The Highest Drivable Road on Earth

In the northern Region of India between Jammu Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh lies the highest drivable road on earth. The national highway 21 starts in Manali a small town surrounded by snowy mountain tops and a climate similar to the European alps. Shortly behind Manali after the first pass named Rhotang La which means pass of corpses the vegetation changes dramatically to a high dessert. Here in the rain shadow of the Himalayans the Precipitation is the same than in the Sahara. The only sources of water are the melting Snow and Glaciers in summer for the people who are living at an altitude of 3400 to 5200 Meters. The road is used by truck drivers to deliver the citizens of Leh with food and building materials. To do so the drivers are on the road for four to five days and have to face accidents and hight sickness. Leh is one of the highest permanently inhabitant cities in the world with harsh winters and dry summers. In summer all the recourses the inhabitants need is delivered by road but in winter the only way to get food and needs is coming by air. In winter the road get damaged by ice and snow and has to be repaired every summer. Mostly peons from south India doing this harsh work by hand. The smash stones or melt tear to close holes or replace the road surface. Nomads living with their cattle on hight plains of 5200 meters most of the year along the road. the climate changes heavily in the last years and the people have to face problems with their water supply. There is less snow in winter and that means less water in summer to feed the growing population up here. India has a big interest to hold this region against China and Pakistan. In the 70s China occupied a part of Ladakh named Aksai Chin and never gave it back to India. Since then the Region is under Military control.