Question

Which glacier of the Nubra Valley is the longest one with a length of over 72km?
A. Hispar
B. Siachen
C. Biafo
D. Baltaro

Answer 1

Hint: It is the longest glacier in the Karakoram region in the Himalayas. The second longest in the non-polar regions of the world. It has a variety of surface streams that flow rapidly and at least 12 medial moraines.

Complete Answer:
The Siachen Glacier is a glacier in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, just northeast of NJ9842, where the India-Pakistan Control Line ends. It is the longest glacier in the Karakoram, and the second longest in the non-polar areas of the world, at 76 km in length. It falls down to 3,620 m at its terminus from an altitude of 5,753 m above sea level at its head at Indira Col, on the border with China.

Since 1984, the entire Siachen Glacier, with all major passes, has been under India's administration (currently as part of Ladakh's union territory, located in the Kashmir area). Pakistan maintains a territorial claim over the Siachen Glacier and controls the region west of Saltoro Ridge, located west of the glacier, with Pakistani posts located 3,000 ft below more than 100 Indian posts.

The following are the options given:
- Hispar Glacier is a glacier in the Karakoram Mountains that is 49 km long. Option A is therefore incorrect.
- The longest glacier in the Nubra Valley, with a length of over 72 km, is the Siachen Glacier. The correct answer is choice 2.
- The Glacier of Biafo is 63 km long. Option C is therefore wrong.
- At 63 km in length, the Baltoro Glacier is one of the longest glaciers outside of the polar regions. Option D is also, thus, wrong.



Note: Before 1984, the glacier was uninhabited, and since then the presence of thousands of troops has brought pollution and freezing to the glacier.
- In the area, the Siachen glacier demarcates central Asia from the Indian subcontinent, separating Pakistan from China.
- The area of the glacier is the highest battlefield on Earth where since April 1984, Pakistan and India have fought intermittently.