Karakoram Mountains: Location and Significance

The Karakoram spans three countries:

• Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan (largest share)
• Ladakh, India
• Xinjiang, China

It is the second-highest range globally, home to K2 (8,611 m), four 8,000 m peaks, and massive glaciers (Siachen, Biafo, Baltoro). The name means “black gravel” in Turkic. The range is a critical water tower for the Indus and Yarkand basins.