Karakoram: The Karakoram Mountain Range

The Karakoram Mountain Range, also known as the Karakoram, is a prominent mountain range in Central Asia, spanning the borders of Pakistan, India, and China. It is part of the greater Himalayan mountain system and is home to some of the world's tallest peaks and glaciers. Explore the geography, notable peaks, glaciers, ecological significance, and the history of exploration and mountaineering in this majestic mountain range. The Karakoram Pass (Uyghur: قاراقۇرۇم ئېغىزى) is a 5,540 m or 18,176 ft [1] mountain pass between India and China in the Karakoram Range. [2] It is the highest pass on the ancient caravan route between Leh in Ladakh and Yarkand in the Tarim Basin. Karakoram's highest and the world's second-highest peak, the K2, is located in Gilgit-Baltistan. The mountain range begins in the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan in the west, encompasses the majority of Gilgit-Baltistan, controlled by Pakistan and then extends into Ladakh, controlled by India and Aksai Chin, controlled by China. It is part of the larger Trans-Himalayan mountain ranges. The northernmost range of the Trans-Himalayan Ranges in India is the Great Karakoram Range also known as the Krishnagiri range. Karakoram Range extends eastwards from the Pamir for about 800 km. It is a range with lofty peaks [elevation 5,500 m and above]. It is the abode of some of the greatest glaciers of the world outside the polar regions.