The Skardu District ( ur, ) is one of the 10 districts of

Gilgit-Baltistan Gilgit-Baltistan (; ), formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative units of Pakistan, administrative territory, and constituting the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region which has ...

territory of

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

. The Skardu District is bounded on the east by the

Ghanche District The Ghanche District ( bft, ) is the easternmost district of the 14 districts of Pakistan-administered territory of Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan Army's brigade headquarters is located at Goma, Ghanche district. Pakistan Army's Gayari Sector Battal ...

, on the south by the

Kharmang District The Kharmang District (Urdu:) is one of the 14 districts of Pakistan-administered territory of Gilgit-Baltistan, bounded on the north by the Skardu District, on the north-east by the Ghanche District, on the south by the Kargil District and t ...

, on the west by the

Astore District Astore District ( ur, ) is one of the 14 districts of the Pakistani-administered territory of Gilgit−Baltistan. Its administrative headquarters are located at Eidgah in the Astore Valley. The Astore District is bounded by Gilgit District ...

, on the north-west by the

Rondu District The Rondu District ( ur, ), also spelled Roundu District, is one of the 14 districts of Pakistan-administered territory of Gilgit-Baltistan. The district encompasses the entire Roundu Valley, which is the fourth-largest valley in Gilgit-Baltista ...

and on the north by the Shigar district. The district headquarters is the town of

Skardu , nickname = , motto = , image_skyline = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Gilgit Baltistan#Pakistan , pushpin_label_position ...

, which is also the division headquarters. River Indus and Skardu

Mountain peaks and glaciers

The highest peak in the Skardu District is K2 (8,611 m), which is the highest peak in Pakistan and its two dependent territories and is the second-highest peak in the world. The Baltoro Muztagh, the subrange of the

Karakoram Mountains The Karakoram is a mountain range in Kashmir region spanning the borders of Pakistan, China, and India, with the northwest extremity of the range extending to Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Most of the Karakoram mountain range falls under t ...

that includes the mighty peaks of K2 (8,611 m),

Broad Peak Broad Peak ( ur, ) is a mountain in the Karakoram on the border of Pakistan and China, the twelfth-highest mountain in the world at above sea level. It was first ascended in June 1957 by Fritz Wintersteller, Marcus Schmuck, Kurt Diemberger ...

(8,047 m), the Gasherbrums (8,000+ m), and

Masherbrum Masherbrum ( ur, ; formerly known as K1) is a mountain located in the Ghanche District, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. At , it is the 22nd highest mountain in the world and the 9th highest in Pakistan. It was the first mapped peak in the K ...

(7,821 m), is located in the Skardu District. Askole is the last settlement in the district for all treks to Concordia (the confluence of the

Baltoro Glacier __NOTOC__ The Baltoro Glacier ( zh, 巴爾托洛冰川, ), at in length, is one of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions.The Fedchenko Glacier in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan is 77 km long, the Siachen Glacier which lies sou ...

and the Godwin-Austen Glacier). The

Biafo Glacier The Biafo Glacier ( ur, ) is a -long glacier situated in the Karakoram mountain range in Shigar district, Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. Geography Biafo Glacier meets the -long Hispar Glacier at an altitude of at Hispar La to create the worl ...

and a major part of the Hispar Glacier are also located in the Skardu District. Karakurom Mountains in Skardu 01

Education

According to the Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2015, the Skardu District is ranked 14th out of 148 districts in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 89th out of 148 districts.

Deosai National Park

The Deosai Plateau is one of the highest plateaus in the world. Skardu District shares the area of the

Deosai National Park Deosai National Park () is a high-altitude alpine plain (plateau) and National Park located in Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan. Deosai Plains are situated at an average elevation of 4,114 metres (13,497 ft) above sea level and considered as the ...

including Small Deosai, part of Gultari Skardu, and others with

, which has a major portion. The Deosai Plateau is the second- highest plateau in the world, after the Tibet Plateau.

Major towns

The major towns of Skardu District are:- Arandu, Haji Gham,

Sakwar Sakwar is a town in Gilgit District, Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most ...

and

Skardu , nickname = , motto = , image_skyline = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Gilgit Baltistan#Pakistan , pushpin_label_position ...

itself.

Demography

People of the Skardu District are predominantly of the Shia sect of Islam, where 97% of the people are of the Shia sect, 2% are of the Noorbakshi sect, and 1% are of the Sunni sect.

Lakes

The main lakes in the district are: * Kachura Lake *

Satpara Lake Satpara sar Lake ( ur, سدپارہ سر جھیل) is a natural lake near Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, which supplies water to Skardu Valley. It is fed by the Satpara Stream. Satpara Lake is situated at an elevation of 2,636 meters ( ...

Shangrila Lake Lower Kachura Lake ( ur, زیریں کچورا جھیل), also known as Shangrila Lake ( ur, شنگریلا جھیل, label=none), is a lake located near the city of Skardu in Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. Situated at a height of , it has had ...

* Sheosar Lake * Snow Lake

Mountain passes

The Gondogoro Pass is located in the Skardu District.

References

External links

Skardu on Wikivoyage
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