Karakoram Pass

For road between Pakistan and China, see Karakoram Highway.

Karakoram Pass
Elevation	5540 m
Traversed by	Robert Shaw (1868); Francis E. Younghusband (1889); Theodore Jr. and Kermit Roosevelt (1926).
Location	China–India border
Range	Karakoram Range
Coordinates	35°30′48″N 77°49′23″E / 35.51333°N 77.82306°E / 35.51333; 77.82306Coordinates: 35°30′48″N 77°49′23″E / 35.51333°N 77.82306°E / 35.51333; 77.82306

The Karakoram Pass (Hindi: क़राक़रम दर्रा; simplified Chinese: 喀喇昆仑山口; traditional Chinese: 喀喇崑崙山口; pinyin: Kālǎkūnlún Shānkǒu) is a 5,540 m or 18,176 ft^[1] mountain pass between India and China in the Karakoram Range.^[2] It is the highest pass on the ancient caravan route between Leh in Ladakh and Yarkand in the Tarim Basin. 'Karakoram' literally means 'Black Gravel' in Turkic.^[3]

Historically, the high altitude of the pass and the lack of fodder were responsible for the deaths of countless pack animals while the route was notorious for the trail of bones strewn along the way.^[4] There is an almost total absence of vegetation on the approaches to the pass.^[5]

Travelling south from the pass involved three days' march across the barren Depsang Plains at about 5,300 m (17,400 ft).^[6] To the north, the country was somewhat less desolate and involved travellers crossing the relatively easy and lower Suget Dawan (or Suget Pass)^[7] before reaching the lush grazing grounds around Shahidullah or Xaidulla in the upper valley of the Karakash River.

The pass is in a saddle between two mountains and about 45 metres (148 ft) wide. There is no vegetation or icecap and it is generally free of snow due to the winds. Temperatures are low, there are often very high winds, blizzards are frequent, and the extreme altitude often took its toll. In spite of all this, the Karakoram Pass was considered a relatively easy pass due to the gradual ascent on both sides, and lack of summer snow and ice much of the year. Consequently, the pass was open throughout most of the year.^[8] There is no motorable road across the pass, and the pass currently remains closed to all traffic.

Geopolitical issues

The Karakoram pass falls on the boundary of territory controlled by India (Jammu and Kashmir region) and China (Xinjiang Autonomous Region).

It also plays a major geographic role in the dispute between Pakistan and India over control of the Siachen Glacier area immediately to the west of the pass. This situation arose from the Simla Agreement, signed in 1972 between India and Pakistan, when the treaty failed to specify the last 100 km (60 mi) or so of the cease-fire line from the end of the Line of Control to the border with China.

A potential China-India-Pakistan tripoint at Karakoram Pass is referenced in a 1963 boundary treaty between China and Pakistan concerning the Trans-Karakoram Tract, but India was not party to that treaty nor any tripoint agreement.^[9] The current de facto tripoint is about 100 km west of the pass near Indira Col in the Siachen Muztagh, where the Actual Ground Position Line between Indian and Pakistani forces meets the border with China.

Footnotes

↑ SRTM data; the figure is now known to be a few meters lower than the figure of 5578 provided in Rizvi, Janet. Trans-Himalayan Caravans : Merchant Princes and Peasant Traders in Ladakh, p. 28. 1999. Oxford University Press. New Delhi. ISBN 0-19-564855-2.
↑ "Pass to better relations with China". India: The Hindu. 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
↑ Younghusband, Francis E. The Heart of a Continent: A Narrative of Travels in Manchuria, across the Gobi Desert, through the Himalayas, the Pamirs and Chitral, 1884-94. First published: 1897. London. Unabridged facsimile (2005): Elibron Classics Replica Edition, p. 225. London ISBN 1-4212-6551-6 (pbk); ISBN 1-4212-6550-8 (hbk).
↑ Shaw, Robert. (1871). Visits to High Tartary, Yarkand and Kashgar. Reprint with Introduction by Peter Hopkirk (1984): Oxford University Press, p. 431. ISBN 0-19-583830-0.
↑ Rizvi, Janet. Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia, p. 48. 1983. Oxford University Press. Reprint: Oxford University Press, New Delhi (1996). ISBN 0-19-564546-4.
↑ Rizvi, Janet. (1999). Trans-Himalayan Caravans : Merchant Princes and Peasant Traders in Ladakh, p. 216. Oxford University Press. New Delhi. ISBN 0-19-564855-2.
↑ Younghusband, Francis E. The Heart of a Continent: A Narrative of Travels in Manchuria, across the Gobi Desert, through the Himalayas, the Pamirs and Chitral, 1884-94. First published: 1897. London. Unabridged facsimile (2005): Elibron Classics Replica Edition, p. 226. London ISBN 1-4212-6551-6 (pbk); ISBN 1-4212-6550-8 (hbk).
↑ Rizvi, Janet. (1999). Trans-Himalayan Caravans : Merchant Princes and Peasant Traders in Ladakh, pp. 28, 217. Oxford University Press. New Delhi. ISBN 0-19-564855-2.
↑ Anderson, Ewan W. (2003). International Boundaries: A Geopolitical Atlas. Routledge. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-57958-375-0.

References

Schmidt, Jeremy. Himalayan Passage: Seven Months in the High country of Tibet, Nepal, China, India & Pakistan. 1991. The Mountaineers Books, Seattle.

Ladakh

Passes	Khardung La Sasser Pass Karakoram Pass Lachulung La Tanglang La Chang la Marsimik La Rezang La Zoji La Pensi La Shingo La Spangur Gap Kongka La Lanak La Dehra Compass

Valleys	Leh Rupshu Salt Valley Padum Shyok Suru Valley Nubra Zanskar

Cities and Towns	Leh Kargil Upshi Padum Rangdum Dras Hemis Hanle Nyoma Sankoo Likir Khalatse Thiksey Chemrey Shey Zangla Daulat Beg Oldi Thoise Turtuk Chalunka Fukche Ukdungle Demchok Diskit Chushul Nimu

Rivers, glaciers and lakes	Sutlej Beas Ravi Shyok Chenab Indus Zanskar Tsarap Doda Yapola Suru River Markha Galwan Chip Chap Siachen Glacier Drang-drung Rimo Tso Moriri Pangong Tso Spanggur Tso

Monasteries	Alchi Bardan Basgo Chemrey Diskit Hanle Hemis Hundur Korzok Karsha Lamayuru Likir Lingshed Mashro Matho Mulbekh Namgyal Tsemo Phugtal Phyang Rangdum Rizong Sani Sankar Saspul Shey Monastery Spituk Stakna Stok Stongdey Takthok Thikse Tserkarmo Tonde Wanla Zangla Zongkul

See also	History of Ladakh Shanti Stupa Baltistan Leh–Manali Highway Bilaspur–Mandi–Leh railway Lahaul and Spiti Tourism in Ladakh Ladakhi language Wildlife of Ladakh Curious BRO roadsigns Geography of Ladakh Saltoro Kangri More plains Depsang Plains Khurnak Fort Sirijap Gurung Hill Ladakh Marathon

Xinjiang topics

Ürümqi (capital)

History	Yuezhi Xiongnu Han dynasty Protectorate of the Western Regions Kingdom of Khotan Sixteen Kingdoms Gaochang Turkic Khaganate (Western) Tang dynasty Protectorate General to Pacify the West Four Garrisons of Anxi Tibetan Empire Uyghur Khaganate Kingdom of Qocho Kara-Khanid Khanate Islamicisation and Turkicisation of Xinjiang Qara Khitai Mongol Empire Yuan dynasty Chagatai Khanate Moghulistan Kara Del Yarkent Khanate Dzungar Khanate Dzungar conquest of Altishahr Dzungar–Qing War Dzungar genocide Kumul Khanate Qing dynasty Qing rule General of Ili Reconquest of Xinjiang Republic of China Xinjiang Wars Ili Rebellion People's Republic of China PRC incorporation

Geography	Cities Tian Shan Dzungarian Basin Tarim Basin Gurbantünggüt Desert Kumtag Desert Taklimakan Desert Turpan Depression Karakoram Mountains Altai Mountains Kunlun Shan Pamir Mountains Torugart Pass Irkeshtam Pass Karakoram Pass Lanzhou–Xinjiang Railway

Education	Xinjiang University Xinjiang Agricultural University Xinjiang Medical University

Culture	Doppa Festival Music Meshrep gathering Muqam

Cuisine	Dapanji Sangza Samsa Youtazi Pamirdin Xurpa Tohax Tunurkawab Chinese Islamic cuisine

Visitor attractions	Apak Khoja and Xiang Fei Tomb Flaming Mountains Jiaohe Ruins Gaochang Grand Bazaar, Ürümqi Id Kah Mosque Karakul Lake Kizil Caves Ruins of Niya

Xinjiang conflict	1989 Ürümqi unrest Baren Township riot 1992 Ürümqi bombings Ghulja incident 1992 Ürümqi bombings 1997 Ürümqi bus bombings Xinjiang raid 2008 Uyghur unrest 2008 Kashgar attack Shaoguan incident July 2009 Ürümqi riots September 2009 Xinjiang unrest 2010 Aksu bombing 2011 Hotan attack 2011 Kashgar attacks Pishan hostage crisis 2012 Yecheng attack Tianjin Airlines Flight 7554 April 2013 Bachu unrest June 2013 Shanshan riots 2013 Tiananmen Square attack 2014 Kunming attack 2014 China–Vietnam border shootout April 2014 Ürümqi attack May 2014 Ürümqi attack Assassination of Juma Tayir

People	Amursana Mingrui Jahangir Khoja Yaqub Beg Zuo Zongtang Yang Zengxin Jin Shuren Sheng Shicai Ehmetjan Qasim Wang Zhen Saifuddin Azizi Rebiya Kadeer Nur Bekri Li Zhi Wang Lequan Zhang Chunxian Ilham Tohti

Related	Uyghur people Migration to Xinjiang East Turkestan Independence movement World Uyghur Congress China–Turkey relations China–Kyrgyzstan relations

Category Commons

Mountain passes of China

Geography of China

Cho La Alataw Pass Bedel Pass Beyik Pass Biandukou Diphu Pass Hangu Pass Huangya Pass Hulao Pass Irkeshtam Pass Iron Gate Pass Jingxing Pass Juyong Pass Karakoram Pass Khunjerab Pass Kilik Pass Kongka Pass Kulma Pass Kunlun Pass Laken Pass Lazikou Pass Lipulekh Pass Mana Pass Mei Pass Mintaka Pass Mustagh Pass Nangpa La Nathu La Niangzi Pass Pingxing Pass Sanju Pass Semo La Shanhai Pass Shipki La Tanggula Pass Tongguan County Torugart Pass Wakhjir Pass Wu Pass Yang Pass Yanmen Pass Yumen Pass

Landforms of China List of gaps in Hong Kong

Mountain passes of India

Rail

Road

Himalaya	Banihal Pass Bara-lacha la Bilafond La Bum La Pass Borasu Pass Chang La Chanshal Pass Cho La Debsa Pass Dehra Compass Diphu Pass Dongkha La Fotu La Goecha La Gyong La Indrahar Pass Jelep La Karakoram Pass Khardung La Kongka Pass Kunzum Pass Lanak La Lipulekh Pass Lungalacha La Mana Pass Marsimik La Nama Pass Namika La Nathu La Pangsau Pass Pensi La Pin Parvati Pass Rohtang Pass Rupin Pass Saach Pass Sasser Pass Sela Pass Shendurjana Ghat Shingo La Shipki La Sia La Sin La Spangur Gap Tanglang La Zoji La

Western Ghats	Amba Ghat Bhor Ghat Chorla Ghat Goa Gap Kasara Ghat Kumbharli Ghat Malshej Ghat Naneghat Palakkad Gap Varandha Ghat

Others	Asirgarh Haldighati Pass

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, June 18, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.