The Drake Passage, a 600-mile-wide waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is known as the “world’s most dangerous strait.” Located north of the Antarctic Peninsula, this treacherous area has been responsible for around 800 shipwrecks over the years, resulting in hundreds of lives lost.
The danger of the Drake Passage means that cruise ships avoid the route whenever possible. However, it’s not just the seas that have dangerous areas. In the air, there’s a similar area that pilots also avoid: the Tibetan Plateau in China.
The Tibetan Plateau, covering more than 4,900,000 square kilometers, is one of the largest and most dangerous areas in the world to fly over. With an average altitude of about 14,800 feet, the area presents significant challenges for commercial aircraft, which typically fly between 31,000 and 42,000 feet. In an emergency, the aircraft would need to quickly descend to 10,000 feet to reach safe oxygen levels, something that is impossible over the Tibetan Plateau due to the high mountains.
In addition to the difficulty of descending to a safe altitude, the area suffers from a shortage of airports, as there are only five major airports, which further complicates a potential emergency landing.
The harsh weather conditions on the Tibetan Plateau also pose a significant risk. The region is known for its strong winds and sudden weather changes, which increases the potential for unrest.
In addition, the extremely low temperatures on the Tibetan Plateau can pose a risk of freezing jet fuel, although these temperatures are rarely reached. However, airlines prefer to avoid the possibility of exposure to such cold conditions at high altitudes.
Therefore, both the Drake Passage and the Tibetan Plateau are avoided because of the great risks they pose to ships and aircraft, respectively.
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