Tera Pass

Tera Pass
Elevation	9,498 ft (2,895 m)
Traversed by	Commercial and civilian traffic
Location	Afghanistan
Range	Hindukush Mountains
Coordinates	33°45′27.6″N 69°08′55.4″E

The Tera Pass is the primary route connecting Logar and Paktia provinces in Afghanistan. The pass was unimproved until 2006, when construction of a paved surface was completed as part of the ongoing international reconstruction effort.

History

The pass has been in use since Antiquity, and serves as one of the primary passes connecting Kabul to India. Unlike the Khost-Gardez Pass to the south, the Tera Pass is only sporadically inhabited. Alternate passes exist through Logar's Kharwar district to the west.

Geography

The pass crosses a rugged mountain ridge with nearby peaks topping out at 11,000'. The pass itself rises approximately 3,500' from the lowest part of Logar, and descends approximately 2,000' into the Gardez river valley to the south. The pass receives heavy snowfall during the winter months, often to the point of being impassable. Snow tends to persist into the summer months on the north-facing side of the mountain ridge.

People

The Tera Pass area is largely uninhabited, with only minor settlements on the north side of the pass.

Security

The pass is relatively secure, owing to the presence of ANP checkpoints, daunting geography and paved surface, which makes IED attacks more difficult.