K2 peak, locally known by the name of "Chogo Ri", which means "The
Great Mountain", 8,611m, is the 2nd highest mountain in the world. K2
is placed on the Pakistan - China border in the mighty Karakoram range.
With no simple routes, K2 mountain is known as the finest and most dangerous
mountain in the world. This is because of the massiveness in the size of
this mountain and the numerous unsuccessful attempts made on it by various
expeditions, which include mostly American expeditions.
About K2 Mountain
The rocky K2 Mountain
is up to 6,000m, beyond which it becomes an ocean of snow.
The traditional route to K2 mountain's base camp goes from Skardu, which is linked
with Islamabad by a good road. From Skardu the route goes via
Shigar-Dassu-Askole up to Concordia over the Baltoro glacier.
K2 mountain was firstly discovered and measured by the Survey of India in 1856, and
first named for English topographer Henry Godwin - Austen, who explored and
surveyed the region.
K2 is taken from the first letter of Karakorum, and the number indicates
that it was the second peak in the range to be measured. K2 mountain was firstly
climbed on July,31 1954 by Italian climbers team lead by Ardito Desio and
accompanying him were Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni. A March 1987
measurement of K2 indicated that it might be higher than Everest, but later
that year, Everest was re-measured by a similar method and found to indeed
be 778 ft (237m) taller.
The Korakoram Range
Karakorum or Karakoram, mountain range, extending
480-kms, between the Indus and Yarkant rivers, North Kashmir, South central
Asia; South Easy extension of the Hindu Kush mountain range. It covers
disputed territory, held by China on the north, India on the east, and
Pakistan on the west. Karakorum's main range has some of the world's highest
peaks, including K2 called Mt. Godwin-Austen, the second highest peak in the
world.
Karakorum also has several of the world's largest glaciers. Its southern
slopes are the watershed for many tributaries of the Indus River. The
mountains, which are the greatest barrier between India and Central Asia,
are crossed above the perpetual snow line by two natural routes. Karakorum
Pass (18,290 ft/5,575 m), is the chief pass on the main Kashmir - China
route. Another important pass, Khunjerab (Kunjirap) Pass (15,420 ft/4,700m),
is on the Pakistan - China route.
Henry Godwin-Austin
Godwin-Austen, was a English topographer and
geologist. An officer in the British army (1851-77), he was assigned to
several government surveys in North India, especially among the Himalayas.
He explored and surveyed the region of the Karakorum around K2, which is
also known as Mt. Godwin-Austen after him.