Biafo glacier
| Biafo glacier | ||
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 View from Hispar La to the southeast to the Biafo glacier |
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| location | Gilgit-Baltistan ( Pakistan ) | |
| Mountains | Karakoram | |
| Type | Valley glacier | |
| length | 47 km (including Sim Gang or Lukpe Lawo : 66 km) | |
| surface | 115 km² | |
| Exposure | Southeast | |
| Altitude range | 4700 m - 3150 m | |
| width | ⌀ 2.4 km; Max. 2.9 km | |
| Coordinates | 35 ° 51 ′ N , 75 ° 45 ′ E | |
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| drainage | → Braldu → Shigar → Indus | |
 The Panmah Muztagh from the ISS, at the bottom left the Biafo glacier, above the Simgang glacier |
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The Biafogletscher is a 47 km long glacier in the mountains of the Karakoram . Including the tribute glaciers, the total length is 66 km. The Biafo Glacier is the third longest glacier outside the polar region after the Siachen and Fedtschenko glaciers .
Location and characteristics
It is located in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan and, together with the 49 km long Hispar Glacier , with which it is connected via the 5128 m high Hispar-La Pass , forms the longest ice system outside the polar region. The glacier connects the two ancient mountain kingdoms, Nagar in the west with Baltistan in the east.
The Biafogletscher is fed by two glaciers east of Hispar La, the Simgang Glacier coming from the east and the Lukpe Lawo flowing in from the north , which is also known as Snow Lake .
The Biafogletscher penetrates into the valley of the Braldu , which flows from the Baltoro Glacier in the east to the Indus. The glacier tongue lies at an altitude of about 3150 m .
To the north-east of the Biafogletscher lie the Panmah Muztagh mountains , including the Ogre and the Latok group , to the west of the Sosbun Brakk glacier , the eastern eponym of the Spantik-Sosbun Mountains .
Pass crossings
In addition to the Hispar La there are other pass crossings from the Biafo system to the north and east.
The (Eastern) Khurdopin Pass is located to the north of Snow Lake, east of Lukpe Lawo Brakk , and offers a high-alpine transition to the Eastern Khurdoping Glacier, which flows over the Khurdoping Glacier to the Shimshal Valley . This valley drains the north side of the Hispar Muztagh , the Shimshal river flows west to the Hunza valley .
- Simgang Glacier (Sim Gang)
The Sim La is located directly to the north of the Ogre and connects the southern arm of the Simgang Glacier with the Choktoi Glacier, which flows away to the southeast .
The Skam La is located in the east of the northern arm of the Simgang Glacier and provides a transition to the Nobande Sobande Glacier, which drains to the southeast . This and the Choktoi Glacier unite to form the Panmah Glacier , which flows further south and whose outlet flows into the Braldu River a few kilometers above the Biafogletscher .
The Lukpe La is located in the north of the northern arm of the Simgang Glacier and connects it with the Braldu Glacier , whose outlet is also called Braldu (not to be confused with the Braldu River mentioned above) flows north and east to the Shaksgam Valley . Between Lukpe La and Skam La is the mountain Lukpe Brakk . (Lukpe La and Lukpe Brakk are not to be confused with Lukpe Lawo and Lukpe Lawo Brakk.)
tourism
There are several campsites along the lateral moraine of the Biafo. The first three are looked after by the thousand-year-old village of Askole and have running water. These serve as a starting point for guided trekking tours on the slopes of the high surrounding mountains.
