Godwin-Austen Glacier

Godwin-Austen
Map showing the location of Godwin-Austen
Map showing the location of Godwin-Austen
Godwin-Austen
Location of the Godwin-Austen Glacier within the greater Karakoram region
Map showing the location of Godwin-Austen
Map showing the location of Godwin-Austen
Godwin-Austen
Godwin-Austen (Gilgit Baltistan)
TypeMountain glacier
LocationKarakoram range, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Coordinates35°48′N 76°31′E / 35.800°N 76.517°E / 35.800; 76.517

The Godwin-Austen Glacier is a glacier in the Karakoram range and is close to K2, the second highest mountain peak in the world, situated in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Its confluence with the Baltoro Glacier[1] is called Concordia and is a popular trekking destination as it provides views of four of the five eight-thousanders in the region.

The Godwin-Austen Glacier, located in the Central Karakoram, forms part of the Upper Indus Basin.[2]

The glacier can be approached via the Balti town of Skardu. It receives its name from Henry Haversham Godwin-Austen, an early explorer of this region. K2 was also once proposed to be named Mount Godwin-Austen in his honour, but was rejected.

List of peaks around the glacier

Peaks near Concordia include:

  • K2, 2nd highest of the world at 8,611m.
  • Gasherbrum I, 11th highest of the world at 8,080m.
  • Broad Peak, 12th highest of the world at 8,047m.
  • Gasherbrum II, 13th highest of the world at 8,035m.
  • Gasherbrum III, 7,946m. (Often regarded as a subpeak of Gasherbrum II.)
  • Gasherbrum IV, 17th highest of the world at 7,932m.
  • Masherbrum (K1), 22nd highest of the world at 7,821m.
  • Chogolisa, 36th highest of the world at 7,665m.
  • Muztagh Tower, 7,273m.
  • Snow Dome, 7,160m.
  • Biarchedi, 6,781 m
  • Mitre Peak, 6,010m.

See also

References

  1. ^ "K2". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  2. ^ González-Santacruz, Nicolás; Fernandoy, Francisco; Goto-Azuma, Kumiko; Hirabayashi, Motohiro; Cordero, Raul R.; Feron, Sarah; Faria, Sérgio Henrique (January 2025). "Black carbon effects and seasonal isotope records in the Godwin-Austen snowpack and K2 high-altitude camps". Journal of Glaciology. 71: e22. doi:10.1017/jog.2024.111. ISSN 0022-1430. Retrieved 1 August 2025.