For some reason, we are drawn to places that scare us. Therefore, these attractions are the dream of every adrenaline junkie.
Devil’s Pool, Victoria Falls
When David Livingstone finally saw this gigantic wall of water in the heart of Africa, he could only name it by the most majestic name in his repertoire: Victoria Falls. The natives, however, already had a name for it. They called it Mosi-oa-tunya, the smoke that thunders. At 354 feet, it’s more than twice the height of Niagara Falls. It is the largest single sheet of water in the world, both by surface area and volume, and you can swim three feet from the cliff. Devil’s Pool is formed by an eddy where the rocks at the top of the Zambezi are waiting to be eroded. Daredevils can wander down a narrow strip of basalt to take a dip right at the edge of the falls and not usually fall to their deaths. Every year some people are swept over the edge because they misjudge the current. Still, it’s the most stunningly beautiful pool I’ve ever come across, and the vast majority of swimmers survive to agree.
Road of death, Bolivia
Some attractions may be more dangerous than beautiful, but knowing the risks makes them more enticing (explain that, Darwin!). Camino de las Yungas is the Bolivian name for the winding descent of the mountain from La Paz, the highest national capital in the world at 15,000 feet, to Coroico 4,000 feet below. The ‘Road of Death’, as tourists call it, is an actual thoroughfare in use, and an estimated 200-300 people die on it each year. It has become a hit with the thrill-seeking backpacker crowd passing through the Bolivian Andes. For 50 bolivianos (about $7) you can rent a bike and ride the 30-mile route avoiding traffic, and the 400-foot cliff is on your right. You can also choose to take the new main road. Your call.
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Of all the attractions in the United States, only one is among the seven natural wonders of the world. The Grand Canyon is grandeur as only nature can make it. The Colorado River has cut billions of years of limestone and sandstone to its present depth. Statistically, the people most likely to die are young men. Leaping off rocks to pose for photos or take shortcuts, the juvenile indiscretion can be dangerous. Millions and millions of people have been there, and only about 700 have died, so your odds are pretty good.
A trip to some of these places can be risky, but big risks bring big rewards. Sometimes you just have to go.