes in South American countries associated with the Pan-American Highway. This article describes the Pan-American Highway 's routing in South America from north to south
Sculpture of an Indian man standing at the entrance of Fusagasugá, Colombia over the PanAm Highway
Sculpture of an Indian man standing at the entrance of Fusagasugá, Colombia over the PanAm Highway

The southern part of the highway begins in northwestern Colombia, from where it follows Colombia Highway 52 to Medellín. Fusagasugá (or Fusa) is a town and municipality in the department of Cundinamarca, in central Colombia. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Medellín, officially the Municipio de Medellín (Spanish or Municipality of Medellín (English pronunciation mɛdəˈjiːn or, Spanish: or) is the second At Medellín, Colombia Highway 54 leads to Bogotá, but Colombia Highway 11 turns south for a more direct route. Bogotá —officially named Bogotá DC (DC for " Distrito Capital " which means "Capital District" formerly called Santa Fe de Bogotá Colombia Highway 72 is routed southwest from Bogotá to join Highway 11 at Murillo. Highway 11 continues all the way to the border with Ecuador.

Ecuador Highway 35 runs the whole length of that country. Ecuador Highway 35 (E-35 officially named "Troncal de la Sierra" (Highland's Road but colloquially known as "La Panamericana" is a primary highway in Ecuador Peru Highway 1 carries the Pan-American Highway all the way through Peru to the border with Chile. Peru Highway 1, most widely known as Carretera Panamericana is the most important highway in Peru.

In Chile, the highway follows Chile Highway 5 south to a point north of Santiago, where the highway splits into two parts, one of which goes through Chilean territory to Quellón on Chiloé Island, after which it continues as the Carretera Austral. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Chile Highway 5 or Route 5 known locally as Ruta 5 is Chile 's longest route Santiago ( (litteraly in spanish Saint James) is the Capital of Chile, and the center of its largest Conurbation ( Greater Santiago Quellón is a Chilean city commune and port in southern Chiloé Island, Los Lagos Region. Chiloé may refer to Chiloé Archipelago in Chile Chiloé Island the main island of the archipelago Chiloé Province The Carretera Austral (in English Southern Highway also known as Carretera Presidente Pinochet (President Pinochet Highway is the name given to Chile 's Route 7 The other part goes east along Chile Highway 60, which becomes Argentina National Route 7 at the Argentinian border and continues to Buenos Aires, the end of the main highway. Acceso Oeste km 17jpg|thumb|300px|Highway 7 west of Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern [1] The highway network also continues south of Buenos Aires along Argentina National Route 3 towards the city of Ushuaia and Cape Horn. Ruta Nacional 3 ("National Route 3" is an Argentine Highway, stretching from the eastern side of the country in Buenos Aires, crossing the Cabo de Hornos redirects here for the Chilean commune see Cabo de Hornos Chile.

One branch, known as the Simón Bolívar Highway, runs from Bogotá (Colombia) to Guiria (Venezuela). Bogotá —officially named Bogotá DC (DC for " Distrito Capital " which means "Capital District" formerly called Santa Fe de Bogotá It begins by using Colombia Highway 71 all the way to the border with Venezuela. From there it uses Venezuela Highway 1 to Caracas and Venezuela Highway 9 to its end at Guiria. Caracas (kaˈɾakas is the Capital and largest city of Venezuela.

A continuation of the Pan-American Highway to the Brazilian cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro uses a ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia in Uruguay and Uruguay Highway 1 to Montevideo. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld São Paulo ( is the largest city in Brazil, with its metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world Rio de Janeiro ("River of January" ˈhiw dʒi ʒʌˈnejɾu in Brazilian Portuguese, /ˈriːoʊ di ʒəˈnɛroʊ/ in English is the second largest city of Brazil Colonia del Sacramento (formerly the Portuguese Colônia do Sacramento) is a City in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America Montevideo (monteβi'ðeo is the largest city the capital and chief port of Uruguay. Uruguay Highway 9 and Brazil Highway 471 route to near Pelotas, from where Brazil Highway 116 leads to Brazilian main cities. Pelotas is a Brazilian city the third most populous in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Another branch, from Buenos Aires to Asunción in Paraguay, heads out of Buenos Aires on Argentina National Route 9. Asunción (full name Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción) population 1212112 (2002 is the Capital and largest city of Paraguay. Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay ( Spanish: República del Paraguay; Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái) is one of the only National Route 9 (in Spanish Ruta Nacional 9) is a major road in Argentina, which runs from the center-east to the northwest of the country crossing the It switches to Argentina National Route 11 at Rosario, which crosses the border with Paraguay right at Asunción. Other branches probably exist across the center of South America.

The highway does not have official segments to Belize, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, nor to the assorted islands in the Caribbean region. Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Guyana (ɡaɪˈænə or /ɡiːˈɑːnə/ officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only Nation state Suriname ( Dutch: Suriname; Sranan Tongo: Sranan) officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam by French Guiana (Guyane française officially fr ''Guyane'' is an Overseas department (French département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France However, highways from Venezuela link to Brazilian Trans-Amazonian highway that provide a southwest entrance to Guyana, route to the coast, and follow a coastal route through Suriname to French Guiana. The Trans-Amazonian Highway (BR-230 was inaugurated on August 30 1972. Belize was supposedly included in the route at one time, as they switched which side of the road they drive on. As British Honduras, they were the only Central American country to drive on the left side of the road.

Names

In art and culture

The Pan-American highway is the subject of a recent (as of 2006) conceptual art piece, The School of Panamerican Unrest, where Mexican-born artist Pablo Helguera is attempting to drive a portable schoolhouse for the length of the entire route. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The School of Panamerican Unrest (La Escuela Panamericana del Desasosiego is a Conceptual art project led by Mexican artist Pablo Helguera.

The travel writer Tim Cahill wrote a book, Road Fever, about his record-setting 24-day drive from Ushuaia in the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego to Prudhoe Bay in the U. Tim Cahill (born 1943 is a Travel writer who lives in Livingston Montana, United States Ushuaia (u'swaia is the capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego and is sometimes considered to be the southernmost city in the world Tierra del Fuego (officially Provincia de Tierra del Fuego Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur) is an Argentine Province entirely separated from Prudhoe Bay (ˈpruːdoʊ is a Census-designated place (CDP located in North Slope Borough in the U S. state of Alaska with professional long-distance driver Garry Sowerby, much of their route following the Pan-American Highway. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent

Sources

References

  1. ^ On-line Encarta Encyclopedia
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