The type of hair pin (
bobby pin) from which a 'hairpin turn' takes its name.
A hairpin turn (also hairpin bend, hairpin corner, or just hirpin), is a very tight corner. It makes a vehicle turn almost 180° to continue on the road. It gets its name for because it looks like to a hairpin or bobby pin. Hairpin turns may be called switchbacks in American English.
Hairpin turns may be built when a road or path climbs up or down a steep slope. This allows the path to travel the slope with a smaller slope. Hairpin turns may be used in race tracks to slow down the race cars after a long, fast straight.
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Road ascends to the Col de Braus using hairpin bends in the French Alps
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