Karakorum, mountain system (Central Asia)

From Barogil to the Shayok River, the Karakoram extends for almost 500 km. The mountain system captures at once three states: Pakistan, India and China. It is one of the highest massifs in the world. Its total area is 77 thousand km ² . The length is 476 km, and the width is 466 km. The mountains are surrounded by two thousand glaciers. The area, which is covered with ice, stretched for 15 thousand km ² .

Karakorum

The Karakoram is a mountain system, whose height reaches 5500 m. It lies between the Himalayas and the Pamirs, continues the Hindu Kush.

Thanks to a pair of ridges - Changchenmo and Pangong - its eastern part connects with the Tibetan upland. With the Himalayas, the Karakoram is connected with the Ladakh ridge.

One of the peaks of the massif is second only to Mount Everest. Many of the peaks of the Karakoram have a height of more than 7 thousand meters. Next to them are eight-thousanders: Hidden, Broad Peak and others. They are located above the glacier Baltoro. Due to this mountain system it has the most beautiful view.

Name of the mountain system

From the Turkish language, the name of the massif is translated as a "black scree", which is not quite a good name for the region shining with snow. In fact, Karakorum was so named because of the pass, which is between Aghil and Dansag. There really are dark slopes. English sources adhere to the writing of the Karakoram, but if you pay attention to the Turkic spelling, then it will be more correct to sound exactly what is used by Russian-speaking countries.

Indigenous people often use the word "Mustag" when talking about these mountains. However, only they understand the meaning of the word. In fact, it can not be used separately, since it means "ice mountains", which can be said about a large number of arrays. In the last century there were disagreements about the legitimacy of the name, but they were eliminated after a special conference of scientists.

Division of Karakoram into districts

Karakorum - mountains, divided into 4 full parts: Agyl-Karakorum and the large Karakoram, which unites the Eastern, Central and Western Belt.

Most of the West region is located next to the river Khunza and Karakorum Highway. Several regions can be referred to it: Kharamosh, Panmakh, Rakaposhi Ranges, Maztag and Karun Kokh, Batura Glacier and others. All these parts, except the Muztag, are under the control of Pakistan.

Central Karakorum is in the east of the junction of Muztag and Hispar, near Braldu and Panmakh. Part of this belt, like the Western one, belongs to Pakistan, the area of Skamry and Baltoro ridge is controlled by the People's Republic of China, and the rest of the territory by India. Central Karakorum - mountains that have peaks of more than 7, occasionally - 8 thousand meters.

The eastern region is located between the Baltoro ridges and the Salto Muztag, Maserbrum, through the glaciers of Urdok. He is all, except for Siachen Muztang, controlled by India. There are much fewer peaks here, which are seven thousandths. There are less than 40 of them.

The relief of the mountain system has deep and sharp forms. For example, in the Western part there are the world's greatest foothills.

Agyl-Karakorum

It is located in China Agyl-Karakorum. The mountain system has an articulated ridge. The tops of the region have an Alpine appearance, their height is 7 thousand meters. The array stretches over 200 km in the direction of Raskemdarya.

The greatest glacier of this region is near Saryktag. Its length is 17 km. Moreover, icy areas, which are above 9 km, are very frequent in the Aghyl-Karakorum.

Precipitation here comes from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic along with cyclones. Indian summer monsoon, as a rule, in the array comes in a weakened form, and the local territories do not suffer from characteristic weather. It is due to this that the nature of Agil-Karakorum is completely different than in other northern parts.

Of the animals there are hares, goats, birds - hoopoe, jackdaw and ular.

Facts about Karakorum

At first, the word "Karakorum" related only to a small pass that exists to this day on the border of India and China. A little later, the tourists who visited here, distributed this name to the entire system.

The Karakoram is a mountain system, so it is difficult to grow cereals in this area. Therefore, people who live here constantly change dried fruits and vegetables for grain in other parts of Central Asia.

The Karakorum highway was not built for long, however, more than $ 3 billion was spent on its construction. And not in vain, since this place has become the most popular among travelers. The cycling route is appreciated by all tourists.

Only one pass allows you to cross it by car. Its name is Khunjerab.

The word "Muztag" quickly entered the life of the indigenous people. However, only they are called only one small range of the Karakorum. The other tops are called Hyspar Muztag, Baltoro Muztag, etc.

Legends and small annals say that the first inhabitants who settled near the mountain system were Mamo Single and Khadija (his wife).

Glaciers located on this territory do not decrease at all, in comparison with others. This can be argued by the fact that they are covered with too much layer of stone debris, and the light does not fall on them.

Any climber wants to conquer the Trango Tower. This is the most difficult route in the world, and its passage is a significant event.

For several years the glacier Batura has already attacked three times and retreated as many times. It is kept within its boundaries through constant nutrition. Precipitation at its height is abundant. However, the base of the glacier is prone to melting. During the year about 18 m of ice turns into water.

Mountain systems of Central Asia

Central Asia is rich in mountain systems. Most of them are the largest in the world. For example, here are the Himalayas with the main summit of Everest.

The Tien Shan, Pamir, and Hindu Kush systems are the largest on the planet and are located in South and Central Asia.

The first in terms of height is the Himalayas. They cross the Indus, the Ganges and the Tibetan Plateau. They are bordered by the Hindu Kush. The length of the mountain system is 2400 km, width - 300 km. There are more than 120 peaks, and most of them have a height of at least 7 thousand meters. About a dozen mountains rise by 8 thousand meters.

The second place in Asia is the Karakoram Range. On the map it can be seen with the naked eye. The average height of the mountain system is more than 6 thousand meters. Here you can find both the seven thousandths and the eight-thousandths: Chogori, Gasherbrum and others.

A long array is Kunlun. He on the north side bypasses the Tibetan Plateau. Its length is more than 2500 km, width is 600 km. The largest point is Aksai-Chin. Its height is 7760 m.

Pamir is a large mountain system. It crosses China, Afghanistan, Tajikistan. The height of its largest point is 7719 m. It is called Kongur.

The south of Central Asia has the Hindu Kush mountains. Their length is 1 thousand km, the width varies from 40 to 400 km. The highest point is Tirichmir. Its height is 7,690 m.

Climate of the Karakoram

Karakorum, the highest point of which has a different climate from other peaks, allows in some places to engage in economic activities. In these areas it is warm and dry. High in the mountains the picture changes significantly: the air temperature is not higher than -5 ⁰ C, there is a lot of precipitation here, and basically all of them appear in solid form. The Atlantic and the Mediterranean are the main sources. Most precipitation falls in the southern and western parts, less - in the north and in the east. The height of the snow cover also varies.

Flora and fauna

Karakorum on the map does not convey all its beauty. If you see him live, then all the attractiveness and charm of the surrounding landscapes will immediately open.

At an altitude of up to 2800 m there are desert zones, where occasionally one can find reemuria, ephedra or kalidium. Large enough territories are devoid of any vegetation. The thickets are found only near Raskemdarya and all its tributaries. Here sprouts barberry, you can see poplars.

Desert-steppe landscapes are at an altitude of 3 thousand meters. Growth feather grass, Tepicak, Teresken. Slightly higher are the mountain steppes, in places where there is a large amount of precipitation and there is a high humidity, there is a meadow with cobresia. Even higher can be found on the teresken, as well as wormwood desert zones.

The southern slope is rich in forests, as a rule, pine occupies the largest amount of territory. Cedar, willow and poplar trees are also not uncommon. Along the waterways there are steppes and alpine meadows.

Animals are smaller here. You can see the tour, goats, yaks, antelopes. In some places donkeys are found. A bear, a leopard, various kinds of rodents are all about the Karakorum. From the birds there are Saja, eagles, hawks. At an altitude of less than 5 thousand meters, a falcon and a kite live.

At the foot of the people grow different crops.