Pakistan Tourism: Top Ten Glaciers of Pakistan

Glaciers are made up of mass snow accumulation on a land over a long period of time. Glaciers vary according to their sizes and play a major role in keeping the atmosphere cool. There are many glaciers in Pakistan that are famous as trekking sites and tourist attractions. Most of the glaciers are located in Northern areas of Pakistan, especially around Karakoram mountain range. These glaciers are a special focus of attention for travelers all around the world and are frequently visited by people coming from all parts of the world. Their undisturbed beauty and lack of pollution in the surrounding environment makes them great trekking locations. The glaciers are a valuable asset of Pakistan because of helping the region keep its temperature normal which would have been enormously hot. These glaciers also add to the scenic beauty of Pakistan making her a beautiful country with rich natural scenery. The glaciers are quite large in number and therefore all of them cannot be mentioned here. However, a list of top ten glaciers of Pakistan on the basis of being the largest ones with their locations has been jotted down below:

1)      Siachen Glacier at Karakoram range, Baltistan

2)      Batura Glacier at Karakoram range

3)      Hispar Glacier at Karakoram range

4)      Biafo Glacier at Karakoram range, Shigar

5)      Baltoro Glacier at Karakoram range

6)      Yengunta Glacier at Karakoram range, Baltistan

7)      Chianter Glacier at Hindukush, Chitral

8)      Tirich Mir Glacier at Hindukush, Chitral

9)      Chogo Lugma at Karakoram range-2

10)  Passu Glacier at Karakoram range, Hunza Valley

Pakistan: Top Ten Treks of Pakistan

Trekking is an activity that comprises of travelling along wide distances on foot. It is especially done on places where travelling by car or any other means is not possible or difficult to do. There are many geographical areas that are regarded as trekking sites or treks all around the world because of being of interest to travelers. Similarly, Pakistan is proud to offer travelling opportunities to people all over the world to walk on the famous trekking sites here. The particular areas reserved for trekking in Pakistan are located in Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindukush and are fascinating places to look at. Pakistanis and foreigners both can enjoy trekking in the Northern Areas of Pakistan to get in touch with natural beauty at its peak. Another feature of the trekking sites at these areas is the lack of pollution and virgin beauty of the enormous mountains and lakes flowing side-by. It is difficult to list down all the famous trekking sites of Pakistan due to the abundance to treks in Pakistan. However, an attempt has been done to selectively present a list containing top ten treks of Pakistan based on their popularity which is given below:

1)      Trek of K-2 Base Camp

2)      Trek of Biafo-Hisper Glaciers

3)      Treks of Nanga Parbat

4)      Trek of Batura Glacier

5)      Trek of Chillinji Pass

6)      Trek of Spantik Base Camp

7)      Trek of Charakusa Glacier

8)      Trek of Masherbrum Base Camp

9)      Trek of Shimshal Valley

10)  Trek of Thalle La

Karakoram Range of Pakistan

Pakistan is blessed with five out of the world’s fourteen highest independent peaks. Most of them are in the Karakoram Range which spans borders between three countries namely- China, India and Pakistan. In Pakistan this range is located in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan. This area has more than one hundered mountain peaks with the heights exceeding 6,100 metres (20,000 ft) from the sea level.

The Karakoram  range is spread about 500 kilometres length wise and over 192 kilometers width wise. It is surrounded by other great mountain ranges like Himalayas on its Southwest, Kun-Lu Chain of China on the north,  Pamirs on its West and Tibetan Plateau on its East. The Great River Indus which is one of the 15 longest rivers of the world,  flows through the Karakoram and the Himalayas.

K2 the 2^nd highest peak of the world and the Trango Tower are parts of this great range. The Karakoram range has the highest and the youngest mountains of the world growing 4 centimeters every 10 years. The great Karakorams along with their mighty heights and vast lush green valleys were discovered in 1860’s by Captain Austen. The range has the world’s  largest glaciers outside the polar regions.

The popular Karakoram Highway between Pakistan and China is surely a marvel of the joint efforts of the two countries. It stretches a distance of 616 km from Thakot to the top of Khunjrab Pass about 15,072 feet high. It is considered to be the eighth wonder of the world.

No.	Names of Imp. Peaks of Karakoram	Heights  Of Peaks of Karakoram	Pakistan Rank of Karakoram Peaks	World Rank of Karakoram Peaks	Passes of Karakoram	Glaciers of Karakoram	Location of Peaks of Karakoram
1	K2	8,611	1	2	Kilik	Biafo	Baltoro Muztagh
2	Gasherbrum I(K5)	8,608	3	11	Mintaka	Panmah	Baltoro Muztagh
3	Broad Peak(K3)	8,047	4	12	Khunjerab	Hispar	Baltoro Muztagh
4	Gasherbrum II(K4)	8,035	5	13	Shimshal	Trango	Baltoro Muztagh
5	Gasherbrum IV	7,952	6	17	Karakorum	Insukati Valley	Baltoro Muztagh
6	Distaghil Sar	7,885	7	19			Hispar Muztagh
7	Kunyang Chhish	7,852	8	21	Sasser	Concordia	Hispar Muztagh
8	Masterbrum I(K1)	7,821	9	22		Baltoro	Masherbrum  Mountains
9	Batura I	7,795	10	25		Sarpo Laggo	Baltoro Muztagh
10	Kanjut Sar	7,790	11	26			Hispar Muztagh
11	Rakaposhi	7,788	12	27		Batura	Rakaposhi-Haramosh  Mountains
12	Chogolisa I	7,665	14	36			Masherbrum  Mountains
13	Shispare	7,611	15	38			Batura Muztagh
14	Trivo Skyang	7,577	16	39			Hispar Muztagh
15	Skyang Kangri	7,545	17	44			Baltoro Muztagh
16	Pumari Chhish (W)	7,492	19	53			Hispar Muztagh
17	Passu Sar	7,476	20	54			Batura Muztagh
18	Yukshin Gardan Sar	7,530	21	55			Hispar
19	Malubiting (W)	7,458	23	58			Rakaposhi-Haramosh  Mountains
20	K12	7,428	24	61			Saltoro Mountains
21	Sia Kangri	7,422	25	63			Baltoro Muztagh
22	Momhil Sar	7,421	26	64			Hispar Muztagh
23	Skil Brum	7,420	27	66			Baltoro Muztagh
24	Haramosh	7,409	28	67			Rakaposhi-Haramosh  Mountains
25	Istor-o-nal	7,403	29	68			Hindu Kush
26	Ghent Kangri	7,400	30	69			Saltoro Mountains
27	Ultar Sar	7,388	31	70			Batura Muztagh
28	Sherpi Kangri	7,380	33	74			Saltoro Mountains
29	Saraghrar	7,349	34	78			Hindu Kush
30	Chongtar	7,315	35	81			Batura Muztagh

Lakes of Pakistan – Rush Lake

Location	Water Type	Outflows	Surface  Elevation
Nagar Valley  15 km from Miar Peak	Glacial	Miar  Glacier	15,400 ft  4,700m

In the northern areas of Pakistan there are many spectacular lakes, one of which is Lake Rush. This lake is one of the world’s highest alpine lake. Few kilometers away are the Spantik or the Golden Peak and the Miar Peak. It is a high altitute lake and is located very close to the Rush Pari Peak which is 5,098 meters high. The Rush Peak is a good spot for mountaineers without much training because it is easy to climb in summers as compared to other mountains. But in winters climbing becomes much difficult due to heavy snow fall.

If you want to reach this lake you can either take the route via Hopar and Nagar or via Hopar Glacier  commonly known as Bualtar Glacier and the Miar Glacier. The journey to this lake is full of amazingly beautiful views. You will see Malubiting, Phuparash Peak, Ultar Sar and Spantik on the trek to Rush lake.

The lake is covered with snow in winters but in summers the lake is surrounded by lush green grass with beautiful flower trees. People do lots of fishing here. Muskie is one of the common fish in the lake. Tourists also do camping in summers and even play golf in the gardens around this beautiful lake.

The Hunza Lake Catastrophe

On 4th January 2010 disaster struck the picturesque valley of Hunza in the form of a massive landslide. The landslide caused a major blockade of the Hunza River thereby creating an artificial lake. This lake is called as Atta Abad lake. The lake fed by the melting glaciers expanded steadily and is now 353 feet deep with the water rising at an average of 2 to 3 feet daily. Many villages and at an estimate 100 houses have submerged in water. Around 1,700 people have been rendered homeless as the rising water gushed into the villages.

The officials fear that the worst is yet to come as the lake might burst its banks and cause more flooding which would disrupt the lives of 50,000 people besides causing considerable damage to the infrastructure. Even the Karakoram Highway is under threat. Part of the Karakoram Highway is already closed because of the flooding of Gilmat a resort on the Highway linking Pakistan and China.

Steps Taken By the Government

To lower the pressure, a spillway is being dug to divert the water from the lake to its old course the River Gilgit. The government has also set up relief camps where medicines and food supplies are available. Nine tent camps for the displaced people have been set up as well. To warn the people of any emergency, warning sirens have been installed in control rooms and help centers throughout Hunza and Gilgit.

Reasons to visit NWFP (now KPK), Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan

NWFP  (KPK-Khyber Pakhtoonkhwah) is nicknamed “the Switzerland of Pakistan” because of its spellbinding beauty. It is a land of mountains covered with Alpine and coniferous forests, sparkling streams, dancing water falls and glaciers. It is guarded by the three mighty mountains the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and the Himalayas. Relics of the Gandhara –Buddhist era are scattered all over the northern areas. So if you are a nature’s freak or interested in mountain climbing, hiking and trekking then do visit the northern areas of Pakistan.

Punjab is famous for its hospitality and historical places. A number of buildings from the Mughal era are found in the plains of Punjab. Punjab is a land of lush green fields. It is also the land of five rivers. The tributaries of the River Indus snake through Punjab.

Sindh has a rich history. The remains of the world’s oldest civilization are found at Moen Jo Daro. Other historical sites include Rani Not Fort, Pucca Qila, Makli Hills Tomb, Chaukhandi Tombs and Shah Jehan Mosque. There are some shrines as well which are thronged by thousands of devotees whole year round. The Karlri Lake, Keenjhar Lake and the Kirthar Natural Park are some places worth seeing.

Karachi the capital of Sindh is a coastal city and a valid reason to visit Sindh. Karachi is the most modern and biggest city of Pakistan. It has a number of buildings from the colonial era. Karachi is famous for its shopping centers and beaches.

Baluchistan is mostly dry but there are some interesting places which allure the tourists. The juniper forests, Hanna Lake, Ziarat, Quetta and Chaman are some places of interest in Baluchistan. There are many beaches in Baluchistan such as Gadani, Somiani etc. The coastal city of Gawadar is being developed with all modern amenities for the future.