Northern Pakistan is host to three of the worlds biggest and most spectacular mountain ranges, the Himalaya, the Karakoram and the Hindukush. The convergence of these magnificent ranges, at the confluence of Indus and Gilgit rivers near Jaglot -a small town 40 Km south of Gilgit city-, create a unique geographical feature on earth.These magnificent mountain ranges are also home to one of the densest collection of highest and most precipitous mountain peaks in the world. These include five, out of the total fourteen, above 8000 meter high peaks in the world, including the second highest mountain peak -the K-2 (8611m). Other 8000 meter peaks in Pakistan includes Gasherbrum 1, Gasherbrum 2, Broad Peak and Nanga Purbat. Nevertheless these mountain ranges also boast more than 160 peaks above 7000 meters and around 700 peaks above 6000 meters.

Due to its very high altitudes and sub-zero temperatures these mountainous regions are also one of the most heavily glaciated part of the world outside the polar regions. Consisting of numerous ice glaciers including the world second and third longest glaciers i.e. The Siachen Glacier (70 km) and the Biafo Glacier (63 km).The Karakoram Range covers the borders between Pakistan, India and China, in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan), Ladakh (India), and Xinjiang region, (China). The range is about 500 km (311 mile) in length, and is bounded on the northeast by the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, and on the north by the Pamir Mountains. The southern boundary of the Karakoram is formed, west to east, by the Gilgit, Indus, and Shyok Rivers, which separate the range from the northwestern end of the Himalaya range.

The Western Himalayan Range is situated in Kashmir valley and Northern Pakistan, to the south and east of Indus River, and is dominated by Nanga Parbat massif with highest peak rising 8125 metres above the sea level, Pakistan’s 2nd and world’s 9th highest peak. Nanga Parbat peak is also famous for its unique Rupal Face which rises 4,600 meters straight above its base and the mountain is considered as one of the most difficult and dangerous to climb, nick named as Killer Mountain.