The Eighth Wonder of the World: A highway carved through the Karakoram

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Stretching 1,300 km through some of Earth's most rugged terrain, the Karakoram Highway is a feat of engineering that connects Pakistan and China. Built through treacherous mountains and shifting glaciers, this high-altitude artery has cost hundreds of lives but remains a vital link for the Silk Road's ancient paths.

The Karakoram Highway (KKH) is a massive 1,300 km (810 mi) engineering project that links Hasan Abdal in Pakistan to the Khunjerab Pass, where it becomes China National Highway 314. At its peak near the pass, this route reaches 4,714 m (15,466 ft), making it among the planet's highest paved highways. Often called the 'Eighth Wonder of the World,' its building through the Pamir, Hindu Kush, and Karakoram ranges proved incredibly difficult.

A heavy human toll defines the history of this road. Started in 1962 and completed in 1979, the joint Chinese-Pakistani project required the labor of approximately 24,000 workers. The construction was plagued by landslides, rockfalls, and avalanches. It is estimated that about 810 Pakistanis and 200 Chinese workers died during the process. Over 140 Chinese workers who perished are buried in a dedicated cemetery in Gilgit.

The highway's route was not a foregone conclusion. Pakistan originally favored the Mintaka Pass, but China recommended the steeper Khunjerab Pass in 1966, citing that Mintaka would be more vulnerable to air strikes. Today, the highway serves as a strategic military and economic artery, particularly for Pakistan and China, and is part of the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. It also provides access to world-renowned peaks like Nanga Parbat, the 9th highest mountain in the world.

The road is not immune to the mountains it traverses. In 2010, a massive landslide created Attabad Lake, which inundated over 20 km (12 mi) of the highway. This forced a major realignment involving the construction of five new tunnels and several bridges, a project completed in September 2015 at a cost of $275 million.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Forty kilometres of mountain road funnelled armies, Buddhism and silk for millennia
• Known as the Roof of the World, the Pamir Mountains hold ancient, icy secrets.
• The Indus River is the vital artery sustaining life across Pakistan's diverse, rugged landscape.
• How India builds roads in the world's most hostile and inaccessible mountain terrain
• Turkic “black gravel” names Earth’s most glaciated mid-latitude range
• From Capitol Hill to the anchor desk: the career of journalist Kasie Hunt
• The Karakalpaks: Why a Name Meaning Black Hat Causes Historical Confusion
• In the Katamari franchise, players roll up the world to rebuild the cosmos
• The Jewish sect that rejected centuries of tradition to follow only the written word
• How a military academy dropout became the highest-profile gay superhero in Gotham City
• Kalamata is more than just an olive; it is a city of ancient secrets.
• Why a ruthless villainous archetype became a beloved hero

More in Traditions & customs · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics