Baltoro Glacier facts for kids
The Baltoro Glacier is a huge river of ice, about 62 kilometers (38.5 miles) long. It's one of the longest glaciers in the world outside of the North and South Poles! You can find it in a region called Baltistan, which is part of the Karakoram mountain range in Pakistan.
To the north and east of the glacier are the Baltoro Muztagh mountains. To the south, you'll see the Masherbrum Mountains. This area is home to some of the world's tallest peaks. For example, K2, which is 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) high, is the tallest mountain here. Three other mountains within 20 kilometers (12 miles) also stand taller than 8,000 meters (26,247 feet)!
The Baltoro Glacier is very important because it's the source of the Shigar River. This river then flows into the mighty Indus River. Many smaller glaciers join the main Baltoro Glacier, like branches joining a tree trunk. These include:
- The Godwin Austen Glacier, which flows from K2.
- The Abruzzi and various Gasherbrum Glaciers, coming from the Gasherbrum group of peaks.
- The Vigne Glacier, flowing from Chogolisa.
- The Yermandendu Glacier, coming from Masherbrum.
A special spot where the main Baltoro Glacier meets the Godwin Austen Glacier is called Concordia. This place, along with the K2 base camp, is a very popular destination for trekkers and adventurers.
The valley carved by this glacier is incredibly wide. Smaller glaciers that join it often create dramatic icefalls where they meet the main ice stream. The sides of the glacier valley are very steep, sometimes even straight up and down! As the glacier moves, it scrapes and carves marks into the rocks around it. It also creates dips in the ground, which fill with water to form many beautiful glacial lakes.
To visit the Baltoro Glacier, you can start your journey from the important Balti town of Skardu.
Images for kids
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The Baltoro icefield as seen from the ISS
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Looking northeast towards K2, at the top center
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A close-up photo of the glacier
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View of the Baltoro Glacier from Urdukas campsite
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A glacial mushroom on Baltoro Glacier
See also
In Spanish: Glaciar Baltoro para niños
