Exploring Africa’s Colossal Pavement: The Story of Upington’s Mega-Runway
When you picture an airport bustling with activity, you likely imagine crowded terminals, jet bridges, and lines of travelers waiting to board. But in a remote corner of South Africa’s Northern Cape lies an aviation giant built for an entirely different purpose.
Upington International Airport is home to the longest airport runway in Africa—and one of the most remarkable pieces of aviation infrastructure on the planet.
Dimensions of a Giant
Measuring an astonishing 4,900 meters (16,076 feet) in length, Runway 17/35 is nearly five kilometers long. To put that into perspective, you could line up roughly 45 football fields end-to-end along its paved stretch.
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