Turugart Pass
Turugart (Torugart) Pass is a mountain pass in the Tian Shan mountain range of Central Asia, connecting the Republic of Kyrgyzstan with Xinjiang Province in the far northwestern region of the People's Republic of China. A major highway runs through the pass, following one of the main routes of the ancient Silk Road between Europe and China. The road winds south through the smaller At-Bashi mountain range in the central part of the Tian Shan, which is oriented northeast and southwest, forming much of the Kyrgyz and Chinese border. Reaching a height of 3,752 meters at the pass, the road descends to the Chinese city of Kashgar on the edge of the vast Taklimakan Desert. A pristine mountain landscape and high mountain lakes such as Lake Chatyr Kul, virtually untouched by human hands, make the pass an area of environmental concern for the Kyrgyz government and people.
Near the pass, within Kyrgyzstan, sits the tenth-century Tash-Rabat caravanserai, or caravan rest stop, that gave shelter to caravans traveling along the Silk Route between Europe and China. The high mountain pass is growing in importance as a major economic and trading link between Kyrgyzstan and western China. The Kyrgyz form the majority of the population on both sides of the Turugart Pass.
Further Reading
Gvozdetskij, N. A., and N. I. Mikhailov. (1978) Fizicheskaia
Geografiya SSSR: Aziatskaia Chast' (Physical Geography of the USSR: Asian part). Third edition. Moscow: Mysl'. Whittell, Giles. (1995) Central Asia: The Practical Handbook.
London: Cadogan Books.
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