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Saltoro Mountains

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Legend: 1: K2 ,  2: Gasherbrum I, K5 ,  3: Broad Peak ,  4: Gasherbrum II, K4 ,  5: Gasherbrum III, K3a ,  6: Gasherbrum IV, K3 ,  7: Distaghil Sar ,  8: Kunyang Chhish ,  9: Masherbrum, K1 ,  10: Batura Sar, Batura I ,  11: Rakaposhi ,  12: Batura II ,  13: Kanjut Sar ,  14: Saltoro Kangri, K10 ,  15: Batura III ,  16: Saser Kangri I, K22 ,  17: Chogolisa ,  18: Shispare ,  19: Trivor Sar ,  20: Skyang Kangri ,  21: Mamostong Kangri, K35 ,  22: Saser Kangri II ,  23: Saser Kangri III ,  24: Pumari Chhish ,  25: Passu Sar ,  26: Yukshin Gardan Sar ,  27: Teram Kangri I ,  28: Malubiting ,  29: K12 ,  30: Sia Kangri ,  31: Momhil Sar ,  32: Skil Brum ,  33: Haramosh Peak ,  34: Ghent Kangri ,  35: Ultar Sar ,  36: Rimo massif ,  37: Sherpi Kangri ,  38: Yazghil Dome South ,  39: Baltoro Kangri ,  40: Crown Peak ,  41: Baintha Brakk ,  42: Yutmaru Sar ,  43: K6 ,  44: Muztagh Tower ,  45: Diran ,  46: Apsarasas Kangri I ,  47: Rimo III ,  48: Gasherbrum V

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34-705: The Saltoro Mountains form a subrange within the Karakoram Range and are situated in the southeastern part of the Karakoram. They lie on the southwest side of the Siachen Glacier , which is one of the two longest glaciers in the world outside the polar regions. The name "Saltoro" is also associated with the Saltoro Valley , located west of this range and descending on the Pakistani side of

68-713: A French expedition to the range in 1936. The film won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival of 1937. Greg Mortenson details the Karakoram, and specifically K2 and the Balti , extensively in his book Three Cups of Tea , about his quest to build schools for children in the region. K2 Kahani (The K2 Story) by Mustansar Hussain Tarar describes his experiences at K2 base camp. Saltoro Kangri Saltoro Kangri , previously known as Peak 36 , stands as

102-517: Is a list for the highest peaks of the Karakoram. Included are some of the mountains named with a K code, the most famous of which is the K2 (mountain) . The majority of the highest peaks are in the Gilgit–Baltistan region administered by Pakistan. Baltistan has more than 100 mountain peaks exceeding 6,100 metres (20,000 ft) height from sea level. The naming and division of the various subranges of

136-542: Is about 500 km (311 mi) in length and is the most glaciated place on Earth outside the polar regions . The Siachen Glacier (76 km (47 mi) long) and Biafo Glacier (63 km (39 mi) long) are the second- and third-longest glaciers outside the polar regions. The Karakoram is bounded on the east by the Aksai Chin plateau, on the northeast by the edge of the Tibetan Plateau and on

170-415: Is the only motorable pass across the range. The Shimshal Pass (which does not cross an international border) is the only other pass still in regular use. The Karakoram mountain range has been referred to in a number of novels and movies. Rudyard Kipling refers to the Karakoram mountain range in his novel Kim , which was first published in 1900. Marcel Ichac made a film titled Karakoram , chronicling

204-627: Is used for the taller of the two peaks, Saltoro Kangri I. This peak ranks as the 31st highest mountain globally and is located in the remote reaches of the Karakoram. It lies on the Actual Ground Position Line , dividing Indian-controlled territory in the Siachen region from Pakistani-controlled territory to the west of the Saltoro Range. The mountain underwent reconnaissance by Fanny Bullock Workman and her husband in

238-655: The Shaksgam ceded by Pakistan to China via the 1963 Sino-Pakistan Agreement but also claimed by India and Aksai Chin held by China since 1962 but also claimed by India. The Shaksgam Tract controlled by China is located north of the Saltoro mountain range from the Apsarasas Kangri Range to 90 km northwest of K2 . The AGPL runs roughly along the Saltoro Mountains from Point NJ9842 on

272-665: The 1910s and 1920s established most of the geography of the region. The name Karakoram was used in the early 20th century, for example by Kenneth Mason , for the range now known as the Baltoro Muztagh . The term is now used to refer to the entire range from the Batura Muztagh above Hunza in the west to the Saser Muztagh in the bend of the Shyok River in the east. Floral surveys were carried out in

306-700: The 1960s showed the Line of Control between Pakistani and Indian territory running from the last defined point in the 1949 Karachi Agreement , NJ9842 , east-northeast to the Karakoram Pass , thus putting the whole of Saltoro Kangri and the entire Siachen Glacier in Pakistan. However, the Simla Agreement defined the Line of Control no further than point NJ9842 other than with the phrase "thence north to

340-528: The AGPL. The following is a table of the peaks in the Saltoro Mountains which are over 7,200 metres (23,622 ft) in elevation and have over 500 metres (1,640 ft) of topographic prominence . (This is a common criterion for peaks of this stature to be independent.) Karakoram The Karakoram ( / ˌ k ɑːr ə ˈ k ɔːr əm , ˌ k ær -/ ) is a mountain range in the Kashmir region spanning

374-571: The Himalaya and 2.2 percent of the Alps . Mountain glaciers may serve as an indicator of climate change, advancing and receding with long-term changes in temperature and precipitation. The Karakoram glaciers are slightly retreating, unlike the Himalayas where glaciers are losing mass at significantly higher rate, many Karakoram glaciers are covered in a layer of rubble which insulates the ice from

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408-645: The India-Pakistan LoC to near La Yongma Ri , Gyong La , Gyong Kangri , Chumik Kangri , Bilafond La (pass) and nearby Bana Post , Saltoro Kangri , Ghent Kangri , and Sia La to the India–Pakistan–China trijunction northwest of Indira Col West on the Sino-Indian LAC . The peaks and passes under Pakistan's control such as Gayari Camp , Chogolisa , Baltoro Glacier , Conway Saddle , Baltoro Muztagh , and Gasherbrum lie west of

442-517: 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 General Sir George K. Cockerill in 1892. Explorations in

476-918: The Karakoram is not universally agreed upon. However, the following is a list of the most important subranges, following Jerzy Wala. The ranges are listed roughly west to east. [REDACTED] 1 : Sia La , [REDACTED] 2 : Bilafond La , [REDACTED] 3 : Gyong La , [REDACTED] 4 : Sasser Pass , [REDACTED] 5 : Burji La , [REDACTED] 6 : Machulo La , [REDACTED] 7 : Naltar Pass , [REDACTED] 8 : Hispar Pass , [REDACTED] 9 : Shimshal Pass , [REDACTED] 10 : Karakoram Pass , [REDACTED] 11 : Turkistan La Pass , [REDACTED] 12 : Windy Gap , [REDACTED] 13 : Mustagh Pass , [REDACTED] 14 : Sarpo Laggo Pass , [REDACTED] 15 : Khunjerab Pass , [REDACTED] 16 : Mutsjliga Pass , [REDACTED] 17 : Mintaka Pass , [REDACTED] 18 : Kilik Pass Passes from west to east are: The Khunjerab Pass

510-1006: The Kondus Glacier separates the range from the neighboring Masherbrum Mountains , while on the southeast, the Gyong River, Glacier, and Pass ( Gyong La ) separate the northern Saltoro Mountains from the southern Saltoro Mountains or "Kailas Mountains" (not to be confused with Tibet 's sacred Mount Kailash ). The actual India-Pakistan boundary is divided into 4 types of borders: disputed Sir Creek (SC) riverine border, mutually agreed India–Pakistan International Border (IB) from north of Sir Creek to north of Dhalan near Jammu , Line of Control (LoC) across disputed Kashmir and Ladakh regions from north of Dhalan in India and west of Chicken's Neck in Pakistan to Point NJ9842 , and Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) across Siachen from Point NJ9842 to Indira Col West . Siachen lies south of

544-499: The People's Republic of China for UNESCO and have been tentatively added to the list. Karakoram is a Turkic term meaning black gravel . The Central Asian traders originally applied the name to the Karakoram Pass . Early European travellers, including William Moorcroft and George Hayward , started using the term for the range of mountains west of the pass, although they also used the term Muztagh (meaning, "Ice Mountain") for

578-552: The Saltoro Range, which generally follows the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL). Saltoro Kangri peak, Saltoro River , and Saltoro Valley are features within the Saltoro Mountains range. The Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) demarcates the boundary between the areas held by India and Pakistan in this region. In the Siachen area, India controls the high peaks and passes, while Pakistan occupies

612-724: The Shyok River catchment and from Panamik to Turtuk village by Chandra Prakash Kala during 1999 and 2000. The Karakoram is in one of the world's most geologically active areas, at the plate boundary between the Indo-Australian plate and the Eurasian plate . A significant part, somewhere between 28 and 50 percent, of the Karakoram Range is glaciated covering an area of more than 15,000 square kilometres or 5,800 square miles, compared to between 8 and 12 percent of

646-493: The Siachen conflict of 1984. The first ascent of Saltoro Kangri was in July 1962, by a joint Japanese-Pakistani expedition led by T. Shidei. This piggyback expedition put A. Saito, Y. Takamura and Pakistani climber R.A. Bashir on the top on July 24, following the S.E. ridge route. The peak was again climbed by an Indian Army expedition led by Colonel Narendra Kumar in 1981. US maps of the area and many world atlases starting in

680-543: The border of Pakistan , China , and India , with the northwestern extremity of the range extending to Afghanistan and Tajikistan . Most of the Karakoram mountain range falls under the jurisdiction of Gilgit-Baltistan , which is located in Pakistan. Its highest (and the world's second-highest ) peak, K2 , is located in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan . It begins in the Wakhan Corridor (Afghanistan) in

714-499: The highest peak within the Saltoro Mountains subrange, which is part of the larger Karakoram range. This subrange is also referred to as the Saltoro Range and is situated within the Karakoram region. The term "Saltoro Kangri" typically encompasses both of its twin peaks, Saltoro Kangri I (located to the south) and Saltoro Kangri II, which are connected by a saddle . When comparing heights, the generic term "Saltoro Kangri"

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748-512: The leadership of Eric Shipton , a British university expedition approached the mountain via the Bilafond La route, entering from Pakistan and operating under a Pakistani climbing permit. However, they chose not to make a summit attempt. Unintentionally, this expedition marked the initial maneuver in the consequential oropolitics dispute over the Siachen conflict , ultimately culminating in

782-504: The lower peaks and valleys to the west. The Saltoro Mountains are part of the Lesser Karakorams and are situated on the southwestern side of the major Karakoram glaciers, including the Siachen , Baltoro , Biafo and Hispar Glacier , which run from east to west. The primary ridge of the Karakoram Range is located to the northeast of these glaciers. The subranges of the main ridge are generally referred to as "Muztagh," while

816-610: The mountain commenced from the Likah Glacier, with the objective of ascending the South East ridge. They successfully established a final camp on June 19th, yet their altitude estimation proved to be inaccurate. An attempt to reach the summit the following day, amidst worsening weather conditions, was thwarted as they were required to ascend an additional 3500 feet. Hunt and Brotherhood managed to reach an elevation of 24,500 feet but were compelled to turn around. In 1957, under

850-515: The mountain groups within the Lesser Karakorams are often designated as individual mountains , ranges or groups . The Saltoro Range is claimed by India as part of the Ladakh region and as part of the Gilgit–Baltistan region by Pakistan . Between 1984 and 1987, India assumed military control of the main peaks and passes of the range, with Pakistani forces holding the glacial valleys just to

884-723: The north by the river valleys of the Yarkand and Karakash rivers beyond which lie the Kunlun Mountains . At the northwest corner are the Pamir Mountains . The southern boundary of the Karakoram is formed, west to east, by the Gilgit , Indus and Shyok rivers , which separate the range from the northwestern end of the Himalaya range proper. These rivers flow northwest before making an abrupt turn southwestward towards

918-520: The north, the Karakoram glaciers joined those from the Kunlun Mountains and flowed down to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in the Tarim basin. While the current valley glaciers in the Karakoram reach a maximum length of 76 kilometres (47 mi), several of the ice-age valley glacier branches and main valley glaciers, had lengths up to 700 kilometres (430 mi). During the Ice Age, the glacier snowline

952-678: The plains of Pakistan . Roughly in the middle of the Karakoram range is the Karakoram Pass , which was part of a historic trade route between Ladakh and Yarkand that is now inactive. The Tashkurghan National Nature Reserve and the Pamir Wetlands National Nature Reserve in the Karalorun and Pamir mountains have been nominated for inclusion in UNESCO in 2010 by the National Commission of

986-597: The range now known as Karakoram. Later terminology was influenced by the Survey of India , whose surveyor Thomas Montgomerie in the 1850s gave the labels K1 to K6 (K for Karakoram) to six high mountains visible from his station at Mount Haramukh in Kashmir Valley , codes extended further up to more than thirty. In traditional Indian geography the mountains were known as Krishnagiri (black mountains), Kanhagiri and Kanheri . Due to its altitude and ruggedness,

1020-601: The warmth of the sun. Where there is no such insulation, the rate of retreat is high. In the last ice age , a connected series of glaciers stretched from western Tibet to Nanga Parbat , and from the Tarim basin to the Gilgit District . To the south, the Indus glacier was the main valley glacier, which flowed 120 kilometres (75 mi) down from Nanga Parbat massif to 870 metres (2,850 ft) elevation. In

1054-659: The west, encompasses the majority of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan and extends into Ladakh (controlled by India) and Aksai Chin (controlled by China). It is part of the larger Trans-Himalayan mountain ranges. The Karakoram is the second-highest mountain range on Earth and part of a complex of ranges that includes the Pamir Mountains , Hindu Kush , and Himalayas . The range contains 18 summits higher than 7,500 m (24,600 ft) in elevation , with four above 8,000 m (26,000 ft): K2 (8,611 m (28,251 ft) AMSL ) (the second-highest peak on Earth), Gasherbrum I , Broad Peak , and Gasherbrum II . The range

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1088-577: The west. Hence, despite high peaks and dramatic climbing opportunities, they are rarely visited except by military forces due to the ongoing Siachen Conflict . On the southwest side, the Saltoro Mountains drop steeply to the valleys of the Kondus and Dansam Rivers, which join to form the Saltoro River, a tributary of the Shyok River . This in turn flows into the Indus River . To the northwest,

1122-558: The year 1911-12. The initial endeavor to conquer the peak, which was then denoted as "Peak 36," took place in 1935, led by a British expedition headed by James Waller and John Hunt . Hunt's involvement in the expedition had been suggested by the Himalayan Club in Calcutta. Among the expedition's members were Rowland Brotherhood and Dr. Steward Carslaw, accompanied by two Sherpas named Palden and Dawa Thondup . Their approach to

1156-1511: Was about 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) lower than today. Legend: 1: K2 ,  2: Gasherbrum I, K5 ,  3: Broad Peak ,  4: Gasherbrum II, K4 ,  5: Gasherbrum III, K3a ,  6: Gasherbrum IV, K3 ,  7: Distaghil Sar ,  8: Kunyang Chhish ,  9: Masherbrum, K1 ,  10: Batura Sar, Batura I ,  11: Rakaposhi ,  12: Batura II ,  13: Kanjut Sar ,  14: Saltoro Kangri, K10 ,  15: Batura III ,  16: Saser Kangri I, K22 ,  17: Chogolisa ,  18: Shispare ,  19: Trivor Sar ,  20: Skyang Kangri ,  21: Mamostong Kangri, K35 ,  22: Saser Kangri II ,  23: Saser Kangri III ,  24: Pumari Chhish ,  25: Passu Sar ,  26: Yukshin Gardan Sar ,  27: Teram Kangri I ,  28: Malubiting ,  29: K12 ,  30: Sia Kangri ,  31: Momhil Sar ,  32: Skil Brum ,  33: Haramosh Peak ,  34: Ghent Kangri ,  35: Ultar Sar ,  36: Rimo massif ,  37: Sherpi Kangri ,  38: Yazghil Dome South ,  39: Baltoro Kangri ,  40: Crown Peak ,  41: Baintha Brakk ,  42: Yutmaru Sar ,  43: K6 ,  44: Muztagh Tower ,  45: Diran ,  46: Apsarasas Kangri I ,  47: Rimo III ,  48: Gasherbrum V Here

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