Imagine a street so steep it’s celebrated as the steepest on Earth. Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, has earned this quirky title, and it’s not just a casual stroll.
The street stretches only 350 meters but rises dramatically from 30 meters above sea level to 100 meters at the top. Visitors often flock to experience its incline, which averages 1:5 for the lower section and escalates to a daunting gradient of 1:3.41 in the upper portion.
Interestingly, the street’s steepness was not by design. Early planners laid the roads in a grid without considering the natural terrain. It became renowned in 1987 after a campaign to have it recognized by Guinness World Records. Baldwin Street briefly lost its title to a Welsh street, but after some debate, it regained the honor in 2020 following a review about how steepness is measured.
This extreme slope has made Baldwin Street a venue for unusual events and stunts. Each year, locals participate in the Baldwin Street Gutbuster, racing from the bottom to the top and back down, a challenge that attracts hundreds of athletes. The record for this grueling ascent is just under two minutes.
However, not all attempts at navigation have been successful. In 2001, a tragic incident occurred when a student attempted to descend the street in a wheelie bin. The stunt resulted in a collision with a parked vehicle, leading to one fatality and serious injuries for the other student involved.
Despite the dangers, Baldwin Street continues to attract thrill-seekers and tourists, eager to experience its notorious incline. It remains a unique blend of beauty and peril, drawing visitors who wish to conquer its steep challenges.
