Cross Pass is the highest point of the Daryal Gorge above sea level. Its height reaches 2379 meters. Here travelers cross the Main Caucasian Ridge. The Terek River flows to the north of the pass, and the White Aragvi River flows to the south. The road on the pass is a rather complicated serpentine. The main attraction on the pass is the Peoples` Friendship Arch.
The Daryal Gorge is the only one in the central part of the Caucasian Ridge where it is possible to create a highway. The Cross Pass is the lowest of all that are in the surrounding mountains: Klukhort pass (2781 m), Mamison Pass (2911 m), Roksky Pass (2996 m). These passes have been covered with snow for more than six months, and the organization of transport communication along them is impossible.
The Peoples` Friendship Arch on the Cross Pass was installed in 1983. This year, the conclusion of the St. George`s Convention of 1783 was celebrated, according to which Georgia became part of the Russian Empire. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Georgia was located in the middle of the territories of Iran and Turkey. Islam was the state religion there, and Georgia was one of the first in the world to adopt Christianity in 319. Contradictions with Iran and Turkey posed a threat to the continued existence of Georgia, so in 1783 the princes of Georgia signed the St. George`s Convention on voluntary membership in Orthodox Russian Empire.
The Friendship Arch was created by the Georgian architect Zurab Tsereteli. It is a monument on the edge of a cliff, with mosaic panels in the Georgian style. This arch is also an observation deck of the Cross Pass. It offers a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, as well as the Valley of the White Aragvi River. At this point, the river flows deep at the bottom of the gorge.
Mountains with a high avalanche danger rise above the Cross Pass. Because of this, the highway along the Daryal Gorge is often closed in winter, despite it is the only road that connects Georgia and Russia. In the future, the Georgian authorities plan to build a tunnel under the most dangerous section of the Cross Pass, which will make the Georgian-Military Road year-round.
