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CNN - 10 world's most amazing long distance trails
(CNN) Long distance trails inspire contradictory tales of solitude and camaraderie, deserted river beds and mountain plateaus, pleasure and pain.
The idea of covering thousands of miles on foot is itself barely believable.
Perhaps that's what makes these adventures so memorable.
Cheryl Strayed's memoir of her 1,000-mile trek along the U.S. Pacific Crest Trail was so enthralling it made it to Hollywood.
"Wild," a film based on her account and starring Reese Witherspoon, was one of the most talked about releases at the end of 2014, with Witherspoon even nominated for a best actress award at the 2015 Golden Globes.
Who would play you?
The Appalachian (United States)
Distance: 3,510 kilometers (2,180 miles)
The Appalachian is the grand dame of long-distance trails.
More information at: Appalachiantrail.org
The South West Coast Path (UK)
Distance: 1,016 kilometers (630 miles)
The UK's longest National Trail is a stroll in the park compared to some of the other walks on our list, but what it lacks in longevity it makes up for in history.
More information: Southwestcoastpath.com
Te Araroa (New Zealand)
Distance: 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles)
With a backdrop straight out of Middle Earth - glacial ridges, windswept headlands, shires - New Zealand's landscape doesn't disappoint.
Te Araroa (Maori for "The long pathway") covers most of it; all the way from Cape Regina in the North to Bluff on the southern tip.
"Tramping" the length of it, as the Kiwis would say, from the gentle bays of Queen Charlotte to the volcanic Mount Tongariro, takes about three months.
Still, even at a fast pace you could be overtaken be overtaken.
Ultramarathon runner Jezz Bragg completed it in a fantastical time of 53 days.
More information: Teararoa.org.nz
Continental Divide Trail (United States)
Distance: 4,990 kilometers (3,100 miles)
The third and longest installment of The Triple Crown is really a director's cut - loved by serious trail enthusiasts but not for everyone.
More information: Continentaldividetrail.org
Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail (Sudan-Uganda)
Distance: 805 kilometers (500 miles)
Trail blazers have recaptured the spirit of discovery with this historic route, which retraces the expedition of Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker's -- the first Europeans to set eyes on Lake Albert and name it after Queen Victoria's late husband -- to that great African lake, 150 years ago.
More info: Thebakertrail.com
Oregon Desert Trail (United States)
Distance: 1,287 kilometers (800 miles)
The Oregon High Desert is a thrilling, stark arena in which to test your mettle.
More information: Onda.org
Grand Italian Trail, Sentiero Italia (Italy)
Distance: 6,166 kilometers (3,830 miles)
There are "Great" trails and even "Greater" trails.
The Sentiero is best described as "Grand."
More information: Traildino.com
Great Himalayan Trail (Nepal)
Distance: 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles)
In a word: ambitious.
Still being put together, when finished, this 4,500 kilometer (2,796 mile) skyscraping traverse will be the longest and highest mountain trail in the world, crossing the entire Himalaya range from Kashmir to Tibet, via India, Nepal and Bhutan.
More information: Thegreathimalayatrail.org
Hokkaido Nature Trail (Japan)
Distance: 4,585 kilometers (2,849 miles)
Japan is something of a distance-walking paradise, home to five of the world's 10 longest trails.
At 2,849 miles and growing, this is the longest and last of them all, exploring the glaciers, forests and steaming, volcanic mountains of Hokkaido.
More information: Walkjapan.com
Trans Panama Trail (Panama)
Distance: 800 kilometers (497 miles)
Anyone who has hiked in the tropics will testify to the difficult conditions.
Sweaty, dense jungles, swarms of mosquitoes and numerous other bloodsucking creatures await and that's before you even begin this 500-mile journey.
But the rewards are greater for those challenges.
More information: Transpanama.org
Feature by CNN Reporter (HKT) - Jack Davidson
Full Feature - http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/12/travel/top-treks/index.html?hpt=travel_hp_herobox
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