Ladakh Glaciers |
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A mountaineering expedition
can turn out to be a lifetime adventure, if it is done on the
glaciers that are still craving to be explored. The Himalayan
range offers some of the most rigorous mountaineering
challenges one can ever come across. The glaciers of Ladakh
and Kashmir regions can test ones fitness as it will command
all the parts of the body to function to the optimum and
coordinate to the maximum. There are various glaciers in Ladakh. The major ones are:
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Siachen
Glacier
With a vast snowfield in the center, sides strewn with
rocks and boulders and a length of about 72-km, Siachen
is known as the largest glacier in the world outside the
Polar Regions. The Siachen glacier lies in the extreme
north-central part of Jammu and Kashmir near the border
of India and Tibet and can be approached via Skardu in
Ladakh. Located on the north-facing slopes of the
Karakoram Range, Siachen feeds the Mutzgah or Shaksgam
River that flows parallel to the Karakoram Range before
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entering into Tibet. Large
tributary glaciers like the Shelkar Chorten and Mamostang open
into the main glacier from both sides of its trough. Moraines
occur at the confluence of larger tributary glaciers and the
trunk glacier. The trunk glacier and its tributaries are in
the form of a vast ice field, particularly during the winter
season when there is continuous snowfall for several weeks at
a stretch. Thus the glacier encompasses a vast area in winter
and there are virtually no signs of recession.
Biafo Glacier
The Biafo glacier is located on the south-facing slopes of the
Karakoram Range in the Baltistan area of Ladakh and can be
approached via Skardu in Ladakh. It has a length of about 60
kms and descends from a large glacial trough. The main stream
originating from this glacier flows into the Shigar River,
which in turn is a tributary of the Indus River. Small valley
glaciers feed the main glacier at various points. There is
virtually no vegetation cover in this tract.
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Baltoro Glacier
Wide trough, vast snowfield as central part, sidewalls
varying from steep to precipitous are among the various
features of this glacier, the glacier which has carved
striations on the surrounding country rocks. Moving ice
of this glacier has formed depressions, which serve as
basins for numerous glacial lakes. Situated on the
southern slopes of the central Karakoram Range in the
Baltistan area of Jammu and Kashmir, Baltoro can be
approached via Skardu in Ladakh. The location of Baltoro
is in a huge arena hemmed by high peaks. Shigar River, a
tributary of the Indus River, finds its source from this
glacier. With a length of about 62 kms, it is the second
largest glacier in the great Himalayan range. Large
tributary glaciers, which feed the main Baltoro glacier
include a glacier from the southwestern slopes of the
Gasherbrum peak |
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and a tributary glacier from
the northwestern slope of the Masherbrum peak, both in the
Karakoram. |
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Chong Kumdan Glacier
Chong Kumdan Glacier is surrounded by high peaks on all sides.
The melt-water flows into the Shyok river.
Hispar Glacier
Situated on the southern slopes of the Karakoram Range in the
Baltistan area of Ladakh is Hispar Glacier. It is a very large
glacier feeding the main stream of the Shigar River, which in
turn drains into the Indus River. The main glacier has a
length of about 60 kms and is the third largest glacier in the
Himalayan region. The glacier is accessible via Skardu in
Ladakh.
Numerous smaller glaciers join the main glacier on both sides
of the amphitheater in which it is located. The central
portion of this glacier is a vast snowfield while its sides
contain debris eroded by the huge body of moving ice. The
entire tract is completely lack of vegetation of any kind.
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Nubra
Glacier
Nubra Glacier is spectacularly set on the southern
slopes of the Karakoram Range in the Ladakh region of
Jammu and Kashmir. It is a large glacier located in a
huge amphitheater that is ringed by towering peaks and
is approachable via Leh in Ladakh. This glacier gives
rise to the Nubra River, which in turn flows, into the
Shyok River. Large tributary glaciers open into the main
glacier. These include valley glaciers from the
northwestern slopes of the Sasser La massif and the
southeastern |
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slopes of the Karakoram
Range. The central part of this glacier takes the form of a
vast snowfield. Lateral moraines are found along the flanks
and at the junction of the tributary glaciers and the main
glacier. No vegetation grows in this tract as it lies above
the snow line.
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Rakaposhi Glacier
Rakaposhi Glacier is situated on the lower slopes of the
Karakoram range in Gilgit, Ladakh. The tributaries that come
out from this glacier flows into the Hunza river. This glacier
can be approached via Gilgit in the Ladakh region of Jammu and
Kashmir.
Saltoro Glacier
Saltoro Glacier is located on the border of India and
Pakistan. It is situated near a basin in a mountain in the
Saltoro massif. The glacier feeds one of the two main streams
of the Saltoro river.
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