Why was Zigana Pass important?
Turkey, europe
25 km
2,050 m
hard
Year-round
Zigana Dagi Geçidi, or Zigana Pass, sits way up in the Northern Anatolian Mountains of Turkey, right on the border of Gümüşhane and Trabzon provinces. We're talking a lung-busting 2,050 meters (6,725 feet) above sea level! This place was a vital artery on the old Silk Road, connecting traders to the port of Trabzon.
Zigana Pass gets its name from the cute little village of Zigana, which is famous for its skiing. Don’t let the name fool you, though; this pass has a wild side! This road is only 25 km (15.53 miles) long, but this road is legendary for its tricky conditions. The area is known for blizzards, avalanches, and a high risk of rock falls. The old trading Greeks even had a saying, "Si Zigana Ke Zison" (Try to survive in Zigana)! It's covered in snow for about five months of the year, so you know the weather can be intense.
Don't worry, the road is paved, but you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for those hazards. Because of the extreme weather, they built the Zigana Tunnel back in '88. It's north of the pass at 1,795m (5,889ft) and is 1,702m (5,584ft) long.
Road Details
- Country
- Turkey
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 25 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,050 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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