The Ultimate Road Trip on the Kandovan Tunnel
Iran, asia
30 km
6 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through northern Iran, right on the border of Alborz and Mazandaran provinces, and suddenly you plunge into the Kandovan Tunnel. This baby sits way up high at 2,662 meters (8,733 feet), so you know the views are gonna be epic.
The tunnel itself is just over 1.8 kilometers (1,886m) long, and wide enough for comfortable passage, but don't get any ideas about speeding! They keep it at a chill 30 km/h.
You're actually cruising on Chalus Road (Road 59), which is a major artery connecting Karaj to Chalous on the Caspian Sea. This tunnel was a game-changer, because before it existed, everyone had to grind over the Kandovan Pass. That pass tops out at almost 3,000 meters, making the tunnel a much smoother, quicker option.
They blasted the first dynamite to start construction in May 1935, and the whole thing was completed in 1939. It's a testament to engineering from back in the day!
Where is it?
The Ultimate Road Trip on the Kandovan Tunnel is located in Iran (asia). Coordinates: 33.3255, 50.7199
Road Details
- Country
- Iran
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 30 km
- Max Elevation
- 6 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 33.3255, 50.7199
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