Pakistan is blessed with a long range of mountains that are an attraction for geologists and mountain climbers from all over the world. Pakistan has more than a hundred peaks that are above 7,000 metres. Out of the world's 14 highest peaks, four are in Pakistan. These highest peaks are situated mainly in the Karakoram range. This article discusses some of the famous mountains found in Pakistan.

Hindu Kush

In the north-west there is a mountain range called Hindu Kush. Most parts of the high Hindu Kush range (Eastern Hindu Kush range), are located in northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. This range is also present in Ghizar, Yasin Valley, and Ishkoman in Pakistans Northern Areas. Tirich Mir, located in Chitral (25,289 ft) is the highest point in the Hindu Kush range.

Hindu Raj

The Hindu Raj is located in the northern region of Pakistan, between the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram ranges. Koyo Zom (22,546 ft) is its highest peak.

Karakoram

The Karakoram is a mountain range present in India, Pakistan, and China. The Karakoram range has more than 60 peaks which are above 7,000 metres (22,960 ft). This range includes K2, which is the second highest peak of the world standing at 8,611 metres (28,251 ft).

K2

This is the second highest mountain in the world, and a part of the Karakoram range extending from the Himalayan range. It is located on the bordering parts of Northern areas of Pakistan and China. Due to the difficult ascend of this mountain, K2 is also called Savage Mountain.

A European team first attempted to climb K2 in 1856. A member of this team, Thomas Montgomerie, named this peak “K2” as it was the second highest in the Karakoram range. The other five peaks are named as K1 (Masherbrum), K3 (Broad Peak), K4 (Gasherbrum II) and K5 (Gasherbrum I).

Nanga Parbat

Nanga Parbat is located at the western side of the Himalayas. It is situated in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, south of the Indus River in the Astore District.

Safed Koh

The Safed Koh or White mountain range lies at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. It ranges up to 4,761 metres (15,620 ft) above sea-level.

Kirthar

Kirthar Mountains are located in Sindh and Balochistan. The range extends southward for nearly 300km from the Mula River (Balochistan) to Cape Muari (west of Karachi) on the Arabian Sea.

The maximum altitude of the Kirthar range that is present in Sindh is almost 7,056 feet above sea-level, which makes it Sindh's highest peak. This range is present a few miles north-west of the Gorakh Hill Station (5,688 feet.)

Salt Range

In Punjab there is a hill system called 'The Salt Range'. It gets its name from the extensive rock salt deposits that are present in the area. This range lies across the northern province of Punjab, from the Jhelum River to the Indus. The famous salt mines of Khewra, Mayo, Warcha and Kalabagh are present in 'The Salt Range'.

Sulaiman

The Sulaiman Mountains are located in northern Balochistan and Zabul province of Afghanistan. It is present at the border of the Indian Subcontinent and the Iranian Plateau and west of the Indus River. Takht-e-Sulaiman, meaning Solomon's Throne with a height of 3,487 m (11,437 feet) in Balochistan is the highest peak of Sulaiman Mountains.