Discover some incredible engineering feats solving almost insurmountable problems for road builders.  SCARY

This section has to not only cope with winter snows and the relentless destructive forces of ice, but it also has viscous river erosions, gigantic rock slides, earthquakes and enormous rain deluges to contend.  Its founder had to abseil ropes to descend this section when he found it. 

Vegetation clings to the precipitous gorge walls, screes flow with heaving winter ice and disused sections of highway are sliding into the abyss with the relentless forces of powerful rivers uplifting by the ever present tectonic upheavals.

Otira Settlement
Rainfall 6,000 mm (234 in)  Altitude 377 m   (Meaning - “out of the sun” or “food for a journey".)   - The prevailing "Roaring Forties" winds drop their moisture as they ascend the impenetrable alpine barrier of the Southern Alps. The town housed staff building the massive sub-alpine rail tunnel and hydro power plant.