“Now you see it, now you don’t” is how you can aptly describe this road, which appears quite normal, but miraculously disappears under water twice a day. And there is no magic involved in its disappearance!
Yes, such a road actually exists in France that gets completely submerged in water twice a day, while at other times it’s perfectly fit to drive on. The name of this road is Passage du Gois and it connects Gulf of Burnёf with the French island of Noirmoutier.
The high tide, occurring twice a day, completely swallows this 2.58-mile long road under 13 feet of seawater, making driving on it quite unpredictable. It becomes fit for use by vehicles only for a few hours.
This road is not a recent creation but was constructed way back in the early 1700s. By 1840, regular horseback service plied on this dangerous road. It continues to be treacherous till date.
Only recently, panels have been fixed on either side of the road to indicate whether it’s safe to cross or not. In addition, there are towers that extend much above sea level, all along the road, allowing occupants of trapped vehicles to clamber up these towers and wait for the tide to ebb. Of course, their abandoned cars usually get interred in the watery grave.
Despite these precautions, drivers do get trapped by the surging tide that envelops the road quickly. However, the authorities are aware of such contingencies and have a rescue system in place to save those trapped in the perilous waters.
So, if you’re traveling to France and need to use Passage du Gois, be quick to cross it before it disappears under the rising sea! It comes as no surprise that this road is one among the scariest roads in the world.
