EXPLORING THE KARAKORUM

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22429, 16 June 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXPLORING THE KARAKORUM

In April, 1934, ah Internationa* Expedition left Europe to explore and study the highest ranges. of • the Karakorum. This group of mountains lies behind the northwestern end of the Himalayas, to the north of the upper valley of the Indus, and occupies an area as large as the whole of England. There are many very high peaks, of which the best known is K2 or Mount Godwin Austen, 28,250 ft high. The expedition spent a considerable time among the peaks of the George V range, and most of their camps were at a height of from 23,000 -to 24,000 ft above the sea. Seven nations were represented by the scientists in the party. Most of the glaciers feed either the Shyok or the Indus rivers. Occasionally a glacier may block a whole valley, causing disastrous floods in Kashmir when the ice dam melts or gives way under the pressure of the water behind it.

The Karakorum are usually reached- from Kashmir by crossing very high passes (at 18,000 ft) which lead eventually to the upper Indus valley, in which Leh is situated, and to the Shyok valley which drains the main Karakorum ranges. This vast mountain land is almost a desert, without grass or flower, bush or tree. On the north, which is very dry, the bases of the mountains are covered with masses of brown sand, but on the south there are deep ice-fllled gorges. Lonely monasteries of Buddhist monks are the only signs of human habitation in this wild and barren country.

ADDRESSES Miss Kirsten Aarum, Bratenalleen 12, Grefsen, Gr. Oslo, Norway. Miss Bed] Ellingsen, Trisvei 17, Berg, Or. Oslo, Norway. Miss, Betty Alderson (aged 18 years), o Edina street, Edinburgh, Scotland, ,