WORLD
RECORD
ROADS! As street sweeping guys, we at NiteHawk know the importance of wellmaintained roads. In fact, for thousands of years, paved roads—especially clean ones—have been a critical part of society. And with the Olympics happening this summer, we wanted to share some amazing world records related to this essential industry.
WHERE IS THE WORLD’S LONGEST STREET?
But another way to think about this question is in
Yonge Street in Canada is believed to be the longest in
pavement per capita. In that case the answer is The
the world. It begins in Toronto and stretches all the way
United Arab Emirates! This middle eastern country
to the Ontario/Minnesota border, totaling 1,178 miles.
is home to Dubai, a city known for elaborate urban
HOW ABOUT THE SHORTEST STREET?
development and lavish buildings. The United Arab
The shortest street in the world is called Ebenezer Place,
Emirates has over 146 square miles of pavement per
and it’s only 6 feet and 9 inches long. Located in a small
person. In contrast, China has only 26 square miles per
town in Northeast Scotland, it originated when a hotel
person.
builder had to display a name on the shortest side of his
WHERE IS THE OLDEST PAVED ROAD IN THE WORLD?
new building. It officially became a street in 1887.
Lake Moeris Quarry Road, in Egypt, is believed to be
WHICH COUNTRY HAS THE MOST PAVEMENT?
the oldest existing paved road. It was built sometime
Given its landmass, it’s no surprise that China holds
between 2500 and 2100 BC and was used to transport
the record for the most pavement of any country. It
heavy blocks of basalt from a quarry near Cairo. Those
is estimated to have about 33,590 square miles of
blocks became part of royal sarcophagi and pavements
paved roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and buildings.
for temples.
2 0 NORTH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R AU GU S T 2021
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