Drivers tend not to like roundabouts. In fact, many do not even know how to use them.
Spain is, in any case, one of the countries with the most roundabouts in the world. This is what DiscoverCars states based on a investigation on the total number of roundaboutsroundabouts per capita per million inhabitants and the number of roundabouts per km2.
The country with the most roundabouts in the world is France, with no less than 42,986. It is followed by the United Kingdom, which totals 25,976, also a notable figure although very far from the French figure. Italy completes the top 5, with 18,172 roundabouts; Spain, with 15,053and Brazil, which has 11,854.
As to roundabouts per capita, is also France, which occupies first place, with 663.8 per million inhabitants. They are followed by Portugal, which has 473.4; Norway, with 427.1; Iceland, with 421, and Ireland, which has 385 roundabouts per capita
In regards to the greatest number of roundabouts per km2, it is the Netherlands that was in first place with 113.4 roundabouts. The United Kingdom follows, with 107.4; Israel, with 81.8 roundabouts; France, with 78.5, and Belgium, which has 67.7 roundabouts per km2.
Roundabouts with tourist attraction
The study also mentions that there are roundabouts with a special tourist attraction and there are those who bother to visit them, like someone who approaches a museum.
“When we think of tourist holidays, roundabouts are probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Roundabouts are not considered a sight to see, but there are a wide variety of world famous roundaboutsand many of them attract tourists on their own,” says Aleksandrs Buraks of DiscoverCars.
Some of those roundabouts that generate interest for tourists are the iconic Plaza de la Estrella and the roundabout that surrounds the Arc de Triomphe, in France, or the UK ‘Magic Roundabout’in the town of Swindon, which often confuses drivers because they are actually six multi-directional roundabouts.
Another of the most fascinating roundabouts included in the research is the ‘floating tap’, located in the Belgian town of Ypres. It is known as this because the roundabout consists of a bright colored faucet in the center, plus a water fountain that makes the faucet look like it’s running water.
Also very popular is Columbus Circle roundabout of New York City, which in 2013 received recognition as the “Best Roundabout” by the British Roundabout Societyan entity that actually exists, although it may seem surprising.
The largest in Europe, in Extremadura
It may not be a typical tourist attraction, but the largest roundabout in Europe surprises everyone who comes across it. It is in the town of Esparragosa from Lares, Badajozand its measurements are 1.3 kilometers wide400 meters high and 161 meters above the surrounding terrain.
Yes indeed, It is not marked with a roundabout because it is not an intersection, but an almost perfect circle that surrounds Cerro Masatrigo, also known as the Magic Mountain.
This huge roundabout is located in the middle of nowheresince after the construction of the La Serena dam, the largest reservoir in Spain, Cerro Masatrigo became a peninsula in the middle of the water and now this one-way, single-lane road connects the towns of Esparragosa de Lares and King’s head with two bridges that give access to the roundabout.
It is a very special roundabout, since it is considered the sixth Natural Monument of Extremadura. It has a multitude of holm oaks and cork oaks, is part of the Natura 2000 Network and is a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA). A Peugeot advertisement was also filmed there and the Vuelta Ciclista España has passed through the place.
The largest in the world is in Malaysia
The roundabout of the La Serena reservoir is the largest in Europe, although it is far from approaching the size of the largest in the world, which is located in Patrujaya city, Malaysianear the country’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.
It is a gigantic roundabout 3.5 kilometers long that many call ‘Titanica’ and, like the one in Badajoz, It is not a conventional roundabout, as it completely surrounds the royal palace of Istana Melawati, residence of the Malaysian head of state. It is the second national palace after Istana Negara, in Kuala Lumpur.
