Torugart Pass[1] (Uyghur: تورغات پورتى (Chinese: 吐尔尕特
Torugart Pass | |
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![]() The Chinese border crossing at the Torugart Pass on the road between Naryn (Kyrgyzstan) and Kashgar (Xinjiang) | |
Elevation | 3,752 m (12,310 ft) |
Traversed by | ![]() |
Location | China–Kyrgyzstan border |
Range | Tian Shan |
Coordinates | 40°35′00″N 75°25′00″E / 40.583333333333°N 75.416666666667°E |
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Torugart Pass | |||||||
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Chinese name | |||||||
Traditional Chinese | 吐爾尕特 | ||||||
Simplified Chinese | 吐尔尕特 | ||||||
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Alternative Chinese name | |||||||
Traditional Chinese | |||||||
Simplified Chinese | 图噜噶尔 | ||||||
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Kyrgyz name | |||||||
Kyrgyz | Торугарт ашуусу | ||||||
Russian name | |||||||
Russian | Перевал Торугарт |
The scenic lake Chatyr-Köl lies near the pass on the Kyrgyz side. The road to Naryn and then to Balykchy and Bishkek—stretching for some 400 km (250 mi)—is narrow and in winter often impassable due to heavy snowfall and frequent avalanches. On the Chinese side, the Torugart Port of Entry (吐尔尕特
The pass is also terminus of European route E125 and, under the new National Highway plans, the China National Highway 315, but neither are signed in this area by 2020.
History
editThe pass has been used since antiquity. During the Han dynasty it was under the jurisdiction of a micro-state called Juandu (捐毒
Russia and China first established a port of entry at the Torugart Pass in 1881. In 1906, Russia's Sino-Russian Transport Bank financed the construction of the road from the pass to Kashgar for 20 million rubles. In 1952, the Torugart Pass replaced the Irkeshtam Pass, which lies some 165 km (103 mi) southwest, as the primary overland link between Xinjiang and the then-Soviet Kyrgyz Republic. The pass was closed in 1969 due to the Sino-Soviet Split and reopened again in 1983. In 1995, the Torugart Port of Entry was relocated to a lower elevation (2,000m), closer to Kashgar, some 57 km (35 mi) away.[citation needed]
The pass is open to all nationalities but clearance requires careful arrangement of transportation.[4]
A China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway going through Torugart Pass has been in the works that would connect Kashgar and the Ferghana Valley since 2012.[5] However, the Kyrgyz section of the rail has been stalled due to financial and technical issues.[6] In 2023 the project development received new push from the governments of the tree countries involved.[7] A tripartite agreement was signed on 17 September 2022 during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit,[8] however the funding is yet to be secured.[9]
Gallery
edit-
The ancient silk road showing the general location of the pass
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Map of the region including the Torugart Pass (unlabelled; roads can be seen) (AMS, 1948)
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Map of the region including the Torugart Pass (unlabelled; roads can be seen) (DMA, 1985)
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A ticket office at Bishkek's West Bus Terminal informs passengers about the schedule and route of the Bishkek-Artush-Kashgar bus traveling via Torugart Pass
Climate
editClimate data for Torugart Pass, elevation 3,504 m (11,496 ft), (1991–2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −8.1 (17.4) |
−6.2 (20.8) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
3.6 (38.5) |
7.7 (45.9) |
11.4 (52.5) |
14.4 (57.9) |
13.8 (56.8) |
9.9 (49.8) |
3.2 (37.8) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
−6.2 (20.8) |
3.3 (38.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −14.6 (5.7) |
−12.7 (9.1) |
−7.6 (18.3) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
2.1 (35.8) |
5.5 (41.9) |
8.1 (46.6) |
7.6 (45.7) |
3.8 (38.8) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
−8.1 (17.4) |
−12.9 (8.8) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −20.4 (−4.7) |
−18.9 (−2.0) |
−13.3 (8.1) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
0.6 (33.1) |
2.5 (36.5) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
−7.6 (18.3) |
−13.4 (7.9) |
−18.3 (−0.9) |
−8.1 (17.5) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 3.2 (0.13) |
4.7 (0.19) |
17.7 (0.70) |
26.6 (1.05) |
44.2 (1.74) |
50.2 (1.98) |
43.6 (1.72) |
45.6 (1.80) |
26.8 (1.06) |
21.1 (0.83) |
8.8 (0.35) |
6.2 (0.24) |
298.7 (11.79) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 4.5 | 6.8 | 10.2 | 11.6 | 14.8 | 15.8 | 13.6 | 13.3 | 9.8 | 9.4 | 6.4 | 5.1 | 121.3 |
Average snowy days | 10.7 | 13.3 | 16.7 | 16.7 | 19.8 | 15.3 | 8.4 | 8.6 | 13.2 | 15.0 | 11.6 | 10.7 | 160 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 57 | 59 | 60 | 59 | 60 | 59 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 61 | 57 | 58 | 58 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 217.1 | 207.7 | 243.6 | 259.2 | 272.8 | 276.5 | 302.1 | 278.9 | 255.2 | 245.4 | 221.2 | 207.6 | 2,987.3 |
Percent possible sunshine | 72 | 68 | 65 | 64 | 61 | 62 | 67 | 67 | 70 | 73 | 76 | 72 | 68 |
Source: China Meteorological Administration[10][11] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Peter Neville-Hadley (1997). China the Silk Routes. Cadogan Guides. Globe Pequot Press. p. 289. ISBN 1-86011-052-5 – via Internet Archive.
Torugart Pass
- ^ "Торугарт ашуусу" [Torugart Pass] (PDF). Кыргызстандын Географиясы [Geography of Kyrgyzstan] (in Kyrgyz). Bishkek. 2004. p. 89.
{{cite encyclopedia}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Kizilsu Prefecture Historical Almanac Office (2007-10-05). 吐尔尕特
口 岸 [Torugart Port]. www.xjkz.gov.cn (Kizilsu Prefecture Government Website) (in Chinese). Retrieved 2017-02-02.汉代吐尔尕特
一 带属捐毒国 。...到 了 唐 代 ,这里归属安西 四 镇(焉耆、碎叶、于阗、疏勒)之 一的疏勒都督府。 - ^ "Torugart Pass". Caravanistan. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ Muzalevsky, Roman (2012-05-30). "China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Scheme: Fears, Hopes and Prospects". Eurasia Daily Monitor. Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
On April 17, Chinese construction corporation CRBC agreed to perform a feasibility study for the project within a year.
- ^ Mashrab, Fozil (2015-11-03). "Bishkek Puts Brakes on China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway". Eurasia Daily Monitor. Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
Bishkek and Beijing seek to implement despite financial and technical issues
- ^ Yau, Niva (23 March 2023). "China Is Finally Making Progress on the China-Kyrgyzstan--Uzbekistan-Railway". Foreign Policy Research Institute. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Brown, Zavior (4 December 2024). "The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway: The Troubling Prospects and Why Renegotiations Should be Considered". Columbia Political Review. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Torogeldi, Bakyt; Chynybaeva, Baktygul (October 31, 2023). "Ambitious China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Project Faces Major Funding Challenges". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^
中国 气象数 据 网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023. - ^
中国 气象数 据 网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.