M41 highway

M41 highway
Pamir Highway
The historical Pamir Highway travels through Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia. The modern M41 extends further from Osh to Kara-Balta in the western suburbs of Bishkek
From Khargush to Murghab, Tajikistan (43546170954).jpg
Pamir highway from Khargush to Murghab, Tajikistan
Route information
Part of E008 / E007
Length1,252 km[1] (778 mi)
HistoryThe road formed one link of the ancient Silk Road trade route
Location
CountriesAfghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan
Highway system

The M41, known informally and more commonly as the Pamir Highway (Russian: Памирский тракт, romanizedPamirsky Trakt), is a road traversing the Pamir Mountains through Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with a length of over 1,200 km. It is the only continuous route through the difficult terrain of the mountains and is the main supply route to Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. The route has been in use for millennia, as there are a limited number of viable routes through the high Pamir Mountains. The road formed one link of the ancient Silk Road trade route. M41 is the Soviet road number, but it only remains as an official designation in post-Soviet Uzbekistan, as confirmed by official decree.[2] Kyrgyzstan[3] and Tajikistan[4] have passed decrees abolishing Soviet numbering of highways and assigning their own national numbering.

  1. ^ Scott, Audrey; Noll, Daniel (18 December 2014). "Driving one of the world's most remote highways". BBC Online. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  2. ^ Decree of the Republic of Uzbekistan Cabinet. Approval of the List of Public Roads of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 5 August 2010. https://lex.uz/docs/-1664887
  3. ^ Procedure. Classification and numbering of public highways in the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic. 18 August 2017. http://cbd.minjust.gov.kg/act/view/ky-kg/100245?cl=ky-kg
  4. ^ Assessment of Economic Impacts from Disasters Along Key Corridors. Final Report. The World Bank. May 2021. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/545481624287902413/pdf/Assessment-of-Economic-Impacts-from-Disasters-Along-Key-Corridors.pdf