Karakoram Pass

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The Karakorumpass ( 5575 m) is the highest mountain pass on the ancient trade route between Leh ( Ladakh in the Indian part of Kashmir ) and Yarkant ( Uyghur Autonomous Region of Sinkiang of the People's Republic of China) in the Tarim Basin. The pass lies on the border of the territory controlled by India and China in a region whose borders are disputed. He is also of strategic importance to the military control of the Siachen Glacier, is disputed between Pakistan and India. Currently no motorable road leads over the pass and the pass is closed to traffic.

The Karakorumpass is not in the Karakoram mountain range, but the southeast, between the Dapsang Plateau and the Aghil chains. Also, the Karakoram Highway is not through the pass, but through the same Mountains.

Pass

The pass forms an approximately 45 m wide saddle between two mountains. At the height there is no vegetation. The pass is usually free of ice and snow due to strong winds. Frequently occur on snow storms. Traditionally, the big pass has always demanded a heavy toll on beasts of burden; the pass road was known that she was lined with many skeletons and bones of dead beasts of burden. Despite all the Karakorumpass is considered relatively easy to pass because the pass rise flat runs on both sides and top of the pass is usually free of ice.

Name

The name comes from the Karakorum Turkish and means black boulders. The name was later transferred to the neighboring mountains.