The Baltoro Glacier (Balti: བལྟོརོ་གངས།, romanized: Baltoro gangs, lit.'Bone breaker';[1] Urdu: بالتورو گلیشیر) is a glacier located in the Shigar District of the Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan. It stretches for 63 km (39 mi) in length. It is one of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions. It is home to some of the world’s highest mountains. It runs through the Karakoram mountain range, close to K2, which is the second highest peak in the world, reaching an elevation of 8,611 meters (28,251 feet). Within a 20-kilometer radius, there are three more mountains with elevations exceeding 8,000 meters.[2]

Baltoro Glacier
བལྟོརོ་གངས།
The Baltoro Glacier from the air, looking east
Map showing the location of Baltoro Glacier
Map showing the location of Baltoro Glacier
Baltoro Glacier
Location in Pakistan
Map showing the location of Baltoro Glacier
Map showing the location of Baltoro Glacier
Baltoro Glacier
Baltoro Glacier (Gilgit Baltistan)
Map showing the location of Baltoro Glacier
Map showing the location of Baltoro Glacier
Baltoro Glacier
Baltoro Glacier (Pakistan)
Map showing the location of Baltoro Glacier
Map showing the location of Baltoro Glacier
Baltoro Glacier
Baltoro Glacier (Central Asia)
TypeMountain glacier
LocationKarakoram range, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Coordinates35°44′11″N 76°22′51″E / 35.73639°N 76.38083°E / 35.73639; 76.38083
Length63 kilometres (39 mi)
Map

Geography

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Baltoro ice field as seen from the ISS

It is located within the Shigar District of the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. The Baltoro Glacier flows through a section of the Karakoram mountain range, bordered by the Baltoro Muztagh to the north and east, and the Masherbrum Mountains to the south. The region boasts K2 as its tallest peak, standing at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) in elevation, with three additional mountains exceeding 8,000 meters within a 20-kilometer radius.[3] Separated from the Baltoro Glacier by the Conway Saddle (or pass) is the Siachen Glacier.[4][5]

The Baltoro Glacier serves as the source of the Braldo River, which, in turn, flows into the Shigar River as a tributary. The Shigar River, in its course, acts as a tributary to the Indus River. Several large tributary glaciers feed the main Baltoro Glacier, including the Godwin-Austen Glacier, flowing south from K2; the Abruzzi and the various Gasherbrum Glaciers, flowing from the Gasherbrum group of peaks; the Vigne Glacier, flowing from Chogolisa, and the Yermandendu Glacier, flowing from Masherbrum. The confluence of the main Baltoro Glacier with the Godwin-Austen Glacier is known as Concordia; this location and K2 base camp are popular trekking destinations.

The trough of this glacier is very wide. Small valley glaciers form icefalls where they meet the trunk glacier. The sidewalls vary from very steep to precipitous. The glacier has carved striations on the surrounding country rocks. Moving ice has formed depressions, which serve as basins for numerous glacial lakes.

The glacier can be approached via the Balti town of Skardu.

List of peaks

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A list of notable peaks adjacent to or near the Baltoro Glacier includes:

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Iqbal, Vasiq (2016-09-04). "The frozen lake that does not reflect anything". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  2. ^ The Fedchenko Glacier in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan is 77 km long, the Siachen Glacier which lies southeast of the Baltoro is 70 km long, and the Biafo Glacier to the northwest of the Baltoro is 67 km long. Exact lengths are relatively easy to determine with modern maps and imagery so as to include recent glacial retreat. Measurements are from recent imagery, generally supplemented with Russian 1:200,000 scale topographic mapping as well as Jerzy Wala,Orographical Sketch Map: Karakoram: Sheets 1 & 2, Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research, Zurich, 1990.
  3. ^ Concordia K2 Trek
  4. ^ "Siachen: Death (and some glory) at 20,000 ft Explained". 12 February 2016.
  5. ^ "The Shooting's Over But Siachen Will Keep Taking Its Toll".
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