The Pamir Mountains are a mountain range in Central Asia formed by the junction of the Himalayas, Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun and Hindu Kush mountain ranges. They are among the world's highest mountains and since Victorian times they have been known as the 'Roof of the World', a probable translation from the Persian. The Zhongba Gonglu or Karakoram Highway is an engineering marvel that was opened in 1986 and remains the highest paved road in the world. It connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, through the Kunjerab Pass, at an altitude of 4,693 metres (15,397 ft).