Trans-Karakoram Tract
The Shaksgam Valley is one belonging to China territory. It is in the disputed region of Kashmir on the north east side of the Karakoram. For area of Shaksgam Valley include the upper reaches of the Shaksgam River as well as some side valleys, including the Valley of the SARPO - Laggo Glacier on the north side of K2.
Political Structure
By 1947 the Shaksgam Valley was under Indian control. With the founding of the state of Pakistan, it was part of its territory. As part of the Trans - Karakoram Tract in 1963 the border between Pakistan and China has been negotiated, the state border runs since then over the watershed of the Indus (Indian Ocean) and the Tarim Basin; The Shaksgam Valley belongs so completely to Chinese territory. It is in the district Kargilik and in Tajik Autonomous County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of Taxkorgan. In contrast to India, Pakistan stands today no territorial claims to the territory.
Discovery and exploration history
The first Europeans who traveled the Shaksgam Valley, 1887 was the British officer Francis Younghusband. He came from the east of the Valley of the Yarkant over the 4780 m high Aghil Pass. As he left the valley on the side valley of the SARPO - Laggo Glacier and the Eastern Muztaghpass, he was also the first European who crossed the main chain of the Karakoram from north to south. Two years later, Younghusband returned to explore the upper reaches of Shaksgams. An incoming from the Karakoram glaciers blocked the valley in full width, followed by another, underlying glacier, the Younghusband pointed as the main source of Shaksgam River. The weather conditions prevented further penetration and thus the discovery that the source of the Shaksgam River was even further away.
The attempt of the Italian Filippo de Filippi, who had already explored in 1909 with the Duke of the Abruzzi, the area of the Baltoro Glacier on the south side of K2, Shaksgamtal to explore in 1912 failed because of the flood of Yarkant. How Filippi wanted to achieve in 1926 the Shaksgam Valley from Karakoram Pass from the south and the English Major Kenneth Mason. He planned to seek the source of the Shaksgam River and follow the valley downstream. The first part of the project was successful, but when several glaciers blocking the valley and had to be bypassed reached Mason's expedition in a similar looking northeast valley parallel to Shaksgam Valley. As Mason realized the mistake it was too late, the supplies were running low, there remained only the return march. Nevertheless, his exploration into the unknown was a valley which he (wrong Shaksgam ) baptized train Shaksgam, not without success, for he could map the eight-thousanders of the Gasherbrum group on the west side of Shaksgamtals measured and.