MOST DANGEROUS ROADS in the WORLD : "DEREBAŞI BENDS"

Derebaşı Bends, one of the most dangerous roads in the world with its snaky, narrow path and little protection against a drop of hundreds of meters. This road connects the Black Sea city of Trabzon to the sleepy town of Bayburt to the south. Authorities consider introducing off-road and climbing races to draw thrill seekers to Soğanlı Mountain where the notorious route is located. At an altitude of 3,500 meters, the road is the shortest route from Trabzon, a large port city, to Bayburt, which connects part of the Black Sea region to inner regions of Turkey. Although most drivers prefer longer routes, steep rocks and 13 hairpin turns hardly discourage motorists braving the route. First built by locals doing forced labor during the Russian invasion of the region in 1914, the road has been restored occasionally, but it barely resists the forces of nature, from dense fogs and rainfall common in the Black Sea region, to landfalls and avalanches. It is closed to traffic for about six months every year due to heavy snow, but in summer, melting snow creates a scenic route for drivers as it turns into pristine water in streams straddling the slopes. Yet, if one is taken in too much by the views and drives without caution, you can end up at the bottom of the cliffs, as the road has no guardrails. Sudden, steep grades also pose a challenge for those missing road signs. Some narrow sections of the road are not wide enough for two cars, and some parts are made of gravel instead of stable asphalt.