In a range of hills, or especially of mountains, a pass (also gap, notch, col, saddle, bwlch or bealach) is a lower point that allows easier access through a range.

On the route through the range, it is locally the highest point on the route. Since many of the world's mountain ranges have always presented formidable barriers to travel, passes have been important since before recorded history, and have played a key role in trade, war and migration.

Topographically, a pass has the general form of a saddle between two mountains (the elevation as a function of two position coordinates is mathematically a saddle point). They are often found just above the source of a river, constituting a sort of "bridge" over to the headwaters of a different river. Passes may be very short, consisting of steep slopes to the top of the pass, or valleys of many kilometers, whose highest point is only identifiable by surveying.

Roads have long been built through passes, and more recently railways. Some high and rugged passes may have tunnels bored underneath, so as allow faster traffic flow year-round. The top of a pass is frequently the only flat ground in the area, a high vantage point, so it is often a preferred site for buildings. For countries whose borders are delimited by a mountain range, the pass is typically part of the border, and the facilities likely include a border control or customs station, and possibly a military post as well. For passes with roads, it is also customary to have a small roadside sign giving the name of the pass and its elevation above mean sea level.

There are thousands of named passes around the world; some are familiar names, such as the Great St. Bernard Pass (2,473 m) in the Alps, the Khyber Pass (1,027 m) between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the Khardung La (5,359 m) in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The world's highest motorable pass may be the little known Semo La (5,565 m) in Tibet.

The word gap is more commonly used in the southern Appalachians, while notch is more common in New England.  In Scotland, the Gaelic term bealach (anglicised "Balloch") is often used.

As well as allowing easier access between two valleys, a pass also similarly provides the route between two mountain tops with a minimum of descent, making it important also to hikers. Because of these advantages, it is common for tracks to meet at a pass, making them often convenient routes even when travelling between a summit and the valley floor.

Africa

• Halfaya Pass
• Moteng Pass (Lesotho)
• Mahlasela pass (Lesotho)

Asia

• Khunjerab Pass - Pakistan-China (highest international border crossing at 4693 m.)
• Khyber Pass- Pakistan-Afghanistan
• Kotal-e Lataband
• Kotal-e Salang
• Mungyeong Saejae - South Korea
• Usui Pass - Japan
• SPT Customs New Westminster BC

China

• Alataw Pass
• Khunjerab Pass
• Karakoram Pass
• Kulma Pass
• Pingxingguan Pass
• Sasser Pass
• Semo Pass
• Tanggula Pass
• Torugart Pass

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island

• Chai Wan Gap
• Magazine Gap 
• Middle Gap 
• Pottinger Gap 
• Quarry Gap 
• Tai Tam Gap 
• Tsin Shui Wan Au 
• Victoria Gap 
• Wan Chai Gap 
• Windy Gap
• Wong Nai Chung Gap 

New Territories

Between New Kowloon and New Territories

• Cha Liu Au 
• Kowloon Pass 
• Ma Yau Tong Au 
• Pak Kung Au 
• Sha Tin Pass 
• Tate's Pass 
• Tiu Keng Leng Au 
• Tiu Tso Ngam 

Mainland of New Territories

• Chui Fung Au 
• Chui Tung Au 
• Lead Mine Pass 
• Ma On Au 
• Pak Tam Au 
• Pik Uk Au 
• Shek Hang Au 
• Shui Long Wo 
• Tai Au Mun
• Tai Long Au 
• Tai Miu Au 
• Tai Po Tsai Au
• Tin Ha Au 
• Yung Pak Au 
• Lantau Island
• Fan Shui Au 
• Heung Chung Au 
• Kan Tau Au 
• Mong To Au 
• Nam Shan
• Ngong Shuen Au 
• Pak Kung Au (also known as Tung Chung Gap, Tung Chung Au)
• Sam Pak Au 
• Shap Long Au 
• Sheung Tung Au 
• Sze Pak Au 
• Tai Fung Au 
• Wo Sheung Au 
• Yi Pak Au

India

• Asirgarh
• Banihal Pass
• Bara-lacha-la
• Changla Pass
• Debsa Pass
• Dongkhala
• Dhumdhar Kandi Pass
• Fatu La
• Goecha La
• Haldighati
• Jelep La
• Khardung La
• Kunjum Pass
• Lungalacha La
• Lamkhaga Pass
• Malakand Pass
• Mayali Pass
• Nama Pass
• Namika La
• Nathu La
• Palakkad Gap
• Rohtang Pass
• Sasser Pass
• Sin La
• Tanglang La
• Traill's Pass
• Zoji Pass

Indonesia

• Puncak Pass

Turkey

• Cilician Gates - Turkey

Pakistan

• Babusar Pass
• Bolan Pass
• Broghol Pass
• Chaprot Pass
• Dorah Pass
• Gondogoro Pass
• Gumal Pass
• Hayal Pass
• Hispar Pass
• Karakar Pass
• Khunjerab Pass
• Kilik Pass
• Kohat Pass
• Lowari Pass
• Mintaka Pass
• Naltar Pass
• Shandur Top

Tajikistan

• Ak-Baital pass (4655 m)

Australasia

Australia

• Alpine Way
• Tawonga Gap

New Zealand

• Arthur's Pass, South Island
• Burke's Pass, South Island
• Copland Pass, South Island
• Dansey's Pass, South Island
• Haast Pass, South Island
• Hope Saddle, South Island
• Lewis Pass, South Island
• Lindis Pass, South Island
• Mackinnon Pass, South Island
• Mamaku Saddle, North Island
• Porters Pass, South Island
• Takaka Saddle, South Island
• Taupeupe Saddle, North Island
• Waituhi Saddle, North Island
• Wilmot Pass, South Island

Europe

Alps

• Arlberg Pass
• Bielerhöhe Pass
• Col de l'Argentiere
• Great St. Bernard Pass
• Little St Bernard Pass
• San Bernardino Pass
• Bernina Pass
• Brenner Pass
• Fern Pass
• Flexen Pass
• Flüela Pass
• Furka Pass
• Gemmi Pass
• St. Gotthard Pass
• Julier Pass
• Klausen Pass
• Loibl Pass
• Maloja Pass
• Nufenen Pass
• Oberalp Pass
• Plöcken Pass
• Semmering
• Septimer Pass
• Col de Sestrieres
• Simplon Pass
• Splügen Pass
• Stelvio Pass (Stilfserjoch)
• Col de Tende
• Umbrail Pass
• Wurzen Pass

Greece

• Thermopylae

Jura Mountains

• Col de la Croix
• Col de l'Aiguillon

Norway

• Bjørnfjell
• Dovrefjell
• Filefjell
• Geirangerfjellet
• Haukelifjell
• Hemsedalsfjellet
• Saltfjellet
• Sognefjell
• Storlien
• Strynefjell
• Valdresflye

Pyrenees

• Roncevaux Pass
• Col du Tourmalet
• Somport

Romania

• Buzau Pass
• Predeal Pass
• Prislop Pass
• Surduc Pass
• Tihuta Pass
• Timis-Cerna Gap
• Turnu Rosu Pass
• Vulcan Pass

Sierra Nevada (Spain)

• Puerto del Suspiro del Moro (Pass of the Moor's Sigh)

United Kingdom

England

• A625 road
• Boredale Hause
• Buttertubs Pass
• Dunmail Raise
• Esk Hause
• Hardknott Pass
• Holme Moss
• B5289 road
• Kirkstone Pass
• Mickledore
• Newlands Valley
• Snake Pass
• Sty Head
• Winnats Pass
• Wrynose Pass

Scotland

• A939 road
• Bealach na Ba
• Beattock Summit
• Cairn O' Mounth
• Cairnwell Pass
• Corrieyairack Pass
• Pass of Drumochter
• Lairig Ghru
• Slochd Summit

Wales

• Aberglaslyn Pass
  
• Bwlch y Groes
  
• Bwlch-y-Ddeufaen
  
• Crimea Pass
  
• Llyn Cwellyn
  
• Horseshoe Pass
  
• Llanberis Pass
  
• Milltir Cerrig
  
• Nant Ffrancon Pass
  
• Nant Gwynant
  
• Pen-y-Gwryd
  
• Pen-y-Pass
  
• Sychnant Pass
  
• A4212 road

North America

• Fremont Pass (Nevada), in the Lake Range, 8 mi. NE of Pyramid Lake
• Fremont Pass (Utah)
• Newhall Pass, separating the San Gabriel Mountains from the Santa Susana Mountains
• San Gorgonio Pass, the main route between Los Angeles and Palm Springs

Appalachian Mountains

• Cumberland Gap
• Delaware Water Gap
• Lehigh Gap
• Newfound Gap
• Pinkham Notch
• Crawford Notch

Cascade Range/Thompson Plateau (British Columbia)

• Allison Pass - British Columbia
• Alpowa Summit - Washington
• Austin Pass - Washington
• Blewett Pass (formerly known as Swauk Pass)
• Blizzard Gap - Oregon
• Bly Mountain Pass - Oregon
• Canyon Creek Pass - Oregon
• Cascade Pass - Washington
• Cayuse Pass - Washington
• Chinook Pass - Washington
• Clapperton Creek Summit - British Columbia
• Colockum Pass - Washington
• Coquihalla Summit - British Columbia
• Crater Summit - Oregon
• Dead Indian Summit
• Deer Creek Summit - Washington
• Disautel Summit - Wasington
• Drews Gap - Oregon
• Elk Pass - Washington
• Green Pass - Washington
• Greensprings Summit
• Hayden Mountain Summit - Oregon
• Hogback Summit - Oregon
• Horse Ridge Summit - Oregon
• Lake of the Woods Summit
• Lolo Pass
• Loup Loup Summit - Washington
• McKenzie Pass - Oregon
• Naches Pass - Washington
• Old Blewett Pass - Washington
• Pass Creek Pass - Washington
• Pennask Summit - British Columbia
• Picture Rock Pass - Oregon
• Rainy Pass - Washington
• Rattlesnake Pass - Washington
• Santiam Pass- Oregon
• Sexton Mountain Pass - Oregon
• Sherman Pass - Washington
• Smith Hill Summit - Oregon
• Snoqualmie Pass - Washington
• Stage Road Pass - Oregon
• Stampede Pass - Washington
• Stevens Pass - Washington
• Sunday Summit - British Columbia
• Sun Pass - Oregon
• Washington and Rainy Passes (North Cascades Highway) - Washington
• Wauconda Pass - Washington
• White Pass - Washington
• Willamette Pass - Oregon

Mackenzie Mountains

• Macmillan Pass - Yukon, Northwest Territories
• Howard's Pass - Yukon, Northwest Territories

Coast Mountains

• Altamont Pass - Central California
• Chilkat Pass - British Columbia
• Chilkoot Pass - Alaska, British Columbia
• Gnat Pass - British Columbia
• Heckman Pass - British Columbia
• Pacheco Pass - Central California
• White Pass - Alaska, British Columbia

Rocky Mountains

• Abbot Pass - Alberta, British Columbia
• Argentine Pass - Colorado
• Beartooth Pass - Montana, Wyoming
• Berthoud Pass - Colorado
• Big Mountain Pass - Utah
• Black Bear Pass - Colorado
• Black Sage Pass - Colorado
• Boreas Pass - Colorado
• Bozeman Pass - Montana
• Buchanan Pass - Colorado
• Buffalo Pass - Colorado
• Cameron Pass - Colorado
• Chief Joseph Pass - Montana, Idaho
• Cinnamon Pass - Colorado
• Coal Bank Pass - Colorado
• Cochetopa Pass - Colorado
• Colter Pass - Montana, Wyoming
• Cottonwood Pass - Colorado
• Cotton Grass Pass - Alberta
• Craig Pass - Wyoming
• Crowsnest Pass - Alberta, British Columbia
• Dead Indian Pass - Wyoming
• Dunraven Pass - Wyoming
• Fall River Pass - Colorado
• Firebrand Pass - Montana
• Flesher Pass - Montana
• Fremont Pass (Colorado), near Climax, Colorado
• Gore Pass - Colorado
• Granite Pass - Wyoming
• Guanella Pass - Colorado
• Guardsman Pass - Utah
• Gunsight Pass - Montana
• Hagerman Pass - Colorado
• Highwood Pass - Alberta
• Howse Pass - Alberta, British Columbia
• Hoosier Pass - Colorado
• Independence Pass - Colorado
• Imogene Pass - Colorado
• Jonas Pass - Alberta
• Jones Pass - Colorado
• Jones Pass - Alberta
• Kenosha Pass - Colorado
• Kicking Horse Pass - Alberta, British Columbia
• Kootenai Pass - Montana
• La Poudre Pass - Colorado
• Lizard Head Pass - Colorado
• Logan Pass - Montana
• Lolo Pass - Montana, Idaho
• Lookout Pass - Montana, Idaho
• Lost Trail - Montana, Idaho
• Loveland Pass - Colorado
• MacDonald Pass - Montana
• Marias Pass - Montana
• Marshall Pass - Colorado
• McClure Pass - Colorado
• Milner Pass - Colorado
• Molar Pass - Alberta
• Molas Pass - Colorado
• Monarch Pass - Colorado
• Monida Pass - Idaho, Montana
• Monument Hill - Colorado
• Mosca Pass - Colorado
• Mosquito Pass - Colorado
• Muddy Pass - Colorado
• Nez Perce Pass - Idaho, Montana
• North Molar Pass - Alberta
• Peace River Pass - British Columbia
• Pearl Pass - Colorado
• Pine Creek Pass - Idaho
• Poncha Pass - Colorado
• Powder River Pass - Wyoming
• Ptarmigan Pass - Colorado
• Rabbit Ears Pass - Colorado
• Raton Pass - Colorado/New Mexico
• Red Cone Pass - Colorado
• Red Hill Pass - Colorado
• Red Mountain Pass - Colorado
• Robson Pass - Alberta, British Columbia
• Rogers Pass - Montana
• Rollins Pass - Colorado
• Scofield Pass - Colorado
• Shrine Pass - Colorado
• South Pass - Wyoming
• Squaw Pass - Colorado
• Sunwapta Pass - Alberta
• Swiftcurrent Pass - Montana
• Sylvan Pass - Wyoming
• Targhee Pass - Montana, Idaho
• Taylor Pass - Colorado
• Tennessee Pass - Colorado
• Teton Pass - Wyoming
• Tijeras Canyon - New Mexico
• Togwotee Pass - Wyoming
• Tomichi Pass - Colorado
• Trout Creek Pass - Colorado
• Tumbling Pass - British Columbia
• Two Ocean Pass - Wyoming
• Ute Pass - Colorado
• Vail Pass - Colorado
• Vermilion Pass - Alberta, British Columbia
• Wilkerson Pass - Colorado
• Willow Creek Pass - Colorado
• Wolf Creek Pass - Colorado
• Yellowhead Pass - Alberta, British Columbia
• Yellow Jacket Pass - Colorado
• Trail Ridge Road includes Milner Pass (10,120 ft/3,085 m), but elsewhere attains an elevation of 12,183 ft (3,713 m), making it the highest through paved road in the United States.

Selkirk Mountains

• Rogers Pass - British Columbia

Sierra Nevada

• Carson Pass
• Donner Pass
• Ebbetts Pass
• Forester Pass
• Fredonyer Pass
• Monitor Pass
• Muir Pass
• Sonora Pass
• Tioga Pass
• Walker Pass
• Tehachapis
• Tehachapi Pass
• Tejon Pass

South America

Andes

• Paso Agua Negra, Chile-Argentina (connects between La Serena and San José de Jachal)
• Paso Cardenal Samoré (Formerly know as Puyehue), Chile-Argentina (connects between Osorno and San Carlos de Bariloche)
• Paso Carirriñe, Chile-Argentina (connects between Panguipulli and Junín de los Andes)
• Paso Chungará, Chile-Bolivia (connects between Arica and La Paz)
• Paso Colchane - Pisigua, Chile-Bolivia (connects between Iquique and Oruro)
• Paso Derecho, Chile-Argentina (connects between Los Ángeles and Zapala)
• Paso Futalefú, Chile-Argentina (connects between Chaitén and Esquel)
• Paso Huahum, Chile-Argentina (connects between Panguipulli and San Martín de los Andes)
• Paso Jama, Chile-Argentina (connects between San Pedro de Atacama and San Salvador de Jujuy)
• Paso Libertadores, Chile-Argentina (connects between Santiago and Mendoza)
• Paso Mamuil Malal, Chile-Argentina (connects between Pucón and Junín de los Andes)
• Paso Pérez Rosales, Chile-Argentina (connects between Puerto Varas and San Carlos de Bariloche)
• Paso Pino Hachado, Chile-Argentina (connects between Temuco and Zapala)
• Paso Pircas Negras, Chile-Argentina (connects between Copiapó and Chilecito)
• Paso Río Encuentro, Chile-Argentina (connects between Palena and Tecka)
• Paso Roballo, Chile-Argentina (connects between Cochrane and Bajo Caracoles)
• Paso San Francisco, Chile-Argentina (connects between Copiapó and Tinogasta)
• Paso el Condor, Mérida State, Venezuela. Also known as Pico el Águila

Chilean Coast Range

• Contulmo Pass, Nahuelbuta Range (connects between Contulmo and Purén)

 

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