Is the road to Mount Korek paved?
Iraq, asia
20 km
2,103 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're kicking around the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, specifically in the Erbil province, you HAVE to check out Mount Korek. This bad boy tops out at a cool 2,103m (6,899ft).
The journey up, via the Korek Mountain Road, starts in Khalifan and stretches for about 20km (12.42 miles) through the stunning Zagros Mountains. Now, the road is mostly paved, but don't get too comfy! The last few kilometers are a wild ride: unpaved, seriously steep, and with some pretty intense drop-offs. Seriously, you'll want a 4x4 for this part!
Expect about 30 hairpin turns and some seriously steep climbs. We're talking an elevation gain of 1.422 meters with an average gradient of 7.11%. Oh, and pro tip: this road is usually a no-go in the winter (December to March) thanks to heavy snowfall.
Up top, you'll find the remains of the Erbil Observatory, a relic from the '70s that got caught in the crossfire of the Iran-Iraq War. But the real prize? Unforgettable views stretching as far as the eye can see!
Road Details
- Country
- Iraq
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 20 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,103 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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