Ladakh Glaciers

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 glaciers of Ladakh and Kashmir regions can ones fitness as it will command all the parts of the body to function to the optimum and coordinate. There are various glaciers in Ladakh.

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.

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.
 

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.

 

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.

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.