Gilgit (landscape)

Gilgit is a landscape in the extreme northwest of the Gilgit-Baltistan region . The valley of Gilgit, which is between 1500 and 1800 meters high, covers an area of ​​9273 km². It is on the south side of the Karakoram and the river Gilgit consisting Kafiristan from Lahorigebirge comes and about 50 kilometers below the town of Gilgit in the Indus flows, traversed. The majority of the residents are Shiite Muslims .

Due to a relatively mild climate, rice and cotton are grown as well as fruit, especially pomegranates, mulberries, figs, melons and grapes, on a large scale. Dried apricots, currants and silk are important export items.

Gilgit has been connected to the Karakoram Highway (KKH), which is passable almost all year round, since 1979 .

Gilgit was ruled by its own prince until the middle of the 19th century. In 1860 the Maharaja of Kashmir conquered it with his 4000-strong army almost without a fight. After the independence of British India and the subsequent conflict between the two newly founded states India and Pakistan , Gilgit fell to the latter.

The main town Gilgit is located in the valley, which is surrounded by moderately high mountains, mainly to the right of the river of the same name, about 1530 meters above sea level. It is the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan , the former Pakistani northern regions .