Karakoram Range

Countries: Pakistan, China, India
Region: Central Asia / Northwest Subcontinent
Dramatic granite towers and icy peaks of the Karakoram Range.
Unsplash / Mountanity Editorial Archive

Range Overview & Geology

One of the Greater Ranges of Asia, spanning Gilgit-Baltistan, Ladakh, and Xinjiang. Home to the highest concentration of 8,000-meter peaks outside the Himalayas, including K2, Gasherbrum I, Broad Peak, and Gasherbrum II, along with immense non-polar glaciers like the Baltoro and Siachen.

Documented Peaks in Karakoram Range

The sheer pyramidal summit of K2 towering above the Baltoro Glacier.
8,611 m
PK · CN
First Ascent: July 31, 1954

K2

K2, at 8,611 meters (28,251 ft), is the second-highest mountain on Earth and widely regarded as the most technically demanding and lethal 8,000-meter peak. Located in the heart of the Karakoram on the border between Pakistan and China, K2 is characterized by sheer relief, severe weather anomalies, and persistent objective hazards including the notorious Bottleneck couloir.

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The elongated crest of Broad Peak reflecting golden mountain light.
8,051 m
PK · CN
First Ascent: June 9, 1957

Broad Peak

Broad Peak, at 8,051 meters (26,414 ft), is the twelfth-highest mountain in the world. Located in the Karakoram directly across the Godwin-Austen Glacier from K2, it is famous for its 1.5-kilometre-long summit crest. First climbed in lightweight alpine style without supplemental oxygen or high-altitude porters in 1957 by an Austrian team.

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Documented Sources & Archival Citations

  • The Karakoram: Mountains of Pakistan(Alpine Club of Pakistan)
    Accessed/Documented: 2026