Karakoram name is given to the mountains range that expands from Pakistan, China, India and stretches into Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
People come visit the Northern Areas of Gilgit Baltistan in Pakistan to visit the Karakoram. People come for different reasons, some come to scale the highest mountains, others come to trek over the glaciers and some come to stay in the valleys among these mountains.
HOME OF HIGHEST MOUNTAINS
Karakoram is home to the heighest mountains including world’s second highest K2. People go to the Karakoram to find the ultimate adventure. This include expeditions, rock climbing, base-camp trekking to the 8000 m and 7000 m mountains. Some mountains are famous for the position as the highest in the world other are famous for their notorious climbs.
LONGEST GLACIERS
Karakoram holds the three longest glaciers outside the polar region. 76 km (47 mi) long Siachen in the Karakoram is second-longest in the world’s non-polar areas. Biafo Glacier, 67 km (42 mi), Boltoro glacier 63km (39 mi), Batura Glacier 57 km and Hispar Glacier 49 km long glaciers are in the Karakoram Mountains of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan.
PASSES THAT CROSS OVER TO OTHER TERRITORIES
Passes are the routes over mountains used to travel and transverse into new lands. Since mountains presented as a big hurdles in travelling during ancient time Passes were marked as safe routes that both man and animals would use to cross over to different territories. Karakoram mountains are huge and the weather is very harsh. Thus important passes allowed people to move around into neighbouring region. the most famous of these passes is Khunjerab Pass that has turned into Pak-China border crossing, highest in the world. Other passes include Kilik Pass, Mintaka Pass, Mustagh Pass, Naltar Pass or Pakora Pass.
HIGH ALTITUDE GLACIAL LAKE
Sheosar lake is located in Deosai and it at an height of height of 4,142 metres (13,589 ft). Rush Lake is an alpine lake in Nagar Valley at an height of 4,694 metres (15,400 ft). Other famous lakes include Attabad lake, Rama Lake, Satpara Lake, etc.
NATIONAL PARK
Central Karakoram National Park is the largest National Park in Pakistan. It is located in Baltistan region and encompasses some of the world’s highest mountains including K2, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, Broad Peak. It also includes Baltoro, Panmah, Biafo and Hispar glaciers and other small glaciers. Other National Parks are Khunjerab National Park, Deosai National Park, etc
VALLEYS IN THE KARAKORAM
The valleys in the Karakoram are fascinating as each is different yet somehow similar to each other. The landscape changes quickly as some valley get narrower with terrace farming while others are wide on the bank of river. The people have distinct culture, origin, history, religion, norms, food and way of life. Famous Valleys; Hunza, Skardu, Gilgit, Astore, Chilas.
SILK-ROUTE AND THE KKH
The Karakoram Highway was constructed by Chinese and Pakistani people by cutting the mountains before it was build.people used to travel on foot. The history of the construction is amazing and stories before it is amazing. Equally interesting are the ancient pilgrim and trade route as they have left their marks along the way. Many carving of Buddha pilgrim are all along the routes and even in the valleys.
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