Geography of Gilgit–Baltistan

Districts of Gilgit-Baltistan

Gilgit-Baltistan has been under Pakistan administration since 1947 and was given self-governing status on August 29, 2009 and is now constitutionally an integrated part of Pakistan.^[1][2] Gilgit-Baltistan comprises seven districts within two divisions of Pakistan. The two districts of Skardu and Ghanche are in the Baltistan Division, and the five districts of Diamir, Ghizar, Gilgit, Astore (which was carved out of the Diamir District in 2004)and Hunza–Nagar which was carved out of Gilgit District are in the Gilgit Division. The main political centres are the towns of Gilgit and Skardu.

Gilgit-Baltistan is home to some of the world's highest mountain ranges. The main ranges are the Karakoram and the western Himalayas. The Pamir mountains are to the north and the Hindu Kush lies to the west.^[3] Amongst the highest mountains are K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) and Nanga Parbat, one of the most feared mountains in the world.

Many of the highest peaks in Gilgit-Baltistan, such as Baltoro Muztagh, K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) (8,611 m), the second-highest mountain in the world), the Gasherbrums (7,932 - 8,080 meters, ranked 12-17 in the world), and Masherbrum (7,821 m), 22nd-highest in the world), lie in the Skardu District. Other high peaks are Distaghil Sar (7,885 meters, 19th-highest in the world), Kunyang Chhish (7,852 meters, 21st-highest in the world), Batura Sar (7,795 m), 25th-highest in the world), Kanjut Sar (7,790 m), 26th-highest in the world), and Rakaposhi (7,788 m), 27th-highest in the world.

Gilgit District

The Gilgit District is bounded by the Wakhan Corridor of (Afghanistan) in the north, Xinjiang (China) in the north and northeast, Skardu District in the south and southeast. The capital of the Gilgit District is Gilgit town.

The district includes Gilgit town, Naltar, Nagar State Hunza, Gojal (Upper Hunza) and Shimshal. It also includes many small villages like Minapin, Hopar, and HisparNgar KHaas, Symayer, Askurdas, Shahyaar, Hakochar, Phaker, Dadimal, Miacher, Pisson, Yell, Ghulment, Masoot, Thole, Nilt, Jafferabad, Sikandarabd, Chalt Chaproat, Bodlas in the Ex. State of Nagar. The Haramosh valleyhaving eight(8) villages i.e. Hanuchal, Shota, Sassi, Daso, Hurban, barchy, jutiyal, and khaltaro, currently located within the Gilgit District, was previously located within the Skardu District. Gojal (Upper Hunza) Gulmit Gojal is the last tehsil there and (Sost) is the last stop of (Pakistan). Sost is the place where (Pak-China Dry Port) is located near a village(Hussainabad). The highest peak in the Gilgit District is Distaghil Sar (7,885 m), which is the 19th-highest mountain in the world.

Rivers in Gilgit District

Main rivers in the Gilgit District are:

• Khunjerab River - flows south along the Karakoram Highway from the Khunjerab Valley and is known as the Nagar River, Hunza River south of Sust.
• Nagar River - flows further south and enters the Gilgit River by touching Hunza River to Gilgit
• Hunza River - flows further south and enters the Gilgit River just to the northeast of Gilgit town.
• Gilgit River - enters the Gilgit District from the west, south of the Bichhar Pass (Naltar Valley), and flows west through Gilgit town.
• Indus River - enters the Gilgit District from the Skardu District about six kilometers north of Jaglot, where the Indus River is joined by the Gilgit River. From there, the Indus flows south along the Karakoram Highway.

There are many tributaries of the aforementioned rivers, some of which are the Ghujerab River, the Shimshal River, the Hispar River, and the Naltar River.

Passes in Gilgit District

• Khunjerab Pass, Mintika Pass, Kilik Pass, Chillingi Pass, Shimshal Pass, Ghujerab Pass, Chapchingal Pass, Chaprot Pass, Naltar Pass, and Talmutz Pass.

Lakes in Gilgit District

• Naltar Lakes
• Kachaily Lake Between Miacher and Minpin just front side of Rakaposhi in Nagar
• Borit Lake
• Rush Lake (Rush Peak)

Skardu District

The capital of the Skardu District is Skardu town. Skardu was part of Ladakh before the partition of Kashmir in 1948. The Baltoro Muztagh, the subrange of the Karakoram that includes the mighty peaks of K2 (8,611 m), Broad Peak (8,047 m), the Gasherbrums (8,000+ meters) 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 the Baltoro Glacier and the Mount Godwin-Austen Glacier). The Biafo Glacier and a major part of the Hispar Glacier are also located in the Skardu District. The district also includes almost all of the Deosai National Park, which is located on the second-highest plateau in the world. (Only the Tibetan Plateau is higher). Skardu also is the district in which the Indus River enters Gilgit-Baltistan from the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Other towns in the Skardu District include:

• Gamba Skardu, Shigar Khas, Mehdi Abad, Sermik, [[Stak]], Gulab Pur, Kharmang Khas, Kachura, Gultari, and Thowar.

The highest peak in the Skardu District is K2 (8,611 m), which is the second-highest peak in the world.

Hispar Pass and Gondoghoro Pass are also in the Skardu District. Some of the lakes in the district are Snow Lake, Satpara Lake, Sheosar Lake, Kachura Lake, and Shangrila Lake.

Ghanche District

An evening at Goma village, Ghanche, Gilgit and Baltistan in Pakistan was taken just before the start of winter season.

The Ghanche District ("Ghanche" means the 'great glacier' and is written as "Gangche" by the local people) is the easternmost district of Baltistan. To the east is the Leh District of Ladakh( under administration of India).^[4][5][6] To the Northeast is Xinjiang (China), to the north and northwest is the Skardu District, to the west is the Astore District, and to the south is Ladakh(Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.) The Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) at the easternmost part of Ghanche District is located across the Saltoro Ridge. The Line of Control along the easternmost region of the Ghanche District ends before the start of the Siachen Glacier (entirely under control of India) at NJ9842. There has been a proposal made to turn the Siachen Glacier region into a peace park.

The capital of the Ghanche District is Khaplu. The Khaplu and Hushe Valleys form the gateway for the great Baltoro Muztagh, the subrange of the Karakoram that includes the mighty peaks of K2 (8,611 m), Broad Peak (8,047 m), the Gasherbrums (8,000+ meters), and Masherbrum (7,821 m)--all of which are located in the Skardu District.

Map of Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan with Ghanche district highlighted in maroon.

The highest peak in Ghanche District is Saltoro Kangri (7,742 m), which is the 31st-highest peak in the world and is, in fact, under Indian control since 1984.

Some of the towns in the district are Khaplu, Keris, Doghani, Siksa, Balghar, Thaghas and Ghuwari.

Some rivers in the district are the Shyok River, the Hushe River, and the Thalle River.

Ghizar District

The Ghizar District is the westernmost district of the Gilgit-Baltistan. It is bounded by Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on three sides (north, west, and south), by the Diamir District in the south and southeast, and by the Gilgit District in the east. A small strip of the Ghizar District (roughly 35x12 km) is sandwiched between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Wakhan Corridor of (Afghanistan). The capital of the Ghizar District is Gakuch.

The highest peak in the Ghizar District is Koyo Zum (6,871 m) in the (Hindu Kush Range) which lies on the boundary of the Ghizar District and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Some of the main places in the district are the Gulapur, singul, Ishkoman, and the Yasin valleys. Other places include Gupis, Chatorkhand, Imit, and [[Utz]].

Some of the passes in the district are:

• Karumbar Pass, Chillingi Pass.
• Hayal Pass and Naltar Pass (on the boundary of Ghizar and Gilgit Districts).
• Bichhar Pass (on the boundary of Ghizar and Gilgit Districts).

The main river in the district is the Ghizar River, which is known as the Gilgit River to the east of Gupis town. Some of its tributaries include the Karambar River, the Ishkoman River, the Phakora River, and the Hayal River.

Diamir District

The Diamir District is the district where the Karakoram Highway enters Gilgit-Baltistan from Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The capital of the Diamir District is Chilas. The Diamir District is bounded by the Astore District in the east, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the south and southwest (separated by the Babusar Pass or Babusar Top), the Ghizar District in the north and northwest, and the Gilgit District in the north and northeast. The valleys of Darel-Tangir, which are currently part of Gilgit-Baltistan, were formerly part of Pakistan.

District Diamer is divided into two sub-divisions: one is Chilas and the other one is Darel/Tangir. Village Juglote is headquarters of sub-division Darel/Tangir while Chilas is the headquarters of other sub-division and also headquarters of district Diamer.

Before the Karakoram Highway was opened in 1978, the only road to Gilgit town from the south was a rough track north from Balakot to Babusar Pass (via Kaghan, Naran, Besal, and Gittidas) and further north through Babusar Gah to Chilas. The road up to Besal is now in better condition, but the road from Besal to Babusar Pass is still a rough track. Darel valley the oldest civilization of whole gilgit baltistan. There is a Budhast University in muhallah Phuguch.

Astore District

The Astore District was carved out of the Diamir District in 2004. Before that date, Gilgit-Baltistan was composed of five districts.

The capital of the Astore District is Gorikot, which includes many villages in the Astore Valley.

Astore district comprised the area of erstwhile Gilgit Wazarat.

The Astore District is bounded by the Diamir District in the west and the Skardu District in the east.

Some notable places in the district are Tarashing, Rupal, and Rama Lake.

References

1. ↑ http://www.daily.pk/pakistan-grants-full-autonomy-to-northern-areas-9753/
2. ↑ Anita M. Weiss and Muhammad Aurang Zeb Mughal (2012) 'Pakistan'. Louis Kotzé and Stephen Morse (eds), Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability, Vol. 9. Great Barrington, MA: Berkshire, pp. 236-240.
3. ↑ Muhammad Aurang Zeb Mughal (2013). "Pamir Alpine Desert and Tundra." Robert Warren Howarth (ed.), Biomes & Ecosystems, Vol. 3. Ipswich, MA: Salem Press, pp. 978-980.
4. ↑ "The serenity of Ghanche: Of mountains, rivers and valleys". 
5. ↑ "Mapping education in Pakistan 2015". 
6. ↑ "Rifts within Nurbakhshiyas: Dozens arrested after clashes in Ghanche Valley". 

External links

• Gilgit-Baltistan detailed placemarks in Google Earth (with an overlay for district boundaries)

Gilgit-Baltistan topics Passes Karakoram Pass Gyong La Gondogoro Pass Bilafond La Valleys Skardu Valley Khaplu Valley Kharmang Shigar Valley Roundu Baltistan Galtari Cities and towns Skardu Kargil Shigar Khaplu Kharmang Roundu Baltistan Balghar Barah valley Chalunka Chorbat Valley Ghawari Haldi, Baltistan Hassanabad Karimabad Hushe Valley Keris Valley Khane Kharfak Korphe Yugo, Baltistan Yugupa Rivers, glaciers and lakes Baltoro Glacier Biafo Glacier Siachen Glacier Bilafond Glacier Godwin-Austen Glacier Trango Glacier Lake Kharfak Satpara Lake Shangrila Lake Shigar River Shyok River Indus Hushe River Saltoro River Architecture Chaqchan Mosque Khanaq-e-Mullah Noorbakshia Khaplu Bala Khaplu Palace Shigar Fort Skardu Fort Baltit Fort Amburik Mosque See also Karakoram Highway Ladakh Line of Control Kargil War Balti language History of Gilgit-Baltistan K2 Balti (food)