Footage shows what it's like to cross 'Hell on Earth' Darien Gap which was believed to be impossible to travel through for centuries
Topics: Travel, Nature, History, Environment
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Getty/LUIS ACOSTA
Topics: Travel, Nature, History, Environment
Travelling the world is fun, there's no doubt about that. But some places are more difficult to navigate than others.
The Darien Gap is one of the more difficult places to walk across, with it dubbed by some as 'hell on earth'.
But where exactly is the Darien Gap?
Well, it's a geographic region connecting the American continents, stretching from Panama's Darién Province up to Colombia's Chocó Department in the north.
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The gap consists of a large watershed, dense rainforest, and mountains, with it becoming known over the years for its remote location and extremely difficult terrain.
While it has garnered a reputation for being a no-go for humans over the years, the bridge is actually the only one that connects North and South America.
As a result, the bridge has become used by both humans and animals to cross the continents.
The majority are crossing the bridge to get into the US, but is the extremely dangerous terrain actually worth it?
According to the United Nations, more than 800,000 are predicted to cross the Darien Gap this year.
More than a 50 percent increase over last year's figure, with the amount of children under five taking the bridge higher than ever.
Footage posted by DW Documentary sees many migrants attempting to take the crossing, and it's fair to say a lot of them find it pretty difficult.
Many seemed to be stuck in poverty as they desperately tried to cross the difficult terrain in the hope of a better life.
There are also a lot of drug problems that are associated with the crossing, with the Gulf Clan effectively controlling the north Colombia section.
The Atlantic reports that everyone who works on the Darien Gap must be approved by the cartel and even have to hand over part of their earnings.
There is not just one path however, with the cheaper routes often the most difficult.
The cheapest ticket to a new life comes at $300 per person - though it sees a rather difficult route that takes you through jungle.
Caitlin Dickerson, who writes in the Atlantic, experienced the journey for herself.
She penned: "Crossing the jungle can take three days or 10, depending on the weather, the weight of your bags, and pure chance. A minor injury can be catastrophic for even the fittest people. Smugglers often downplay how many days the journey will take."