A. Geographical context
Northern Areas of Pakistan adjoin much to the beauty of the nature and bestowed with lush green thick pine forests, glaciers, meadows, lakes and snow covered peaks. This paradise is located in the extreme north of the country, bordering with western China in the northeast, the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan in the north and Kashmir to the south. It contains eight world ranking peaks and some of the longest glaciers outside the sub-polar regions. The area has an extreme, continental-type climate with relatively sparse population. Gilgit is situated along the Karakorum Highway leading from Pakistan into China but began as a trading center of the ancient Silk Route. The world’s three highest mountain ranges, the Himalayas, Karakorum and the Hindu Kush meet at the confluence of the Gilgit and Indus rivers, just south of the Haramosh valley.
Meeting point of three mighty rangesHaramosh is located 78 km northeast of Gilgit city and opens at the meeting point of the world’s three mighty ranges at the confluent point of River Indus and Gilgit. Thus it can be called the gateway of Karakurum range and view point of Himalayas, Karakurum and Hindu-Kush ranges. The valley has its importance for being situated at the junction of the six districts of the Northern Areas.
Meeting point of three mighty rangesHaramosh is located 78 km northeast of Gilgit city and opens at the meeting point of the world’s three mighty ranges at the confluent point of River Indus and Gilgit. Thus it can be called the gateway of Karakurum range and view point of Himalayas, Karakurum and Hindu-Kush ranges. The valley has its importance for being situated at the junction of the six districts of the Northern Areas.
B. Physical features and natural resources
Phuprush PeakThe average elevation of Haramosh valley is about 4,500 m above sea level but human settlement and farming extend up to at least 3,000 m. The valley has some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in Pakistan and is surrounded by many high peaks ranging from Bilchar Dubani at 6,134 m to Malubiting at 7,458 m. Other notable peaks are Haramosh peak-1(7,400 m), Haramosh-11, Laila peak (6,986 m), Buska, Sassi Sumari, and Phuparash (6,574 m). Many glaciers are also found throughout the valley i.e. Mani, Buska, Khaltoro, Pupharash, Haramosh-Chagolucma and Ishkapal glaciers. The most famous lakes are Kutwal (3,260 m), Jutial and Khaltoro while a number of challenging passes such as the Rakhan Gali(4548m) and Haramosh La (4800 m) also exist in this region. These two challenging passes make the Haramosh accessible to the Bagrote, Nagar Gilgit and Arundu, skurdu through Choglucma glacier respectively.
Haramosh peakHaramosh valley has the largest cover of forests in the Karakorum mountain region, with thick coniferous and deciduous tree and shrub. These forests have a number of values for the local communities. As a component of its vegetative cover, many medicinal plants also grow wild in this region and have a great potential for exploitation. Furthermore, high altitude pastures/range lands also abundant in Haramosh and are used by local communities for livestock grazing in summer months. Wildlife such as Himalayan ibex, snow leopard, musk deer, wolf, lynx and Monal pheasant Himalayan snow cock, snow patrich, etc add to the natural richness of Haramosh. A variety of avifauna is found here too, both resident and migratory since it lies along the Indus Flyway. Another great asset of the region is the reserve of many gems and minerals in its mountains and is being exploited to some extent, but there is a very large reservoir waiting to be tapped for mining.
