Glaciers in Leh Ladakh

Located at towering heights, the land of Leh and Ladakh is famous for its astounding number of glaciers. Huge masses of permanently frozen snow, most of these great glaciers in Leh Ladakh feed many rivers and are the sources to many others. Though found in areas characterized by extremely cold conditions, and largely inaccessible as they lie in the border areas, a chance to visit these glaciers in Leh Ladakh, could transform your Leh Ladakh tour into a forever cherished holiday.

Even though the glaciers in Leh Ladakh are numerous, here is a list of some of the more important ones, which you could include in your plans for sightseeing in Leh Ladakh.

• Siachen Glacier: Probably the most famous glacier in Leh Ladakh, J & K, this glacier lies in a massive trough which is more than 2 kms wide. Rocks and boulders are strewn all around the sides of this huge mass of ice, with the central part being a huge snowfield. In winters, this glacier acquires massive proportions and avalanches rolling down its steep, side walls are quite common. Because of its lofty height and extreme climate, the whole area is completely devoid of any vegetative cover. If you want to see the glacier, it is best done via Skardu in Ladakh.

• Nubra Glacier: This glacier makes for an amazing view. Surrounded by mighty peaks on all sides, the main glacier looks like an amphitheater - a sheer visual feast for a nature lover and the perfectly composed shot for an avid photographer.
  
  
• Biafo Glacier: With a massive length of about 60 kms, the Biafo glacier lies in the Baltistan area of Ladakh, a part of the slopes of the Karakoram Range which face the south. The glacier feeds a stream which flows into the Shigar River, which is a tributary of the mighty Indus. For natural reasons, the complete area is devoid of any vegetation.
  
  
• Baltoro Glacier: Source of the Shigar River, a tributary of the Indus River, the Baltoro glacier is the second largest in Himalayan ranges, with a length of about 62 kms. The ice moving down the mountain slopes has carved out many deep troughs, which form the basins of the beautiful glacier lakes.
  
  
• Hispar Glacier: The third largest glacier in the Himalayan ranges, the Hispar glacier is around 60 kms long. Barren and devoid of any trace of vegetation, the Hispar glacier is joined by numerous smaller glaciers. The central snowfield contains a huge amount of debris, which the erosions of this massive body of moving ice have gathered over the centuries. The glacier also feeds the Shigar River.
  
  
• There are various other glaciers in Leh Ladakh like the Rakaposhi Glacier, Saltoro Glacier, Chong Kumdan Glacier, Gasherbrum Glacier and numerous smaller ones.

  Ladakh is a land of strange beauties. The barren land, which seems to be stretching almost to the other end of the world, is suddenly truncated by lofty, rugged peaks, rising out of nowhere. The various shades of brown are sharply contrasted by the massive snow fields that infest Leh Ladakh. Invest in a good camera, for it is sure to come to your aid when the landscape of the area leaves you completely dumbstruck and gasping for more!

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