Baldwin Street, Sloping road in North East Valley, New Zealand
Baldwin Street is a residential road in North East Valley running 359 meters (1,180 feet) and climbing from 30 meters (98 feet) to 100 meters (328 feet) above sea level, reaching a maximum slope of 19 degrees. The upper section uses concrete paving rather than asphalt to prevent the surface from softening during summer heat and to maintain safe conditions year-round.
Charles Kettle designed the street grid in the 1850s without accounting for the local terrain, which led to the creation of this steep residential road. The neighborhood developed despite the incline, and the road became a permanent feature of the local cityscape.
The annual Jaffa Race each July sends 25,000 chocolate balls rolling down the pavement while spectators line the route. All proceeds go directly to local charities, making this event a fixture of community life.
The climb requires reasonable fitness and sturdy footwear, as the slope becomes noticeably steeper in the upper half. Visitors should take extra care during wet or icy conditions, as the surface can become slippery.
The road regained its Guinness World Record title as the steepest residential street in 2020 after briefly losing it to Ffordd Pen Llech in Wales. The debate over measurement methods sparked an international discussion about how to define steepness.
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