Biafo Glacier facts for kids
The Biafo Glacier is a massive river of ice found high up in the Karakoram Mountains. It's located in a beautiful part of Pakistan called Gilgit-Baltistan. This amazing glacier stretches for about 67 kilometers (that's about 42 miles)!
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What is the Biafo Glacier?
The Biafo Glacier is one of the longest glaciers outside of the Earth's polar regions. It's like a giant, slow-moving river made of ice. This incredible natural wonder is a key part of the Karakoram mountain range.
A Giant Ice Highway
The Biafo Glacier meets another long glacier called the Hispar Glacier. They join together at a high mountain pass called Hispar La, which is about 5,128 meters (16,824 feet) above sea level. When these two glaciers connect, they form a huge system of ice. This combined ice highway is over 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) long! It's one of the longest glacial systems in the world, not counting the ones at the North and South Poles.
Connecting Ancient Lands
For a very long time, this icy route has been important. It connects two old mountain kingdoms. On the western side, it links to Nagar, which is a region just south of Hunza. On the eastern side, it connects to Baltistan. This long path of ice allowed people to travel between these areas. It was like a natural bridge between different mountain communities.
How Old is This Ice?
Scientists are still studying the Biafo Glacier to learn more about it. One of the big questions they are trying to answer is exactly how old this glacier is. Glaciers form over thousands of years as snow piles up and turns into ice. Understanding the age of the Biafo Glacier can help us learn more about the Earth's climate history.
Images for kids
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Biafo Glacier Hispar
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Snow Lake Hispar, Pakistan
See also
In Spanish: Glaciar Biafo para niños
