Karakoram

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Highest Karakoram peaks as seen from International Space Station

Karakoram is a mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan, China, and India, located in the regions of Gilgit, Ladakh and Baltistan. It is one of the Greater Ranges of Asia, often considered together with the Himalaya, but not technically part of that range. The Karakoram is home to more than sixty peaks above 7,000m (22,960 ft), including K2, the second highest peak of the world (8,611 m, 28,244 ft). Most of these peaks are in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The range is about 500 km (300 mi) in length, and is the most heavily glaciated part of the world outside of the polar regions. Karakoram means "black gravel" in Turkish, as many of the surrounding glaciers are covered in rubble.

The Karakoram is bounded on the northeast by the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, and on the north by the Wakhan Corridor and the Pamir Mountains. To the southwest lies the Hindu Raj range. The southern boundary of the Karakoram is formed by the Gilgit, Indus, and Shyok Rivers, which separate the range from the northwestern end of the Himalaya range proper.

Due to its altitude and ruggedness, the Karakoram is much less inhabited than parts of the Himalayas further east. European explorers first visited early in the 19th century, followed by British surveyors starting in 1856.

The Muztagh Pass was crossed in 1887 by the expedition of Colonel Francis Younghusband and the valleys above the Hunza River were explored by George Cockerill in 1892. Explorations in the 1910s and 1920s established most of the geography of the region.

Geological importance

Highest peaks

K2 (Qogir Feng)

Most of the highest of Karakoram peaks are in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Notable peaks are:

• K2 (Qogir Feng) (8,611 m)
• Gasherbrum I (8,068 m)
• Broad Peak (Phalchen Kangri) (8,047 m)
• Gasherbrum II (8,035 m)
• Gasherbrum IV (7,925 m)
• Distaghil Sar (7,885 m)
• Masherbrum (7,821 m)
• Rakaposhi (7,788 m)
• Kanjut Sar (7,761 m)
• Saser Kangri (7,672 m)
• Chogolisa (7,665m)
• Haramosh Peak (7,397 m)
• The Ogre (7,285 m)
• Muztagh Tower (7,273 m)

Subranges

• Batura Muztagh
• Rakaposhi-Haramosh Mountains
• Spantik-Sosbun Mountains
• Hispar Muztagh
• South Ghujerab Mountains
• Panmah Muztagh
• Wesm Mountains
• Masherbrum Mountains
• Baltoro Muztagh
• Saltoro Mountains
• Siachen Muztagh
• Rimo Muztagh
• Saser Muztagh

References

     Geography of South Asia