The Great Asiatic Divide
14 May 2013
The Himalayas, Karakorams and the Hindu Kush form a great barrier, in total extending for nearly 3000 km from Bhutan to Chitral. These mountains divide the waters between the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia: on the south side the waters feed the Indo-Gangetic river system and on the north they drain into the great Central Asiatic wildernesses. That in a nutshell is the Great Asiatic Divide or the Great Asiatic Watershed.
To cross it is a momentous feat because you step from the subcontinent into Central Asia. In Pakistan you can do it on the Lukpe La and on Shimshal Pass. Nowhere else. India, Nepal or Bhutan do not have this singular honour of straddling the continental divide.
Had I been able to cross the West Muztagh Pass in 2006 (we did not because of fear of Chinese soldiers), I would have again crossed into Central Asia.
Labels: Geography, Himalayas, Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Northern Pakistan, The Great Asiatic Divide
posted by Salman Rashid @ 19:59,
4 Comments:
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At 14 May 2013 at 20:46,
said...
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Is there any physical feature like line of hills or a river that divides the two areas or is it just on the map?
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At 15 May 2013 at 10:06,
Salman Rashid said...
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Saima, the mountains themselves are the greatest physical feature. Their summits and the ridges separating the summits form the line. It is a physical feature that divides the waters. This is not something imaginary.
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At 15 May 2013 at 13:25,
said...
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Pakistan's spectacular mountain might. No where else in the world is such a concentration of mountains waiting to be explored. Nice blog.
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At 15 May 2013 at 13:35,
Salman Rashid said...
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Thank you very much, Brad.
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