Karakoram Range of Pakistan

Pakistan is blessed with five out of the world’s fourteen highest independent peaks. Most of them are in the Karakoram Range which spans borders between three countries namely- China, India and Pakistan.

In Pakistan, this range is located in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan. This area has more than one hundred mountain peaks with the heights exceeding 6,100metres (20,000 ft.) from the sea level.

The Karakoram Range is spread about 500 kilometers length wise and over 192 kilometers width wise. It is surrounded by other great mountain ranges like Himalayas on its Southwest, Kun-Lu Chain of China on the north, Pamirs on its West and Tibetan Plateau on its East.

The Great River Indus which is one of the 15 longest rivers of the world, flows through the Karakoram and the Himalayas. K2 the 2^nd highest peak of the world and the Trango Tower are parts of this great range.

The Karakoram Range has the highest and the youngest mountains of the world growing 4 centimeters every 10 years. The great Karakoram’s along with their mighty heights and vast lush green valleys were discovered in 1860’s by Captain Austen. The range has the world’s largest glaciers outside the Polar Regions.

The popular Karakoram Highway between Pakistan and China is surely a marvel of the joint efforts of the two countries. It stretches a distance of 616 km from Thakot to the top of Khunjrab Pass about 15,072 feet high. It is considered to be the eighth wonder of the world.