Shaksgam River

Shaksgam Valley

Camel caravan in the Shaksgam Valley. Links in the background of K2.

Location of Shaksgam Valley in the disputed region of Kashmir

The Shaksgam (Chinese沙克斯 干 河, Pinyin Shakesigan He) is a left tributary of the Yarkant. It rises on the north side of the glaciated Rimo massif. From there it flows in a northwesterly direction through the so-called Shaksgam Valley. South of Shaksgam Valley are the two mountain ranges Siachen Muztagh and Baltoro Muztagh. The latter includes four eight-thousanders, including the K2. In the lower reaches between the junctions of Shimshal Braldu and Oprang he makes for about 20 km, the border with Pakistan's Gilgit- Baltistan special territory. The territory of Shaksgam Valley is claimed by China. At confluence of Oprang the Shaksgam turns east, leaving the disputed territory, and reached after another 25 km in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Yarkant. The Shaksgam Valley forms the northern boundary of the eastern Karakorumgebirges.

The valley of the Shaksgam serves as a starting point for the ascent of K2 on its northern flank.

The British explorer Francis Younghusband in 1889 explored the Shaksgam region.

  • Tarim river system
  • River in Asia
  • River in China
  • Flow in Pakistan
Trans-Karakoram Tract Gilgit–Baltistan Rimo I Karakoram Integrated Authority File
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