Saturday, August 24, 2013

This Just Doesn't Look Safe

The mining town of Chiatura, Georgia, surrounded by steep cliffs, is criss-crossed by a network of aging Soviet-era aerial tramways that are still in use today. In the early 20th century, after the U.S.S.R. annexed Georgia, Soviet authorities were intent on extracting the vast manganese deposits beneath Chiatura. In the 1950s, planners began work on what locals call the "Kanatnaya Doroga," or "rope road," that still connects almost every corner of the town. Today, while some of the cars have rusted away, 17 of the aging tramways remain in service.

 




 
The cars looked old and defective even in the 50s.
Can't you Russians even afford a coat of paint?
 
 

2 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

You couldn't pay me enough to ride on that.

Kal said...

Nope. The first time I heard those wires groan I would know it was over.