Hispar Glacier
Encyclopedia
Hispar Glacier is a 49 km (30.4 mi) long glacier
in the Karakoram
Mountains of the Northern Areas
, Pakistan
which meets the 63 km (39.1 mi) long Biafo Glacier
at the Hispar La (Pass) at an altitude of 5128 m (16,824.1 ft) to create the world's longest glacial system outside of the polar regions. This 100 km (62.1 mi) highway of ice connects two ancient mountain kingdoms, Nagar (immediately south of Hunza
) in the west with Baltistan
in the east. The extreme steepness of the hillsides and strenuous nature of the boulder hopping on the lateral moraines and hillsides make this route's upper half the most difficult part of the Biafo - Hispar traverse. Only the Hispar La day includes walking on the Hispar Glacier. The crossing of four major tributary glaciers from the north is most taxing, and potentially high nullah
crossings can be dangerous. The views of 7800 metres (25,590.6 ft) peaks and of the snow covered cliffs and mountains on the south side of the glacier are particularly impressive. http://www.concordiaexpeditions.com/snowlake_trip.htm
The Hispar River
, a tributary of the Hunza River
, rises from the meltwater of the glacier.
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
in the Karakoram
Karakoram
The Karakoram, or Karakorum , is a large mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan, India and China, located in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan , Ladakh , and Xinjiang region,...
Mountains of the Northern Areas
Northern Areas
Gilgit-Baltistan , is the northernmost political entity within Pakistan. It borders Pakistan's Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province to the west, Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor to the north, China to the east and northeast, Azad Kashmir to the southwest, and Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
which meets the 63 km (39.1 mi) long Biafo Glacier
Biafo Glacier
The Biafo Glacier is a long glacier in the Karakoram Mountains of the Northern Areas, Pakistan which meets the long Hispar Glacier at an altitude of at Hispar La to create the world's longest glacial system outside the polar regions. This highway of ice connects two ancient mountain kingdoms,...
at the Hispar La (Pass) at an altitude of 5128 m (16,824.1 ft) to create the world's longest glacial system outside of the polar regions. This 100 km (62.1 mi) highway of ice connects two ancient mountain kingdoms, Nagar (immediately south of Hunza
Hunza (princely state)
Hunza was a princely state in the northernmost part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan until 1974. The state was also known as Kanjut. The state bordered the Gilgit Agency to the south, the former princely state of Nagar to the east, China, to the north and Afghanistan to the northwest. The state...
) in the west with Baltistan
Baltistan
Baltistan , also known as بلتیول བལིུལ་ in the Balti language, is a region in northern Pakistan which forms Gilgit-Baltistan, bordering the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. In addition, a part of Baltistan also falls into Jammu and Kashmir of India. It is situated in the Karakoram mountains...
in the east. The extreme steepness of the hillsides and strenuous nature of the boulder hopping on the lateral moraines and hillsides make this route's upper half the most difficult part of the Biafo - Hispar traverse. Only the Hispar La day includes walking on the Hispar Glacier. The crossing of four major tributary glaciers from the north is most taxing, and potentially high nullah
Nullah
A Nullah or Nulla is an arm of the sea, stream, or watercourse, a steep narrow valley. Like the wadi of the Arabs, the nullah is characteristic of mountainous or hilly country where there is little rainfall...
crossings can be dangerous. The views of 7800 metres (25,590.6 ft) peaks and of the snow covered cliffs and mountains on the south side of the glacier are particularly impressive. http://www.concordiaexpeditions.com/snowlake_trip.htm
The Hispar River
Hispar River
The Hispar River forms from the melt water of the Hispar Glacier - a 49 kilometer-long glacier in the Northern Areas of Pakistan's Karakoram Mountains. The Hispar Glacier and river both flow northwest, passing through Hispar, Hopar and Nagar villages until the confluence with the Hunza River in...
, a tributary of the Hunza River
Hunza River
Hunza River is the principal river of Hunza, in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It is formed by the confluence of the Kilik and Khunjerab nalas which are fed by glaciers. It is joined by the Gilgit River and the Naltar River before it flows into the Indus River.The river cuts through the...
, rises from the meltwater of the glacier.
See also
- Central Karakoram National ParkCentral Karakoram National ParkCentral Karakoram National Park or Karakoram National Park is a National Park in the Northern Areas of Pakistan that comprises the Baltoro, Panmah, Biafo and Hispar glaciers and their tributary glaciers. The Central Karakoram National Park lies mostly in Skardu District of the Northern Areas, but...
- Northern AreasNorthern AreasGilgit-Baltistan , is the northernmost political entity within Pakistan. It borders Pakistan's Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province to the west, Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor to the north, China to the east and northeast, Azad Kashmir to the southwest, and Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the...
- List of mountains in Pakistan
- List of highest mountains
- List of glaciers