TRANS-ALAY RANGE

Kyrgyz Chong Alay Kyrka Toosu, Tajik Qatorkuhi Pasi Oloy mountain range on the frontier between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. It is the most northerly range of the Pamirs and extends for 150 miles (240 km) east-west in an unbroken chain of snow-covered peaks between the lush summer pastures of the broad Alay valley to the north and the Muksu and Markansu valleys to the south. Its highest point is Lenin Peak, at 23,406 feet (7,134 m). The total area of glaciation is 461 square miles (1,194 square km). The vegetation on the lower slopes is steppe and alpine pasture. The Osh-Khorugh road, or Pamirs Highway, crosses the Kyzylart Pass, which lies at 14,042 feet (4,280 m) in the eastern part of the range.