Anzob Tunnel – Tunnel of Fear/Death

The link between Tajikistan's north and south is 5,040 meters of tunnelled asphalt, one step away from the old dirt road that is regularly closed due to frequent avalanches almost throughout the year. The construction of this route between the major cities of Dushanbe and Khujand has allowed trade to flow with much less interruption and Tajikistan no longer has to be split in half for the entire winter season.

The Anzob Tunnel is said to be the most dangerous tunnel in the world. Called the Tunnel of Fear and the Tunnel of Death by the locals, this tunnel lacks proper lighting and ventilation, making it difficult and painful to breathe due to the thick mixture of exhaust gases.

Although the tunnel was opened to traffic in 2007, the 5 km link was not fully completed. Some repairs had to be made in the following years, but shortages of funds meant that all work was halted in 2010.

The tunnel supports heavy traffic. The tunnel, also known as the Istiqlol tunnel or the Ushtur Tunnel, is at an altitude of 2,750 m.

The Anzob Tunnel in Tajikistan is a tunnel connecting the capital of the country, Dushanbe with the northern regions of the country located in the province of Sughd, including the city of Khujand, the second city of Tajikistan, as well as Tashkent, the capital of the Uzbekistan. Located 80 kilometres north of the capital, and 5 kilometres long, it allows you to easily cross the Gissar mountains 12 km west of the Anzob pass, over 3,300 meters high and snow covered nine months a year. The tunnel, located at an altitude of 2700m, provides passage to the country's main road, the M34. It saves some five hours on the journey time between Dushanbe and the north of the country (Khujand is in the rich Ferghana valley, less than 150 kilometres from Tashkent).

The tunnel, like the main road, is part of a large project for a road that would start in Iran and then pass through the towns of Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif in northwestern Afghanistan, Shir Khan Bandar at the border, and from there to Tajikistan (Nijne Piandj-Dushanbe-Anzob-Khodjent tunnel), then to China. This road was named "New Silk Road".