Godwin-Austen Glacier, Large glacier in Karakoram range, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
The Godwin-Austen Glacier is a glacier in the Karakoram range in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, stretching roughly 60 kilometers in length. It meets the Baltoro Glacier at a junction climbers call Concordia.
British surveyor Henry Haversham Godwin-Austen mapped the glacier in the 19th century during his explorations of the Karakoram. His work provided the first accurate records of this remote ice region.
The local Balti people maintain traditional settlements near the glacier, preserving ancient customs and narratives about the mountains through generations of inhabitants.
Access starts from the town of Skardu and requires a multi-day trek through Askole village with experienced local mountain guides. Visitors should plan for altitude adjustment, proper cold-weather gear, and sufficient supplies.
The glacier sits in a natural arena where four peaks above 8000 meters converge, including K2. This gathering of such tall mountains in one place is rare on Earth.
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