The Karakoram Range is a 480+ km mountain range located in central Asia spanning parts of Pakistan, India, China and other countries. It contains some of the world's highest peaks over 8000m including K2, the second highest mountain. The range has deep valleys, sharp peaks and glaciers, and over 28-50% of its area is covered in glaciers. It is one of the most heavily glaciated areas outside the polar regions. The climate is semi-arid with low population densities concentrated in a few towns. Agriculture and cattle breeding are the main livelihoods for the local population.

1. THE KARAKORAM RANGE

2. Location
The Karakoram( black gravel)
is a mountain range extending
for more than 480 km.
The Karakoram is the part of
a complex of mountain ranges
at the centre of Asia.
It covers the borders of
Tajikistan, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, China and India,
in the regions of Wakhan
corridor(Afghanistan),
Gilgit(Pakistan),
Ladakh(India) and
Xinjiang(China).

3. The range runs east-west, has
deep, narrow valleys, sharp
peaks, glaciers and rivers
forming a very rough
landscape.
 The average height of
mountains is about 6000 m.
 The Karakoram is bounded on
the northeast by the edge of the
Tibetan Plateau, on the north by
the Pamir Mountains and on
south the three rivers Gilgit,
Indus and Shyok separate it
from Himalayas and
Hindukush.
It is home to world’s 4 out of
14 highest peaks that are over
8000 m.

4. K2
Karakoram is home to the world’s 2nd most
highest and famous peak known as K2.
It is 8611 metres high above the sea level.
 It is located on the China-Pakistan border.
 With 300 successful summits and 77
fatalities it is known as the world’s most
dangerous peak.

5. Glaciers
It is the most
heavily glaciated part of the
world outside the polar regions.
28-50% of the Karakoram
Range is glaciated with a wide
range of glaciers including
Baltoro, Batura and Siachin etc.
Siachin is the most famous
glacier of karakoram range.
It is the highest battlefield on
earth.
Siachin glacier 78 km long is
the world’s second longest
glacier.

6. Passes
Karakoram range has
a total of 7 passes but
the famous one is the
Khunjerab pass.
 It is the world’s
highest paved
international border
crossing between
China and Pakistan at
the height of 4693 m.
It is closed during
winter season due to
heavy snowfall.

7. Karakoram Highway
Karakoram highway also known as national
highway is a 1300 km long road which connects
Pakistan to China from havelian(Pakistan) to
kashgar (China).
The highway is a popular tourist attraction, and
is one of the highest paved roads in the world,
passing through the Karakoram mountain range.
 Due to its high elevation and the difficult
conditions in which it was constructed, it is often
referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

8. Climate
The climate of the Karakoram
Range is for the most part is
semiarid and severe.
The southern slopes are
exposed to the moist monsoon
winds but the northern slopes
are extremely dry.
The average temperature here
in the warmest month is about
0 °C.
The precipitation is mainly in
the form of snow that leads to
formation of snow hummocks
three feet or more tall.

9. Population
The severe climate of the
region is hostile so it has low
population density.
The population of the
Karakoram Range is
concentrated in three towns;
Gilgit and Skardu in the
Northern Areas of Pakistan and
Leh in the Ladakh area of
Jammu and Kashmir.
The mountain dwellers are
mostly muslims of different
sectarian groups.
There are six main local
languages.

10. Most of population here is dependent on agriculture and cattle
breeding.
Crops here, are limited to wheat, barley, buckwheat, corn
(maize), potatoes, and pulses which are grown on terraced
fields.
Tree crops, especially apricots and walnuts are an important
local food source.
Apples, barley and millet are the main products of this region.

11. Thank you 