# Mountain pass

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Route through a mountain range or over a ridge

Not to be confused with [Gap (landform)](/source/Gap_(landform)).

For the mine, see [Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine](/source/Mountain_Pass_Rare_Earth_Mine). For the town, see [Mountain Pass, California](/source/Mountain_Pass%2C_California).

"Toge" redirects here. For the exoplanet, see [HD 181720 b](/source/HD_181720_b). For Tōge racing, see [Street racing](/source/Street_racing).

[Sani Pass](/source/Sani_Pass) in [Mokhotlong](/source/Mokhotlong), [Lesotho](/source/Lesotho)

A mountain pass as it appears on a contour map: Bwlch Maesgwm in [Snowdonia](/source/Snowdonia), north [Wales](/source/Wales), United Kingdom.[1]

A **mountain pass** is a navigable route through a [mountain range](/source/Mountain_range) or over a [ridge](/source/Ridge). Since mountain ranges can present formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both [human](/source/Human_migration) and [animal migration](/source/Animal_migration) throughout history. At lower elevations it may be called a **hill pass**. A mountain pass is typically formed between two volcanic peaks or created by erosion from water or wind.

## Overview

Idealised mountain pass represented as the green line; the [saddle point](/source/Saddle_point) is in red.

Mountain passes make use of a [gap](/source/Gap_(landform)), [saddle](/source/Saddle_(landform)), [col](/source/Col) or [notch](/source/Notch_(landform)). A topographic saddle is analogous to the mathematical concept of a [saddle surface](/source/Saddle_surface), with a [saddle point](/source/Saddle_point) marking the minimum high point between two valleys and the lowest point along a ridge.[2][3] On a [topographic map](/source/Topographic_map), passes can be identified by [contour lines](/source/Contour_lines) with an hourglass shape, which indicates a low spot between two higher points.[4] In the high mountains, a difference of 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) between the summit and the mountain[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*] is defined as a mountain pass.[5]

Passes are often found just above the [source of a river](/source/Source_(river_or_stream)), constituting a [drainage divide](/source/Drainage_divide). A pass may be very short, consisting of steep slopes to the top of the pass, or a valley many kilometers long, whose highest point might only be identifiable by [surveying](/source/Surveying).

Roads and railways have long been built through passes. Some high and rugged passes may have tunnels bored underneath a nearby mountainside, as with the [Eisenhower Tunnel](/source/Eisenhower_Tunnel) bypassing [Loveland Pass](/source/Loveland_Pass) in the Rockies, to allow faster traffic flow throughout the year.

The top of a pass is frequently the only flat ground in the area, and may be a high vantage point. In some cases this makes it a preferred site for buildings. If a national border follows the ridge of a mountain range, a pass over the mountains is typically on the border, and there may be a [border control](/source/Border_control) or customs station, and possibly a military post. For instance, [Argentina](/source/Argentina) and [Chile](/source/Chile) share [the world's third-longest international border](/source/Argentina%E2%80%93Chile_border), 5,300 kilometres (3,300 mi) long, which runs north–south along the [Andes](/source/Andes) mountains and includes 42 mountain passes.[6][7]

Apart from offering relatively easy travel between valleys, passes also provide a route between two mountain tops with a minimum of descent. As a result, it is common for tracks to meet at a pass; this often makes them convenient routes even when travelling between a summit and the valley floor. Passes traditionally were places for trade routes, communications, cultural exchange, military expeditions etc. A typical example is the [Brenner Pass](/source/Brenner_Pass) in the [Alps](/source/Alps).

Some mountain passes above the [tree line](/source/Tree_line) have problems with [snow drift](/source/Snow_drift) in the winter. This might be alleviated by building the road a few meters above the ground, which will make snow blow off the road.

## Synonyms

Col between Kensgriff and Yarlsidine in the [Howgill Fells](/source/Howgill_Fells), England

There are many words for *pass* in the English-speaking world. In the United States, *pass* is very common in the [West](/source/Western_United_States), the word *gap* is common in the southern [Appalachians](/source/Appalachian_Mountains), and *notch* is seen in many parts of [New England](/source/New_England). The term [col](/source/Col), derived from Old French, is also used, particularly in Europe.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

In the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas, passes are denoted by the suffix "La" in Tibetan, Ladhakhi, and several other regional languages. Examples are the [Taglang La](/source/Taglang_La) at 5,328 m (17,480 ft) on the [Leh-Manali highway](/source/Leh-Manali_highway), and the [Sia La](/source/Sia_La) at 5,589 m (18,337 ft) in the Eastern [Karakoram](/source/Karakoram) range.

Scotland has the [Gaelic](/source/Scottish_Gaelic_language) term *bealach* (anglicised "balloch"), while Wales has the similar *bwlch* (both being [insular Celtic](/source/Insular_Celtic_languages) languages).[8][9] In the [Lake District](/source/Lake_District) of north-west England, the term *hause* is often used, although the term *pass* is also common—one distinction is that a pass can refer to a route, as well as the highest part thereof, while a hause is simply that highest part, often flattened somewhat into a high-level plateau.

In Japan they are known as *tōge*, which means "pass" in Japanese. The word can also refer to narrow, winding roads that can be found in and around mountains and geographically similar areas, or specifically to a style of [street racing](/source/Street_racing#Japan) which may take place on these roads.

## Around the world

There are thousands of named passes around the world, some of which are well-known, such as the [Khyber Pass](/source/Khyber_Pass) close to the present-day Afghanistan-Pakistan border on the ancient [Silk Road](/source/Silk_Road), the [Great St. Bernard Pass](/source/Great_St._Bernard_Pass) at 2,473 metres (8,114 ft) in the [Alps](/source/Alps), the [Chang La](/source/Chang_La) at 5,360 metres (17,590 ft), the [Khardung La](/source/Khardung_La) at 5,359 metres (17,582 ft) in [Ladakh](/source/Ladakh), India and the [Palakkad Gap](/source/Palakkad_Gap) at 140 metres (460 ft) in [Palakkad](/source/Palakkad), [Kerala](/source/Kerala), [India](/source/India), which is the widest mountain pass in the world.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The roads at [Mana Pass](/source/Mana_Pass) at 5,610 metres (18,410 ft) and [Marsimik La](/source/Marsimik_La) at 5,582 metres (18,314 ft), on and near the China–India border respectively, appear to be world's two highest motorable passes. [Khunjerab Pass](/source/Khunjerab_Pass) between [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan) and China at 4,693 metres (15,397 ft) is also a high-altitude motorable mountain pass. One of the famous but non-motorable mountain passes is [Thorong La](/source/Thorong_La) at 5,416 metres (17,769 ft) in [Annapurna Conservation Area](/source/Annapurna_Conservation_Area), Nepal.

## Gallery

		- [Stelvio Pass](/source/Stelvio_Pass) in the [Alps](/source/Alps) (Italy)

		- [Agua Negra Pass](/source/Agua_Negra_Pass) between Argentina and Chile.

		- The Bealach na Bà linking [Applecross](/source/Applecross_Peninsula) in the Scottish North-west Highlands.

		- [Dead Woman's Pass](/source/Dead_Woman's_Pass) on the [Inca Trail](/source/Inca_Trail) to [Machu Picchu](/source/Machu_Picchu) in [Peru](/source/Peru)

		- Iwaniacka Pass in [Tatras](/source/Tatras) (near [Kominiarski Wierch](/source/Kominiarski_Wierch), Poland).

		- [Zádielska tiesňava](/source/Z%C3%A1dielska_ties%C5%88ava) Pass in [Slovak Karst](/source/Slovak_Karst) ([Slovakia](/source/Slovakia)).

		- Trail from Manang to Mustang via [Thorong La](/source/Thorong_La) pass, Nepal.

		- Winding road below [Shingo La](/source/Shingo_La) in Himachal Pradesh, India

		- [Crawford Notch](/source/Crawford_Notch) in [New Hampshire](/source/New_Hampshire), U.S.

## See also

- [Mountains portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Mountains)
- [Geography portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Geography)

- [List of mountain passes](/source/List_of_mountain_passes)

- [Defile](/source/Defile_(geography)) – Narrow pass or gorge between mountains or hills

- [Water gap](/source/Water_gap) – Geological feature formed through a mountain

- [Wind gap](/source/Wind_gap) – Topographic gap made by a former waterway

## References

### Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [53°4′52.8″N 4°7′57″W / 53.081333°N 4.13250°W / 53.081333; -4.13250](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Mountain_pass&params=53_4_52.8_N_4_7_57_W_), height contours from [SRTM](/source/SRTM) data.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEberhart2004[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidwo9wGKk9MVsCpgPT236_232]_2-0)** [Eberhart 2004](#CITEREFEberhart2004), p. [232](https://books.google.com/books?id=wo9wGKk9MVsC&pg=PT236).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBishopShroder2004[httpsbooksgooglecombooksid6TGu7-mwSNYCpgPA86_86–87]_3-0)** [Bishop & Shroder 2004](#CITEREFBishopShroder2004), pp. [86–87](https://books.google.com/books?id=6TGu7-mwSNYC&pg=PA86).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarveySimer1999[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidBHKUvFAzliYCpgPA185_185]_4-0)** [Harvey & Simer 1999](#CITEREFHarveySimer1999), p. [185](https://books.google.com/books?id=BHKUvFAzliYC&pg=PA185).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBishopShroder2004[httpsbooksgooglecombooksid6TGu7-mwSNYCpgPA103_103]_5-0)** [Bishop & Shroder 2004](#CITEREFBishopShroder2004), p. [103](https://books.google.com/books?id=6TGu7-mwSNYC&pg=PA103).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pasos_6-0)** ["Principales Pasos Nacionales e Internacionales – Estado de los Pasos Fronterizos"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100328092538/http://www.gendarmeria.gov.ar/pasos.html) (in Spanish). [Gendarmería Nacional Argentina](/source/Gendarmer%C3%ADa_Nacional_Argentina). Archived from [the original](http://www.gendarmeria.gov.ar/pasos.html) on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pasos_chile_7-0)** ["Pasos – Chile"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070718053512/http://www.gendarmeria.gov.ar/pasos/chile.htm) (in Spanish). Gendarmería Nacional Argentina. Archived from [the original](http://www.gendarmeria.gov.ar/pasos/chile.htm) on 2007-07-18. Retrieved 4 March 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Nicolson_1945_p._28_8-0)** Nicolson, A. (1945). [*Modern Gaelic: A Basic Grammar*](https://books.google.com/books?id=oWViAAAAMAAJ). A. Maclaren. p. 28. Retrieved 18 January 2021. Bealach (mountain-pass)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-The_Geology_of_Snowdonia_–_A_Collection_of_Historical_Articles_on_the_Physical_Features_of_the_Peaks_of_Snowdonia_2013_p._45_9-0)** [*The Geology of Snowdonia – A Collection of Historical Articles on the Physical Features of the Peaks of Snowdonia*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ITR-CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT45). City: Read Books Limited. 2013. p. 45. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4733-9043-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4733-9043-0). Retrieved 18 January 2021. The word Bwlch is used in Welsh not only to signify a pass or easy route over a ridge, usually a depression between higher ground on either side, but also ...

### Bibliography

- Bishop, Michael P.; Shroder, John F. (2004). [*Geographic Information Science and Mountain Geomorphology*](https://books.google.com/books?id=6TGu7-mwSNYC&pg=PA86). Berlin New York: [Springer Publishing](/source/Springer_Publishing). pp. 86–87. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-540-42640-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-540-42640-0). Retrieved 6 November 2010.

- [Eberhart, Mark E.](/source/Mark_Eberhart) (2004). [*Why Things Break: Understanding the World by the Way it Comes Apart*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wo9wGKk9MVsC&pg=PT236). New York: [Random House](/source/Random_House), [Harmony Books](/source/Harmony_Books). p. 232. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4000-4883-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4000-4883-0). Retrieved 6 November 2010.

- Harvey, Mark William Thornton; Simer, Peter (1999). [*The National Outdoor Leadership School Wilderness Guide: The Classic Handbook*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BHKUvFAzliYC&pg=PA185). New York: [Simon & Schuster](/source/Simon_%26_Schuster). p. 185. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-684-85909-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-684-85909-5). Retrieved 6 November 2010.

- [*The Geology of Snowdonia – A Collection of Historical Articles on the Physical Features of the Peaks of Snowdonia*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ITR-CgAAQBAJ&pg=PT45). City: [Read Books Limited](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Read_Books_Limited&action=edit&redlink=1). 2013. p. 45. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4733-9043-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4733-9043-0). Retrieved 18 January 2021. The word Bwlch is used in Welsh not only to signify a pass or easy route over a ridge, usually a depression between higher ground on either side, but also ...

## External links

- Media related to [Mountain passes](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mountain_passes) at Wikimedia Commons

Authority control databases International GND National United States France BnF data Korea Israel Other Historical Dictionary of Switzerland Yale LUX

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