Skardu District

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Skardu town as seen from the Skardu Fort

Skardu District is part of Baltistan and currently constitutes one of the six districts of Northern Areas of Pakistan. It is bounded on the east by Ghanche District, on the northeast by Xinjiang, (China), on the south by Baramulla and Kargil District, on the west by district Astore and on the north by Gilgit District.

This area is claimed by some in India as it used to be a part of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir (it was one of the six regions of the State). Skardu town is the capital of Skardu District. As of 1948, Skardu and Baltistan are part of Ladakh province of J&K.

[edit] Mountain peaks and glaciers

Map of the Northern Areas of Pakistan, showing the six districts and tehsil boundaries.

The highest peak in Skardu District is K2 (8,611 m) which is the highest peak in Pakistan and the second highest peak on earth. The Baltoro Muztagh (the subrange of Karakoram that includes the mighty peaks of K2 (8,611 m), Broad Peak (8,047 m), Gasherbrums (8,000+ m) and Masherbrum (7,821 m) is included in the Skardu District. Askole is the last settlement in the district for all treks to Concordia (the confluence of Baltoro Glacier and Godwen Austen Glacier). The Biafo Glacier and a major part of Hispar Glacier are also included in the Skardu District.

[edit] Deosai National Park

The district also includes almost all of the Deosai National Park (second highest plains after Tibet). Skardu is the district where Indus River enters the Northern Areas of Pakistan from Jammu and Kashmir India.