Karakoram Range in Norther Mountains

Karakoram Range in Norther Mountains

  September 02, 2019    Fantasy

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Location

•    The meaning of Karakoram is black gravel
•    It is a mass of rock and ice
•    Extending for more than 400 km from Hunza to Shyok River
•    The western end of this range lies in Pakistan

Topography

•    The range runs east-west
•    It has deep, narrow valley and sharp peaks thus forming a very rugged landscape.
•    The average height of the mountains is about 6000 meters.

Climate

•    The sever climate makes the Karakoram extremely inhospitable so this region has a low population density.
•    The mountain passes are open only for half of the year, during summers

Precipitation

•    The precipitation is mainly in the form of snow because of the high altitude

Drainage

•    In the upper regions of these valleys there are glaciers instead of rivers.

Agriculture

•    Agriculture is practiced in those valleys where water is plentiful
•    Apples, barley and millet are the main products.
•    Cattle breeding are also common.

Impact on lives of people

•    A nomadic or semi-nomadic way of life is common

Special Feature

•    K-2, the second highest peak in the world (8610 meters), is located here
•    The glaciers can be very large e.g. the Siachen Glacier is 78 km long.
•    Karakoram have always attracted scientists and mountaineers from all over the world because of their challenging geography and scenic beauty.
•    The construction of Karakoram highway to China has opened new era in the cultural and economic progress of the region