Sia La

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The Sia La, on German Sia - Pass, is a 5598 -meter high mountain pass in the Karakorum. It connects the flowing southeast Siachen Glacier, with over 70 kilometers, the longest Karakoram glaciers, with the current flowing to the southwest Kondus Glacier. The Sia La lies between the Saltoro Mountains in the south and the Karakoram range in the north main, concrete between the mountains Ghent Kangri ( Saltoro Mountains ) and Sia Kangri ( Baltoro Muztagh ).

Political situation

The Sia La is located in the historic region of Kashmir, on the summits of the nearby mountain Sia Kangri runs the border with China. Both India and Pakistan claim the territorial administration of the territory. As a result of simmering since 1947 Kashmir dispute was in 1972 in the Shimla Agreement, the 740 km long border between India and Pakistan set as so-called Line of Control (LOC ) to the geo-coordinates NJ 980 420 ( Koordinate35.02333333333377.001111111111 ) than most easterly point of the border. The rest up to the Chinese border interpreted Pakistani and Indian authorities different. After Pakistani view of the Sia La is located in Pakistan, as well as the Siachen Glacier. However, India claimed as limit the main ridge of Saltoro Mountains, the Siachen Glacier is thus Indian territory, the border via the Sia La.

This dispute led 1984 Siachen conflict between Pakistani and Indian forces. The Indian army occupied during Operation Meghdoot the Siachen Glacier and the Sia La and also the passes Bilafond La La and Gyong, further south allow access from the Siachen Glacier to Kondus.

Pass crossing

As the itinerary Sia La has only theoretical significance. The ascent from Kondustal to Sia La is extremely steep. The single pass inspections were carried out in 1979 and 1980 from the Siachen Glacier from a high plateau on the south wall of the Sia Kangri to the Conway Saddle, which leads north to the Baltoro glacier, or in the reverse direction.