World News for Students of English

03-04-2015 07:00

It is known as the world’s deadliest walkway, and it’s set to reopen to the public this week, after undergoing years of repair work to fix deteriorating pathways. Officially known as Caminito del Rey, the narrow walkway is located on the steep walls of a gorge in Ardales near Malaga in Spain.

It’s been partially closed since 2001 when authorities decided to shut the entrances after 5 people fell to their deaths in less than two years.

Over the years, Caminito del Rey has earned a deadly reputation and has become a hot spot for risk-takers. It’s a famously treacherous path built high above the Guadalhorce River and was opened by King Alfonso XIII in 1921.

After an extensive refurbishment, the three-foot-wide (0.9 metres) pathway which hangs over 100 feet (30 metres) above the ground will open on March 28th. Some adventurers, though, might be a little disappointed to find out that the new Caminito del Rey is much safer after its renovation. It now has new safety features, including handrails, wood-paneled paths and the skywalk.

Difficult words: deteriorate (to become worse with time), gorge (a narrow valley between mountains), treacherous (dangerous), refurbishment (the act of refurbishing something – renovating/renewing it), feature (a part of something).

Source: www.ondemandnews.com