Salang Pass
| Salang Pass | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Salang Pass |
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| Compass direction | North northwest | South southeast | |
| Pass height | 3878 m | ||
| province | Baglan ( Afghanistan ) | Parwan ( Afghanistan ) | |
| Watershed | Darah-ye Du Shakh → Kunduz | Salang → Ghorband | |
| Valley locations | Pol-e Chomri | Charikar | |
| Mountains | Hindu Kush | ||
| Map (Baglan) | |||
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| Coordinates | 35 ° 18 '49 " N , 69 ° 2' 14" E | ||
The Salang Pass (Persian:كتل سالنگ Kotal-e Sālang ) is a 3878 m high mountain pass in the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan . The pass road leading through the Salang tunnel is the most important road connection between the capital Kabul and the northern parts of the country.
history
The Salang Pass was not used for traffic until the 2.6 km long, single-tube Salang tunnel was completed. The Second Transit Agreement signed on June 21, 1955 between Afghanistan and the USSR included the expansion of the Salang Strait.
In 1965 the pass was opened to traffic by building a tunnel that can be used all year round at an altitude of 3360 m . This made the Salang Pass the most important north-south connection in Afghanistan. Until then, a large part of the north-south traffic was handled over the 3000 meter high Shibar Pass . Until 1973, the Salang tunnel was the highest road tunnel in the world.
In the Soviet-Afghan war , the Salang Strait was of strategic importance and was accordingly fought over. In November 1982 there was a devastating traffic accident in the tunnel when a tanker truck collided with a military convoy. Numerous people were killed in the subsequent explosion. The exact number of victims is still controversial today, Soviet sources speak of 176 dead.
In an avalanche on February 8, 2010, numerous vehicles were buried on a 3.5-kilometer section of the Salangstrasse. 166 people could only be rescued dead from the masses of snow.
gallery
Photo of the mountain road (June 2009)
Entrance to the Salangtunnel (June 2009)
in the Salangtunnel (June 2009)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Crumbling Afghan lifeline BBC, August 8, 2002
- ↑ Number of deaths in avalanche accidents rises to 166 Focus Online, February 10, 2010