The Biafo Glacier () is a glacier located within the

Karakoram The Karakoram () is a mountain range in the Kashmir region spanning the border of Pakistan, China, and India, with the northwestern extremity of the range extending to Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Most of the Karakoram mountain range is withi ...

mountain range in the Hispar Valley, Nagar District of

Gilgit-Baltistan Gilgit-Baltistan (; ), formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative units of Pakistan, administrative territory and consists of the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has b ...

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

. It extends over a considerable distance, measuring in length, and ranks as one of the largest glaciers in the entire Karakoram range. Flowing in a south-eastern direction from the central Karakoram crest, the glacier covers a basin area spanning , of which are characterized by permanent snow and ice. The accumulation zone alone contributes to 68% of the glacier's total area.

Geography

Biafo Glacier converging at Hispar La with long Hispar Glacier situated at an elevation of , forms the glacial system considered as the world's longest non-polar glacial system which spans an overall distance of around . This frozen pathway links two ancient mountain regions, connecting Nagar in the west with

Shigar District Shigar District () is a district in Gilgit-Baltistan area of Pakistan in the disputed Kashmir region. The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir Kashmir ( or ) is the Northwestern Indian subcontinent, n ...

, Baltistan in the east. Approximately, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the village of Askole in Braldo, Shigar District, this glacial junction is found. The entire journey spans 100 kilometers (62 miles), utilizing 51 kilometers (42 miles) of the Biafo Glacier and the entirety of the Hispar Glacier. The Biafo Glacier presents a trekker with several days of strenuous boulder hopping, with views throughout and Snow Lake near the high point. Snow Lake, consisting of parts of the upper Biafo Glacier and its tributary glacier Sim Gang, is one of the world's largest basins of snow or ice in the world outside the polar regions, up to in depth. Biafo Glacier 2

The Biafo Glacier is the world's third longest glacier outside the polar regions, second only to the

Siachen Glacier The Siachen Glacier is a glacier located in the eastern Karakoram range of the Himalayas, just northeast of the point NJ9842 where the Line of Control between India and Pakistan ends in northeastern Kashmir. At long, it is the longest glaci ...

, contested between Pakistan and India, and Tajikistan's long Fedchenko Glacier. Campsites along the Biafo are located off the glacier, adjacent to the lateral moraines and steep mountainsides. The first three (heading up from the last village before the glacier, the thousand-year-old Askole village) are the sites with flowing water nearby. Mango and Namla, the first two campsites, are often covered in flowers and Namla has an waterfall very close to the camping area. Baintha, the third campsite, is often used as a rest day. A large green meadow has a few running streams near the camp and many places to spend the day rock climbing or rappelling. Evidence of wildlife can be seen on the trek, including

Ibex An ibex ( : ibex, ibexes or ibices) is any of several species of wild goat (genus ''Capra''), distinguished by the male's large recurved horns, which are transversely ridged in front. Ibex are found in Eurasia, North Africa and East Africa. T ...

and the

Markhor The markhor (''Capra falconeri'') is a large wild ''Capra'' (goat) species native to South Asia and Central Asia, mainly within Pakistan, the Karakoram range, parts of Afghanistan, and the Himalayas. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as Near ...

mountain goat. The area is also known for Himalayan brown bears and

snow leopard The snow leopard (''Panthera uncia'') is a species of large cat in the genus ''Panthera'' of the family Felidae. The species is native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because ...

s, although sightings are rare.

References

Sources

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External links

Northern India detailed placemarks in Google Earth
{{Authority control Glaciers of the Karakoram Glaciers of Gilgit-Baltistan

Geography

See also

References

Sources

External links