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Mountains,
Valleys and Glaciers
Northern areas of Pakistan, spread over 72,496 sq.Km. are as fascinating
as its southern region. Amidst towering snow-clad peaks with heights
varying from 1000 m to over 8000 meter, the valleys of Gilgit, Hunza
and Skardu recall Shangri-La. The cultural patterns in this region
are as interesting as its topography.
The people with typical costumes, folk dances,
music and sports like polo and buzkashi provide the traveler an
unforgettable experience. Nowhere in the world there is such a great
concentration of high mountains, peaks, glaciers and passes except
Pakistan. Of the 14 over 8000 peaks on earth, 4 occupy an amphitheater
at the head of Baltoro glacier in the Karakoram range. These are:
K-2 (8611 m, world second highest), Broad Peak (8047m), Gasherbrum
I (8068m) and Gasherbrum II (8035m). There is yet another which
is equally great, that is, Nanga Parbat (8126m) at the western most
end of the Himalayas.
In addition to that, there are 68 peaks over 7000
m and hundreds which are over 6000 m. The Northern Pakistan has
some of the longest glaciers outside Polar region; Siachen (72 km),
Hispar (61 km.), Biafo (60 km.), Baltoro (60 km.), Batura (64 km.),
Yenguta (35 km.), Chiantar (34 km.), Trich (29 km.) and Atrak (28
km.). The lower Himalayan valleys of Swat, Kaghan and Chitral in
the Hindukush range equally share the beauty and diverse culture
of the Northern Pakistan.
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