From Barogil to the Shayok River, Karakorum stretches 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 km2. The length is 476 km, and the width is 466 km. The mountains are surrounded by two thousand glaciers. The area covered with ice stretches for 15,000 km2.
Karakorum
Karakorum is a mountain system, the height of which reaches 5500 m. It is located between the Himalayas and the Pamirs, continues the Hindu Kush.
Thanks to a pair of ridges - Changchenmo and Pangong - its eastern part is connected to the Tibetan Plateau. The Karakorum is connected to the Himalayas by the Ladakh Range.
One of the peaks of the array is second only to Mount Everest in its height. Chogori stretched out to 8611 m. Many peaks of the Karakorum have a height of more than 7 thousand meters. Near them are eight-thousanders: Hidden, Broad Peak and others. They are located above the B altoro Glacier. Thanks to this mountain system, it has the most beautiful view.
Name of the mountain system
Turkish array nametranslates 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 are indeed dark slopes here. English sources adhere to the spelling "Karakoram", but if you pay attention to the Turkic spelling, then the one used by the Russian-speaking countries will sound more correct.
Indigenous people often use the word "Mustagh" when talking 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 arrays. Even in the last century, there were disagreements about the legitimacy of the name, but they were eliminated after a special conference of scientists.
Division of the Karakorum into regions
Karakoram - mountains divided into 4 full-fledged parts: Agyl-Karakorum and the large Karakorum, which unites the Eastern, Central and Western belts.
Most of the Western District is located next to the Hunza River and the Karakorum Highway. Several regions can also be attributed to it: Haramosh, Panmakh, the Rakaposhi, Maztag and Karun Koh ridges, the Batura glacier and others. All of these parts except Muztagh are under Pakistani control.
Central Karakorum is located east of the junction of Muztagh and Hispar, near Braldu and Panmah. Part of this belt, like the Western one, belongs to Pakistan, the Scamri region and the B altoro Rangecontrolled by the People's Republic of China, and the rest of the territory by India. Central Karakorum - mountains that have peaks of more than 7, occasionally - 8 thousand meters.
The eastern region is located between the B altoro and S altoro Muztag ridges, Masherbrum, across the Urdok glaciers. All of it, with the exception of Siachen Muztang, is controlled by India. There are much fewer peaks that are seven-thousanders. There are less than 40.
The relief of the mountain system has deep and sharp forms. For example, in the Western part there are the world's greatest foothills.
Agyl-Karakoram
Located in China Agyl-Karakoram. 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 for more than 200 km in the direction of Raskemdarya.
The largest glacier in this region is located near Saryktag. Its length is 17 km. At the same time, glaciated areas that are higher than 9 km are very common in Agyl-Karakorum.
Precipitation here comes from the Mediterranean 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. It is thanks to this that the nature of Agyl-Karakorum is completely different than in other northern parts.
From animals here there are hares, goats, birds - hoopoe, jackdaw and snowcock.
Facts about Karakorum
At first, the word "Karakoram" referred only to a small pass that exists to this dayon the border between India and China. A little later, tourists who have been here have extended this name to the entire system.
Karakorum is a mountain system, so it is difficult to grow grain products in this area. Therefore, the people who live here constantly exchange dried fruits and vegetables for grain in other parts of Central Asia.
Karakoram Highway was built for a short time, but more than 3 billion dollars had to be spent on its construction. And for good reason, as this place has become the most popular among travelers. The cycle route is appreciated by all tourists.
Only one pass allows you to cross it by car. Its name is Khunjerab.
The word "Muztag" quickly entered the life of the indigenous people. However, only one small ridge of the Karakoram is called by him. The rest of the peaks are referred to as Hispar Muztag, B altoro Muztag, etc.
Legends and small chronicles say that the first inhabitants who settled near the mountain system were Mamo Single and Khadija (his wife).
Glaciers located in this area are not shrinking at all compared to others. This can be argued by the fact that they are covered with too much stone debris, and the light does not reach them.
Any climber wants to conquer 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 the same number of times. It is kept within its boundaries by constant nourishment. Precipitation at its height is plentiful. However, the base of the glacier is prone tomelting. About 18 m of ice turns into water every year.
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 Everest.
The Tien Shan, Pamir, Hindu Kush systems are the largest on the planet and they are located in South and Central Asia.
The Himalayas can be called the first in terms of height. They cross the Indus, the Ganges and the Tibetan Plateau. They border on 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 to 8 thousand meters.
The second place in Asia is occupied by the Karakoram range. It can be seen on the map with the naked eye. The average height of the mountain system is more than 6 thousand meters. Here you can meet both seven-thousanders and eight-thousanders: Chogori, Gasherbrum and others.
Kunlun is considered a long array. It bypasses the Tibetan Plateau from the north side. Its length is more than 2500 km, width - 600 km. Aksai-Chin is considered the largest point. Its height is 7760 m.
Pamir is a large mountain system. It crosses China, Afghanistan, Tajikistan. The height of its highest point is 7719 m. It is called Kongur.
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
Karakorum, the highest point of which has a climate different from other peaks, allows in some places to engage in economic activities. These areas are warm and dry. High in the mountains, the picture changes significantly: the air temperature is not higher than -50 C, there is quite a lot of precipitation here, and basically, all of them appear in solid form. The Atlantic and the Mediterranean are the main sources. Most precipitation falls in the southern and western parts, less in the north and east. Snow depth also fluctuates.
Plant and animal life
Karakorum 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 up.
At altitudes up to 2800 m, there are desert zones in which you can occasionally find rheomyria, ephedra or calidium. Sufficiently large areas are devoid of any vegetation. Thickets are found only near Raskemdarya and all its tributaries. Barberry grows here, poplars can be seen.
Desert-steppe landscapes are available at an altitude of 3 thousand meters. Stipe, typichak, teresken grow. A little higher there are mountain steppes, in places where there is a large amount of precipitation and high humidity, there is a meadow with cobresia. Even higher, you can stumble upon teresken, as well as sagebrush desert zones.
The southern slope is rich in forests, as a rule, the largest amount of territory is occupied by pine. Cedar, willows and poplars are also not uncommon here. Along the streams there are steppes and alpinemeadows.
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 - this is all about the Karakoram. Of the birds, there are saja, eagles, hawks. At an altitude of less than 5 thousand meters, a falcon and a kite live.
At the foothills, people grow various crops.
