The M41, known informally and more commonly as the Pamir Highway, 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. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have passed decrees abolishing Soviet numbering of highways and assigning their own national numbering.
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
Pamir highway from Khargush to Murghab, Tajikistan
Pamir highway in Tajikistan
The Pamir Highway between Dushanbe and Khorugh
The Pamir Mountains are a range of mountains between Central Asia and South Asia. They are located at a junction with other notable mountains, namely the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, Hindu Kush and the Himalaya mountain ranges. They are among the world's highest mountains.
Pamir Mountains
Image: High Asia Mountain Ranges
Kongur Tagh (left) and Kongur Tiube (slightly to the right) as seen from the Karakoram Highway
Slopes of Pamir Mountains on the Chinese side and Muztagh Ata