MOUNTAIN RANGES

NANGA PARBAT

The Nanga Parbat is combination of two Sanskrit words Parbat means rock and Nanga means necked it mans naked rock, it is also known as The Killer Mountain because many climbers died on it before it summit by the great Hermann Buhl without supplemental oxygenin 1953. It is the 9th highest mountain on earth and among the eight-thousanders with a summit elevation of 8126 meters. It has three vast faces The Rakhiot (7000 m), The Diamir , The Rupal (4,600 m).The Nanga Parbat peak was discovered by European in nineteenth century. The schlagintweit brothers, who came from Germany in 1854 to Himalyas and drew panoramic view which is known to be first picture of Nanga Parbat,.

K2 

K2 is name was given by T.G.Montgomery (British Surveyour) with K stands for Karakoram and 2 stands for second peak listed in 1852.Later it is known as Mount Godwin Austen for early explorer but it was never recognised. K2 is located in Pakistan and China border, it is the second largest mountain peak in the world, the Pakistan’s highest one and world’s 22 nd prominent mountain. A Chogori word is used for K 2 which is Balti word derived from Chhogo ri means Large Mountain while locals called it Kechu. The Chinese local call it Oogri which means Great Mountain.
Due to difficulty for ascent it is also known as Savage Mountain and 2nd highest fatility rate among the eight-thousanders. It is more hazardous to climb from Chinese side so most of the time it is climbed from Pakistan side. K2 has an elevation of about 8612 meters that is 28,253 feet.

GASHERBRUM PEAKS

Word Gasherbrum is derived from Balti words Ragasha means beautiful and Brum means mountain hence it is also called Beautiful Mountain, often claim to means as Shining Wall. It is group of peaks with elevation of 8068 meters located in Karakoram ranges of Pakistan China border located in northeast end of Baltro Glacier. The highest peak is Gasherbrum1 which is known as Hidden Peak and it is world’s 11th higest peak and rest 3 other peaks are over 8000 meters.

MOUNTAIN PASSES

Mountain Passes connect Pakistan with China and Afghanistan .Most important passes are KHYBER PASS, BOLAN PASS, KARAKORAM PASS, GOMAL PASS, KHOJAK PASS, and TOCHI PASS


KHYBER PASS

Khyber Pass is mountainous pass that connect Peshawar (Pakistan) to Jalalabad (Afghanistan). It is the most renowned pass in Pakistan with the length of 56 km, throughout the history it has been important trade route between south and central Asia. Khyber Pass is the lowest and widest of all; its height is about 3517 feet. Today two highways thread their way through the Khyber Pass one for motor traffic and other for trade purpose. A railway line also travels to the head of the pass.

BOLAN PASS

Bolan Pass is mountainous and connects Quetta (Pakistan) with Kandahar (Afghanistan) and it is about 120km.It is an important pass connecting Jacobabad and Sibbi with Quetta. Traditionally Brauhi and Balouchi ethnic groups are in charge to maintain law and order situation throughout the pass and they still preserve their Dravidian language.

KARAKORM PASS

 Karakoram Pass is mountainous pass in between two mountains; the width of pass is approximately 45 meters. The high altitude and lack of vegetation is responsible for increase ratio of deaths for countless pack animals. Karakoram pass assume to be safe and trouble free because of stable upward slope on both sides and lack of summer snow and ice much of the year. Karakoram Pass falls on the boundary of disputed Indian Held Kashmir and China. It plays major role of dispute between Pakistan and India over the control of Siachin Glacier area west to pass.

 GOMAL PASS

The name of Gomal Pass has been originated from Gomal River; it is mountainous pass on the Afghanistan border of Pakistan in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and also located in between the Khyber and Bolan Pass. It links Gazni in east Afghanistan with Dera Ismail Khan and Tank in Pakistan through Kot Murtaza and Domandi.

KHOJAK PASS

Khojak Pass is located in the Toba Kakar range at a height of about 1945 meters above sea level, it connects Qila Abdullah with Chaman in Baluchistan province of Pakistan. Khojak Pass is 153 km away from Quetta goes and straight to Afghanistan. Khojak Tunnel was built 115 years ago and it is longest tunnel in Pakistan. Historically the Achakzai, across the Khojak mountain have controlled the smuggling routes around the Khojak Pass.

TOCHI PASS

Tochi Pas is located in Khyberpakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan; it connects Bannu in Pakistan with Ghazni in Afghanistan.