Mountain pass
Videos
A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. Since mountain ranges can present formidable barriers to travel, passes have played a key role in trade, war, and both hu
Sani Pass in Mokhotlong, Lesotho
Idealised mountain pass represented as the green line; the saddle point is in red.
Col between Kensgriff and Yarlsidine in the Howgill Fells, England
Stelvio Pass in the Alps (Italy)
Col
Videos
A col in geomorphology is the lowest point on a mountain ridge between two peaks. It may also be called a gap or pass. Particularly rugged and forbidding cols in the terrain are usually referred to as
Mountain pass
…A narrow pass or gorge between mountains or hills is called defile. Mountain passes make use of a gap, saddle, col or notch. A topographic saddle is analogous to the mathematical concept of a saddle surface, with a saddle point marking the minimum high point between…
The Langkofel Group in the Dolomites of the Italian Alps, with the clearly visible Langkofel Col (Langkofelscharte) left of centre
Brèche de Roland in the Pyrenees
The Peuterey Ridge on the Mt. Blanc massif. From left to right Aiguille Noire de Peuterey (3773 m), Brèche-sud (3429 m), the Dames Anglaises (3601 m), Brèche-central, L'Isolée, Brèche-nord (3491 m), Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey (4112 m) and Col de Peuterey (3934 m)
The South Col of Mount Everest, at 7,906 m (25,938 ft) the upper staging point for attempts on its summit.