Gilgit Baltistan is located between the Karakoram Mountains and the Himalayas. The Karakoram is a word from the Turkish language which means black stone. This series begins on the northernmost tip of the Hindu Kush near Pamir and passes through the north of Baltistan and ends 300 miles in the east. Here it is 60 miles wide and somewhere it is 30 miles wide.
From the source of the River Gilgit to the source of the Nubra River is called Blour Tagh or Blour range. The area from the source of the Nubra River to the source of the Shyok River is known exclusively as the Karakoram.
There are about 300 highest peaks in the Karakoram Range, of which 100 peaks are between 20,000 and 28,000 feet high. The world’s second-highest peak, K2, is located in Baltistan, 125 miles away by road and 65 miles away by air from Skardu City.
K-2 The Choghori is located in Baltistan
The local name of K-2 in Balti language is Choghori that means a huge mountain. During the measurement, the high peaks were named in the order of Karakoram No. 1 No. 2 and marked as K-1 for Masherbrum and K-2 for Chogori. K2 is located on the GODWIN AUSTIN Glacier on the Baltistan-Xinjiang border. This peak is 8611 meters (28250 feet) high which was first climbed on July 31, 1954, by two Italian mountaineers.
Peaks and Glaciers in Gilgit Baltistan
This is followed by Hidden Peak 8068 meters, Broad Peak 8051 meters, Gasherbrum 8035meters, Kyangshes 7852 meters, Masherbrum 7821meters, Batura 7785 meters, Treyur 7728 meters, Chogolingsa 7668 meters.
Skyangang Ri 7544 meters, Seygang Ri 7422 meters, Baltoro 7312 meters, Skilbrum 7360 meters, Baintha Braq 7285 meters, Somagang Ri 7286 meters, Mustagh 7284 meters, Latouq 7145 meters and Spaangtik 7027 meters are the famous peaks.
There are 40 large glaciers in the Mustagh Karakoram range; the largest is the Siachen glacier, which is 46.6 miles long and 6166 meters high.
It is followed by Batura 34 miles long and Baltoro 32.5 miles long and other major glaciers include Biafo, Bluffond, Gondoghoro, Godwin Austin, ChhogoLogma, Chhogolingsa, Chhomig, Gashabrum, Mashabrum, Serpolago, Broad peak Glacier, Hesper, Byar Chedi Ka Beri, Vein, Virjerab, Bazgal, Khordpen, etc, Included.
The second range is the Himalayas, which starts from the Indus River at Diamer and runs south of Baltistan to Brahumputr Assam, about 1,500 miles to the east.
The word Himalaya is a Sanskrit language word, which means ”house of ice”. Only a small part of it is in Pakistan. The famous Nanga Parbat peak, 8126 meters (26660 feet) high, is located in this part.
The world’s highest peak, Mount Everest is located in the Nepalese part of the range. The peak is 8848 meters (29028 feet high). There are also several large glaciers and high peaks in the Himalayas. In addition to natural glaciers, there are a number of artificial pet glaciers in Baltistan from which water is obtained for irrigation.
Read also: Bilamik Valley: The best tourist destination in Gilgit Baltistan
