Throughout history mountains have created barriers that have kept people from getting to the other side. Mountain passes have been very important in history - for trade, travel, military conquest and migration (moving to new areas or moving back and forth from two areas).

Road and railways are built through mountain passes. Often tunnels have to be built through rock.

There are thousands of named passes around the world.

Khunjerab Pass is a high mountain pass on the northern border of Pakistan with China. At 15,397 feet, it is the highest paved border crossing in the world.

Related Terms
mountain range - mountain passes go through mountain ranges
mountain - a pass goes through a chain of mountains