Gasherbrum III

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Gasherbrum III
Elevation 7,952 metres (26,089 feet)
Ranked 15th (6th in Pakistan)
Location Gilgit-Baltistan (China-Pakistan)[1]
Range Karakoram
Prominence 355 m (1,165 ft)
Coordinates 35°44′N, 76°38′E
First ascent 1975 by a Polish team
Easiest route snow/ice climb

Gasherbrum III is a summit in the Gasherbrum massif of the Baltoro Muztagh, a subrange of the Karakoram on the border between Pakistan and China, in the region of Baltistan.[1] It is situated between Gasherbrum II and IV.

Gasherbrum III fails to meet a 500 meter topographic prominence cutoff to be an independent mountain; hence it can be considered a subpeak of Gasherbrum II.[2]

Gasherbrum III was one of the highest unclimbed summits in the world[3] up to its first ascent in 1975, by Wanda Rutkiewicz, Alison Chadwick-Onyszkiewicz, Janusz Onyszkiewicz and Krystof Zdzitowiecki, members of a Polish expedition.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b This region is disputed; it is also claimed by India. This massif is under the control of Pakistan; it lies just north of the Line of Control.
  2. ^ Some sources use a lower cutoff value, and consider Gasherbrum III to be independent.
  3. ^ In fact no summit in 1975 was both higher and more topographically prominent.