Concordia, Pakistan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Concordia is the name for the confluence of the Baltoro Glacier and the Godwin-Austen Glacier, in the heart of the Karakoram range. It is located in Baltistan, part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The name was applied by European explorers, and comes from this location's similarity to a glacial confluence, also named Concordia, in the Bernese Oberland, part of the European Alps.

Around Concordia are clustered some of the highest peaks in the world. Four of the world's fourteen "eight-thousanders" are in this region, as well as a number of important lower peaks.

Concordia offers the region's best place to camp for mountain enthusiasts not involved in climbing. With breathtaking views, it also offers short hikes to several important base camps: K2 (three hours), Broad Peak (two hours) and the Gasherbrums (three hours). An alternative exit to returning down the Baltoro Glacier is available by climbing the Gondogoro Pass (5450 meters). Visitors to the region are advised to carefully monitor their water intake as the whole area is littered with human waste. To avoid often painful and sometimes debilitaing stomach upsets at high altitude, water should be obtained from clear water sources, preferably white ice dug from the glacier.

Notable peaks in this area include:

• K2, second highest in the world at 8,611m.
• Gasherbrum I, 11th highest in the world at 8,080m.
• Broad Peak, 12th highest in the world at 8,047m.
• Gasherbrum II, 13th highest in the world at 8,035m.
• Gasherbrum III, 15th highest in the world at 7,952m.
• Gasherbrum IV, 17th highest in the world at 7,925m.
• Masherbrum (K1), 22nd highest in the world at 7,821m.
• Chogolisa, 36th highest in the world at 7,665m.
• Muztagh Tower, 7,273m.
• Snow Dome, 7,160m.
• Biarchedi, 6,781 m
• Mitre Peak, 6,010m.

[edit] See also

• Baltoro Glacier
• Godwin-Austen Glacier
• Sarpo Laggo Glacier
• Northern Areas
• Eight-thousander
• List of mountains in Pakistan
• List of highest mountains

[edit] Image Gallery

K2 (Baltoro Muztagh, Central Karakoram, Pakistan)	K2 (8,611m), Pakistan	Broad Peak (8,047m) from Concordia	Masherbrum (7,821m), Pakistan
Gasherbrum II (8,035m), Pakistan	Muztagh Tower (7,273m), Pakistan

[edit] External link

• Photos from Concordia region by Kelly Cheng