From Barogil to the Shayok River, the Karakoram extends for almost 500 km. The mountain system captures three states at once: Pakistan, India and China. It is one of the highest arrays in the world. Its total area is 77 thousand km 2 . It is 476 km long and 466 km wide. The mountains are surrounded by two thousand glaciers. The territory, which is covered with ice, stretched over 15 thousand km 2 .
Karakoram
The Karakoram is a mountain system whose height reaches 5500 m. It is located between the Himalayas and the Pamirs, continues the Hindu Kush.
Thanks to a pair of ranges - Changchenmo and Pangong - its eastern part is connected with the Tibetan plateau. Karakoram is connected with the Himalayas by the Ladakh ridge.
One of the peaks of the massif is second only to Mount Everest in its height. Chogori stretches for 8611 m. Many peaks of the Karakorum have a height of more than 7 thousand meters. Eight-thousanders are located next to them: Hidden, Broad Peak and others. They are located above the Baltoro Glacier. Thanks to this mountain system, it has the most beautiful view.
Name of the mountain system
From Turkish, the name of the massif is translated as “black scree”, which is not a very good name for the area shining with snow. In fact, Karakorum was so named because of the pass, which is located between Aghil and Dansag. There really are dark slopes. English sources adhere to the spelling “Karakoram”, however, if you pay attention to the Turkic spelling, then it will be more accurate to sound exactly that which is used by Russian-speaking countries.
Indigenous people often use the word "Mustag" when they talk about these mountains. However, only they understand the meaning of the word. In fact, it cannot be used separately, since it means “ice mountains”, which can be said about a large number of massifs. In the last century, there were disagreements about the legality of the name, but they were eliminated after a special conference of scientists.
Division of Karakoram into districts
Karakorum - mountains, divided into 4 full parts: Agyl-Karakorum and the large Karakorum, which combines the Eastern, Central and Western zones.
Most of the Western region is located next to the Hunza River and the Karakorum highway. Several regions can be attributed to it: Haramosh, Panmakh, Rakaposhi ranges, Maztag and Karun Kokh, Batura glacier and others. All of these units, except Muztag, are under the control of Pakistan.
Central Karakoram is located east of the junction of Muztag and Hispar, near Braldo and Panmah. Part of this belt, like the West, belongs to Pakistan, the Skamri region and the Baltoro ridge are controlled by the People's Republic of China, and the rest is India. Central Karakoram - mountains that have peaks of more than 7, occasionally - 8 thousand m.
The eastern region is located between the ranges of Baltoro and Saltoro Muztag, Masherbrum, through the Urdok glaciers. It is all, with the exception of Siachen Muztang, controlled by India. There are much fewer peaks, which are seven thousandths. There are less than 40 of them.
The relief of the mountain system has deep and sharp forms. For example, in the western part are the greatest foothills in the world.
Agyl-Karakoram
Located in China Agyl-Karakorum. The mountain system has a dissected ridge. The peaks of the region have an alpine appearance, their height is 7 thousand meters. The massif stretches over 200 km in the direction of Raskemdarya.
The largest glacier of this region is located near Saryktag. Its length is 17 km. At the same time, glacial sections that are higher than 9 km are very common in Agyl-Karakorum.
Precipitation comes here from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic along with cyclones. The Indian summer monsoon, as a rule, reaches the massif in a weakened form, and the local territories do not suffer from characteristic weather. Due to this, the nature of Agyl-Karakorum is completely different than in other northern parts.
Of the animals found here are hares, goats, birds - hoopoe, jackdaw and ular.
Facts about Karakoram
At first, the word "Karakorum" was related only to a small pass that exists to this day on the border of India and China. A little later, tourists who visited here extended this name to the entire system.
Karakoram is a mountain system, so it is difficult to grow grain products in this area. Therefore, the people who live here constantly change dried fruits and vegetables for grain in other areas of Central Asia.
The Karakorum highway was not built for long, but more than $ 3 billion was spent on its construction. And not in vain, as this place has become the most popular among travelers. The bike route is appreciated by all tourists.
Only one pass allows you to cross it by car. Its name is Hungerrab.
The word "Muztag" quickly entered the life of indigenous people. However, they are called only one small ridge of the Karakorum. The remaining peaks are referred to as Hispar Muztag, Baltoro Muztag, etc.
Legends and small chronicles say that the first residents who settled near the mountain system were Mamo Single and Khadija (his wife).
Glaciers located in this territory do not decrease at all, in comparison with others. This can be argued by the fact that they are covered with too large a layer of stone debris, and light does not fall on them.
Any climber wants to conquer the Trango Tower. This is the most difficult route in the world, and its passage is a significant event.
For several years, the Batura glacier has already advanced three times and retreated as many times. It is kept within its boundaries due to constant nutrition. Precipitation at its height is plentiful. However, the base of the glacier is prone to melting. Over a year, about 18 m of ice turns into water.
Mountain systems of Central Asia
Central Asia is rich in mountain systems. Most of them are the largest in the world. For example, here are the Himalayas with the main peak of Everest.
The Tien Shan, Pamir, Hindu Kush systems are the largest on the whole planet and they are located in South and Central Asia.
The first highest array can be called the Himalayas. They cross the Indus, Ganges and the Tibetan Highlands. Bordered by the Hindu Kush. The mountain system is 2400 km long and 300 km wide. There are more than 120 peaks here, and most of them have a height of at least 7 thousand meters. About a dozen mountains rise by 8 thousand meters.
The second place in Asia is occupied by the Karakorum ridge. On the map it is visible with the naked eye. The average height of the mountain system is more than 6 thousand meters. Here you can find both seven-thousanders and eight-thousanders: Chogori, Gasherbrum and others.
Kunlun is considered a long array. It is on the north side bypassing the Tibetan plateau. Its length is more than 2500 km, its width is 600 km. The largest point is considered Aksai Chin. Its height is 7760 m.
Pamir is a large mountain system. He crosses China, Afghanistan, Tajikistan. The height of its largest point is 7719 m. It is called Kongur.
The south of Central Asia has the Hindu Kush mountains. Their length is 1 thousand km, the width varies from 40 to 400 km. The highest point is Tirichmir. Its height is 7690 m.
Climate of Karakoram
Karakoram, the highest point of which has a climate different from other peaks, allows in some places to engage in economic activity. These areas are warm and dry. High in the mountains, the picture changes significantly: the air temperature is not higher than -5 0 , there is a lot of precipitation here, and basically, they all appear in solid form. The Atlantic and the Mediterranean are the main sources. Most precipitation occurs in the southern and western parts, less in the north and east. The height of the snow cover also fluctuates.
Flora and fauna
Karakoram on the map does not convey all its beauty. If you see it live, then all the attractiveness and charm of the surrounding landscapes will immediately open.
At an altitude of up to 2800 m, desert zones are found in which you can occasionally meet reauria, ephedra or calidium. Sufficiently large areas are devoid of any vegetation. Thickets are found only near Raskemdarya and all its tributaries. Here barberry sprouts, you can see poplars.
Desert-steppe landscapes are located at an altitude of 3 thousand m. Feather grass, typichak, and teresken grow. A little higher are the mountain steppes, in places where there is a large amount of rainfall and high humidity, there is a meadow with cobresia. Even higher you can stumble on tereskenovye, as well as wormwood desert zones.
The southern slope is rich in forests, as a rule, the largest amount of territory is pine. Cedar, willow and poplar are also not uncommon here. Along the water flows are steppes and alpine meadows.
There are fewer animals here. You can see the tour, goats, yaks, antelopes. Donkeys are found in some places. Bear, leopard, various types of rodents - it's all about the Karakoram. Of the birds there are saj, eagles, hawks. At an altitude of less than 5 thousand m, a falcon and a kite live.
At the foot of the people grow various crops.