Shaksgam

Shaksgam 沙克斯 干 河, Shakesigan He
Location of the Shaksgam Valley in the disputed Kashmir region
Data
location	Shaksgam Valley , Xinjiang ( PR China ), Gilgit-Baltistan ( Pakistan )
River system	Tarim
Drain over	Yarkant  → Tarim  → Lop Nor Desert
source	Northern flank of the Rimo massif 35 ° 37 ′ 26 ″  N , 77 ° 18 ′ 8 ″  E
muzzle	Yarkant coordinates: 36 ° 37 ′ 20 "  N , 76 ° 12 ′ 21"  E 36 ° 37 ′ 20 "  N , 76 ° 12 ′ 21"  E
Catchment area	approx. 5800 km²
Left tributaries	North Braldu , Oprang
Shaksgam Valley
Camel caravan in Shaksgam valley. On the left in the background the K2.

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 north-westerly direction through the so-called Shaksgam Valley . South of the Shaksgam valley are the two mountain ranges Siachen Muztagh and Baltoro Muztagh . The latter comprises four eight-thousanders, including the K2 . In the lower reaches between the confluences of Northern Braldu and Oprang , it forms the border to the Pakistani special territory of Gilgit-Baltistan for about 20 km . The territory of the Shaksgam Valley is claimed by China. At the confluence of the Oprang, the Shaksgam turns to the east, leaves the disputed area and, after another 25 km, reaches the Yarkant in the Uyghur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang . The Shaksgam Valley forms the northern boundary of the eastern Karakorum Mountains .

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

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