Inter-American Highway
Quick Summary
The Inter-American Highway is a segment of the larger Pan-American Highway system, stretching approximately 5,390 km (3,350 miles) from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, to Panama City. This highway network connects North and South America, with the total system spanning about 30,600 km (19,000 miles) from Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina.1
A significant exception in the Pan-American Highway's continuity is the Darién Gap, a roughly 100 km (60 miles) stretch of rainforest and marshland between Panama and Colombia. This area is home to Indigenous peoples who oppose its development, and concerns exist about facilitating illegal activities should the road be completed. Travelers typically bypass this gap by boat or plane due to the hazardous terrain and risks of violence.1
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