Gilgit-Baltistan

Gilgit-Baltistan, formerly known as the Northern Areas, borders Azad Kashmir to the south, KP to the west, the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan to the north, the Xinjiang region of China to the east and northeast, and Jammu and Kashmir to the southeast. It is an autonomous self-governing region that was established as a single administrative unit in 1970, formed by uniting the Gilgit Agency, Baltistan region and former princely states of Hunza and Nagar. It covers an area of 72,971 km² (28,174 sq mi) and is highly mountainous. Its capital city is Gilgit.

Gilgit-Baltistan is home to five of the "eight-thousanders" and to more than fifty peaks above 7,000 metres (23,000 ft). Gilgit and Skardu are the two main hubs for expeditions to those mountains. The region is home to some of the world's highest mountain ranges, such as the Karakoram and the western Himalayas. The Pamir Mountains are to the north, and the Hindu Kush lies to the west. Amongst the highest mountains are K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) and Nanga Parbat, the latter being one of the most feared mountains in the world.

Three of the world's longest glaciers outside the polar regions are found in Gilgit-Baltistan: the Biafo Glacier, the Baltoro Glacier, and the Batura Glacier. There are, in addition, several high-altitude lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan. The Deosai Plains, are located above the tree line and constitute the second-highest plateau in the world at 4,115 metres (14,500 feet) after Tibet, and is a national park.

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Skardu

Gilgit

Diamer

Hunza

Astore

Shigar