|
Baltoro
The Baltoro Glacier, at 62 kilometers long, is one of the
longest glaciers outside the polar regions . It is located in Baltistan, in the
Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan,
and runs through part of the Karakoram mountain range. The Baltoro Muztagh lies
to the north and east of the glacier, while the Masherbrum Mountains
lie to the south. At 8,611 m (28,251 ft), K2
is the highest mountain in the region, and three others within 20 km top 8,000
m.
The glacier gives rise to the Shigar
River, which is a tributary of the Indus River.
Several large tributary glaciers feed the main Baltoro glacier, including the
Godwin Austen Glacier, flowing south from K2; the Abruzzi
and the various Gasherbrum Glaciers, flowing from the Gasherbrum group of peaks;
the Vigne Glacier, flowing from Chogolisa, and the Yermandendu Glacier, flowing
from Masherbrum. The confluence of the main
Baltoro Glacier with the Godwin Austen Glacier is known as Concordia; this
location and K2 base camp are popular trekking
destinations.
The trough of this glacier is very wide. Small valley
glaciers form icefalls where they meet the trunk glacier. The sidewalls vary
from very steep to precipitous. The glacier has carved striations on the
surrounding country rocks. Moving ice has formed depressions, which serve as
basins for numerous glacial lakes.
The glacier can be approached via the important Balti town
of Skardu.
|