Siachen Glacier
| Baltoro Glacier | Hispar Glacier
| Nubra Glacier | Hispar Glacier
| Nubra Glacier | Gasherbrum Glacier
| Rakaposhi Glacier | Saltoro Glacier
Siachen
Glacier
The
Siachen glacier lies in the extreme north-central part of Jammu
and Kashmir near the border of India and Tibet. It has a length
of about 72 km and is the largest glacier in the world outside the
polar regions. The Siachen glacier is located on the north-facing
slopes of the Karakoram range. It feeds the Mutzgah or Shaksgam
River that flows parallel to the Karakoram range before entering
into Tibet.
Large tributary glaciers
like the Shelkar Chorten and Mamostang open into the main glacier
from both sides of its trough. The trunk glacier and its tributaries
are in the form of a vast icefield, particularly during the winter
season when there is continuous snowfall for several weeks at a
stretch.
The Siachen glacier lies
in a vast trough more than 2 km wide. The sides of the glacier are
strewn with rocks and boulders. The central part of this glacier,
however, is a vast snowfield.
Numerous icefalls have been
formed at the junction of small valley glaciers and the trunk glacier.
Lateral moraines occur at the confluence of larger tributary glaciers
and the trunk glacier. The side walls of the glacial trough are
steeply sloping. Avalanches roll down these slopes quite often,
particularly in winter.
This glacier encompasses
a vast are in winter. There are virtually no signs of recession.
This tract is more or less devoid of a vegetative cover due to its
high elevation as well as its latitude. The bulk of the total annual
precipitation is in the form of snow.
The Siachen glacier can
be approached via Skardu in Ladakh.
To the east of the Siachen
lies the Rimo glacier group, a group of three glaciers -- North
, Central and South -- located at an altitude of between 6,000 and
7000 m above sea level. Between them, these glaciers have almost
700 square kilometers of ice which at places is 100 m deep. Thus
the Siachen glacier empire contains about 2,000 square kilometers
of ice surface and almost 200 cubic kilometers of ice.
Baltoro
Glacier
The Baltoro glacier is situated
on the southern slopes of the central Karakoram range in the Baltistan
area of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located in a huge amphitheater
hemmed by high peaks.
This glacier gives rise
to the Shigar River which is a tributary of the Indus River. With
a length is about 62 km, it is the second largest glacier in the
Himalaya. Large tributary glaciers feed the main Baltoro glacier.
These include a glacier from the southwestern slopes of the Gasherbrum
peak and a tributary glacier from the northwestern slope of the
Masherbrum peak, both in the Karakoram.
The trough of this glacier
is very wide. Its central part is a vast snowfield. Small valley
glaciers form icefalls where they meet the trunk glacier. The side
walls vary from very steep to precipitous. The Baltoro glacier has
carved striations on the surrounding country rocks. Moving ice has
formed depressions which serve as basins for numerous glacial lakes.
The Baltoro glacier can be approached via Skardu in Ladakh.
Hispar
Glacier
The Hispar glacier is situated
on the southern slopes of the Karakoram range in the Baltistan area
of Ladakh. This 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 km and is the third largest
glacier in the Himalayan region.
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 devoid
of a vegetative cover. The Hispar glacier can be approached via
Skardu in Ladakh.
Nubra
Glacier
The Nubra glacier is located
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. 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
slopes of the Karakoram range.
Small glaciers in hanging
valleys feed the Nubra glacier. They occur on all sides of the glacial
amphitheater. 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.
This glacier can be approached via Leh in Ladakh.
Hispar
Glacier
The Hispar glacier is situated
on the southern slopes of the Karakoram range in the Baltistan area
of Ladakh. This 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 km and is the third largest
glacier in the Himalayan region.
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 devoid
of a vegetative cover. The Hispar glacier can be approached via
Skardu in Ladakh.
Nubra
Glacier
The Nubra glacier is located
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. 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
slopes of the Karakoram range.
Small glaciers in hanging
valleys feed the Nubra glacier. They occur on all sides of the glacial
amphitheater. 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.
This glacier can be approached via Leh in Ladakh.
Gasherbrum
Glacier
The Gasherbrum glacier is
located on the southern slopes of the Karakoram range in the Baltistan
area of Ladakh. It lies at the base of the Gasherbrum peak. This
glacier has a length of about 26 km. The melt-water from this glacier
joins the Shyok river system. Glaciers in hanging valleys open into
the main glacier.
No vegetation grows in this
tract due to the extreme conditions of cold. This glacier can be
approached via Skardu in Ladakh.
Rakaposhi
Glacier
This glacier is located
on the lower slopes of the Karakoram range in the Gilgit area of
Ladakh. It is tenanted on the north-facing slopes of the Rakaposhi
massif. The Rakaposhi glacier feeds an eastern tributary of the
Hunza River, which in turn flows into the Indus River.
The Rakaposhi glacier lies
in a trough whose bottom gently slopes towards the north and northwest.
Boulders and rocks are strewn all over the surface. This glacier
can be approached via Gilgit in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Saltoro
Glacier
The Saltoro glacier is located
on the southern slopes of the Karakoram range in Ladakh. It is situated
in a cirque of the Saltoro massif. This glacier feeds one of the
two main streams of the Saltoro River, which in turn drains into
the Shyok River. |
