The Road Stops At Darien

Drivers can't go straight from North America to South America. On the Panama–Colombia border, the Pan-American Highway breaks at the Darién Gap, about 100 kilometers of roadless rainforest and swampland. The terrain and protected areas, including Darién National Park and Los Katíos National Park, make construction difficult, dangerous, and environmentally sensitive. The result is a permanent discontinuity in the highway with no drivable route across the isthmus.

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