Pakistan's Great Mountains - Pakistan Guides

Pakistan Guides

Pakistan's Great Mountains

THE UNUSUAL MOUNTAIN VISTA

The continental collision of the four mountain ranges of the world the Himalayas, the Karakorums, the Hindukush & the Pamirs in the North of Pakistan gave birth to the thickest cluster of the highest peaks and largest glaciers on Earth in an area of about 500X350 km, while a series of low mountain ranges of Suleman, Pub, Kirthar & Makran emerged from North to Southwest & to South of Pakistan.

This collision emerged more than 700 peaks higher than 6000 meters. These include 05 out of the 14 peaks above 8000 meters on Earth, namely the second highest rock pyramid - the K-2 (8616m), Nanga Parbat (8125m), Hidden Peak, Gasherbrum I (8068m), Broad Peak (8047m) and Gasherbrum II (8035m).

The statistics are simply baffling ! 50 of the world's 100 highest peaks are in Pakistan. This includes 05 of the world’s 14 peaks above 8000 meters. K-2 (8616 m) is the second highest on Earth. Peaks from 7501-7999 meters are 33, peaks from 7001-7500 m are 135, peaks from 6501-7000 m are 187 and peaks between 6001-6500 m are 351, whereas, peaks from 4000-6000 meters are countless.

Alone in Baltistan & Hunza, there are more than 100 peaks above 18,000 feet. Literally, most of their base camps are higher than the summits of all the peaks in Europe. The world’s thickest cluster of highest peaks is found in & around Concordia. This unique peadmont glacier is located in the south of K-2 and domains 16 tallest peaks of the world within just a radius of 08 miles (12 km).

Pakistan's glaciated region covers more than 15000 Sq/Km. The 05 longest valley glaciers of the world, are also in Pakistan whose total length exceed 315 Km. These include the Siachen (75 km), the Hispar (63 km), the Biafo (61 km), the Baltoro (60 km) & the Batura (58 km) The Biafo-Hispar glacial corridor of 116 Km is the longest on Earth. No mention of small countless glaciers and their tributaries. There are numerous glacial lakes which are famous for their scenic value, blue waters and trout fishing. Prominent among these are Phander, Kachura, Sadpara, Lalusar, Sadpara, Deosai, Saiful Maluk and Mahodand.

Our mountains domain the enchanting valleys of Kaghan, Swat, Chitral, Ghizer, Ishkoman, Gilgit, Hunza, Naltar, Shigar, Khaplu, Skardu and Kashmir with splendid passes like Shandur, Khunjerab, Lowari, Kachikhani, Burzil and so on …! The Deosai Plateau in Western Himalayas is located at 4500 meters (14760 ft), thus making it the world’s highest plateau. This magical place marked with sporadic wind storms, multicolored flowers and the extinct – Himalayan Brown Bear and Golden Marmots.

This enormous mountain wealth makes Pakistan an important mountain country in the world, a paradise for mountaineers, adventure seekers & nature lovers, the world over. The compelling charm of these high, challenging endless ocean of rugged rock and ice pinnacles lure a large number of tourists every year from across the five continents of the world.

Our mountain ranges have the most rare species of flora and fauna. Our wildlife includes the Snow Leopard, Himalayan Brown Bear, Marco Polo Sheep, Himalayan Blue Sheep, Kashmir Markhor, Himalayan Ibex, Afghan Urial, Astore Markhor and Blandford Urial. etc.

The vegetation in the higher ranges in the North is less due to high altitude and less rainfall, however in the South there is heavy precipitation and vegetation. The gateway to these great mountain ranges is Islamabad from where air and road links are available for Gilgit, Skardu, Chitral and Swat, whereas, Kaghan & Kashmir valleys have road links only.

THE STATISTICS ARE SIMPLY BAFFLING !

S #	Height	Karakoram	Hindukush	Himalayas	Total
1	Peaks above 8000 meters high	04	00	01	05
2	Peaks from 7501 - 7999 meters	29	02	02	33
3	Peaks from 7001 - 7500 meters	102	32	01	135
4	Peaks from 6501 - 7000 meters	143	40	04	187
5	Peaks from 6001 - 6500 meters	220	126	05	351
6	Peaks 4000 & 6000 m countless	???	???	???	???
7	Total Peaks	498	200	13	711

SOME OF PAKISTAN'S PROMINENT MOUNTAINS

S #	Mountain	Height	Range	Group	District
01	Chogori / K-2	8,611	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
02	Nanga Parbat	8,125	Himalayas	Diamer	Diamer
03	Gasherbrum I / Hidden Peak	8,068	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
04	Falchan Kangri / Broad Peak	8,047	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
05	Gasherbrum II	8,035	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
06	Broad Peak (Central)	8,016	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
07	Gasherbrum III	7,952	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
08	Gasherbrum lV	7,925	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
09	Dastaghil Sar (Main)	7,885	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
10	Kunnang Chish (Main)	7,852	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
11	Masherbrum North East (K-1)	7,821	Karakoram	Bagrot	Gilgit
12	Masherbrum	7,806	Karakoram	Bagrot	Gilgit
13	Rakaposhi	7,788	Karakoram	Bagrot	Gilgit
14	Batura I	7,785	Karakoram	Batura	Gilgit
15	Batura II	7,762	Karakoram	Batura	Gilgit
16	Dastaghil Sar II	7,760	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
17	Kanjut Sar I	7,760	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
18	Masherbrum (West)	7,750	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
19	Saltoro Kangri I	7,742	Karakoram	Saltoro	Ganchay
20	Batura II	7,730	Karakoram	Batura	Gilgit
21	Batura III	7,729	Karakoram	Batura	Gilgit
22	Trivor / Peak 8	7,720	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
23	Tirich Mir (Main)	7,708	Hindukush	Hindukush	Chitral
24	Saltoro Kangri II	7,706	Karakoram	Saltoro	Ganchay
25	Chaltoro Gang R1 (North)	7,705	Karakoram	Saltoro	Ganchay
26	Dastaghil Sar (East)	7,700	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
27	Tirich Mir (East)	7,692	Hindukush	Hindukush	Chitral
28	Saser Kangri I	7,672	Karakoram	Siachen	Ganchay
29	Chogolisa I (South West/East)	7,665	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
30	Chogolisa II (North East)	7,654	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
31	Yukshin Gardan Sar	7,641	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
32	Kunnang Chish (South)	7,620	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
33	Shispar	7,611	Karakoram	Batura	Gilgit
34	Batura IV	7,594	Karakoram	Batura	Gilgit
35	Broad Peak (North)	7,550	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
36	Sikyang Kangri I	7,544	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
37	Batura V	7,531	Karakoram	Batura	Gilgit
38	Yukshin Gardan I	7,530	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
39	Mamostong Kangri	7,516	Karakoram	Saltoro	Ganchay
40	Saser Kangri (East)	7,513	Karakoram	Siachen	Ganchay
41	Tirich Mir II (West)	7,500	Hindukush	Hindukush	Chitral
42	Sikyang Kangri II	7,500	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
43	Kunnang Chish (West)	7,500	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
44	Saser Kangri II (West)	7,500	Karakoram	Siachen	Ganchay
45	Saser Kangri III	7,495	Karakoram	Siachen	Ganchay
46	Pumari Chish (West)	7,492	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
47	Tirich Mir I (West)	7,487	Hindukush	Hindukush	Chitral
48	Passu Massive (Central)	7,478	Karakoram	Batura	Gilgit
49	K-12	7,469	Karakoram	Saltoro	Ganchay
50	Teram Kangri 1	7,463	Karakoram	Siachen	Ganchay
51	Malubiting (West)	7,453	Karakoram	Haramosh	Gilgit
52	Muchu Chish	7,453	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
53	Pumari Chish (North)	7,440	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
54	Yazghil Dome (South)	7,440	Karakoram	Hispar	Gilgit
55	Sia Kangri I (North)	7,422	Karakoram	Baltoro	Skardu
56	Haramosh I	7,409	Karakoram	Haramosh	Gilgit
57	Teram Kangri II	7,406	Karakoram	Siachen	Ganchay