According to legend, its Pass of Counted Stones was named when Tamerlane ordered his army to gather stones from Lake Issyk Kul and place them at the pass so he could count his casualties.  
Khan Tengri, discovered by Prince Cesare Borghese, was thought to be its highest peak until this century.  Much of it is inhabited except for the densely populated Fergana Valley.  According to legend, its Pass of Counted Stones was named when Tamerlane ordered his army to gather stones from Lake Issyk Kul and place them at the pass so he could count his casualties.  Its actual highest peak is Pobeda Peak, discovered by Red Army explorers in 1943.   FTP, name this range of mountains between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China, whose name means "Celestial Mountains" in Chinese.
Khan Tengri, discovered by Prince Cesare Borghese, was thought to be its highest peak until this century.  
Tien Shan or T'ien Shan or Tian Shan or Tyan Shan