The Karmadon Canyon Road is said to be the scary of scaries

Okay, so picture this: Karmadon Canyon, nestled way up in Russia's North Ossetia–Alania Republic. This gorge is seriously dramatic, carved out by the Genaldon river right on the northern slopes of Mount Kazbek.

You can actually drive through it on the P299, a mellow unpaved road that’s totally doable in any car. The whole thing's about 11.2 kilometers (7 miles) long, and if you don't stop (but you'll WANT to), you can cruise it in like 40 minutes.

Now, the scenery is breathtaking. But there's a heavy vibe here, too. Back in 2002, a massive chunk of the Kolka Glacier broke off and basically wiped out a village and a film crew, killing over a hundred people. There's a memorial there now with all the names, plus this poignant sculpture of a grieving mother. It's a powerful place.

Keep an eye on the weather, though, because heavy rains can wash out the road pretty easily.