Karakoram
In the mountainious region of Gilgit-Baltistan or the Northern Areas of Pakistan the Karakoram is one of the great mountain ranges of the Himalayas, with many of the highest and most daunting peaks of the world. It is located on the border of Pakistan and India with China, about 500 km (300 mi) in length, and is the most heavily glaciated part of the world outside of the polar regions.
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.
Highest peaks
The Karakoram's highest peaks include, among others:
- K2 (8,611 m)
- Gasherbrum I (8,068 m)
- Broad Peak (8,047 m)
- Gasherbrum II (8,035 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)
- Muztagh Tower (7,273 m)
See also: Karakorum highway, Geography of China
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