FASCINATING PAKISTAN.

               FASCINATING PAKISTAN

Pakistan is a beautiful mix of people , cultures , traditions and places . The richness of the land and the hospitality of its people are our nation's biggest assets . From mesmerizing landscapes to some of the highest peaks in the world , from world-class football production to the deepest ports , Pakistan is home to some truly fascinating sights and achievements . Our country has been blessed with a rich history , with one of the oldest civilizations in the world originating from this land . This , coupled with the overwhelming love and generosity of its people , makes Pakistan a truly fascinating place and in this article I invite you to join me on a journey of fascination.

      K2 MOUNTAIN

 K2 is located on China-Pakistan border between Baltistan , Pakistan and Xinjiang , China and has a recorded height or 8,611m . The name k2 was given in 1852 by British surveyor T.G.Montgomerie with ''k'' designating the Karakoram Range and ''2'' since it was the second peak listed . There is a Base camp located on the Pakistani side from where all the major climbing routes begin.

       KHEWRA SALT MINE

The mine is located in Khewra , Punjab which is situated in the Salt Range , an outer range of the Himalaya Mountains . It was discovered in 320 B.C when Alexander the Great's Troops' horses were found licking the stones . Famous for its production of pink Himalayan salt , the mine is a major tourist attraction which also features a masjid built with multi-colored salt bricks.

KARAKORAM HIGHWAY

The Karakoram highway passes through the Karakoram mountain range at a maximum elevation of 4,714 m near Khunjerab pass . It is a 1,300-kilometer long national highway which crosses into China National Highway 314 . Due to its high elevation and the difficult conditions in which it was constructed , it is sometimes referred to as the EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD . 

RUSH LAKE

The highest lake in Pakistan , Rush lake is also one of the highest alpine lakes in the world . The breathtakingly beautiful lake is located in Nagar Valley , Gilgit-Baltistan , near Rush Pari Peak , at an elevation of 4,694 m . The viewpoints from the lake are spectacular , nearby hilltops presenting a clear view of the peak of mount K2 . Interestingly , during the year the lake remains covered with snow for nine months and for the three months , its water gleams gorgeously under the sun

       THAR DESERT

Located in the Southeastern part of Sindh . the Thar Desert covers 30,000 sq.km. and extends into Punjab . It is the most densely populated desert in the world . The main occupation of the people is agriculture and animal husbandry . A rare combination of sand dunes with grazing and travelling herds makes the desert a beautiful and lively sight to behold.

BIAFO GLACIER

This glacier , in the Karakoram Mountains of Gilgit Baltistan , is 67 km long with a depth of one mile . Biafo glacier meet Hispar glacier at a height of 5,128 m and the two glaciers form a highway of ice stretching more than 100 km including a lake called Snow Lake . The ice in the lake has a depth of more than 1.6 km and is considered one of the largest ice caps in the non-polar regions of the world . 

         MASJID-E-TOOBA

Masjid-e-tooba , also known as Gol masjid , is located in Karachi . The construction of the mosque began in 1966 and was completed in 1969 . Built with pure white marble and mirror work , its dome is 72 m in diameter with no pillars to support it . It is balanced entirely on a low surrounding wall , an architectural feat . The ,masjid was built keeping acoustics in mind so that a person speaking inside at one end of the dome can be heard at the other end.

THE DEOSAI PLAINS

The Deosai national park is high altitude alpine plain and national park , at an average elevation of 4,114 m above the sea level , in the Nothern Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan . It is a plateau of mesmerizing beauty and immense ecological value . In spring , it is covered by sweeps of wild flowers and a wide variety of butterflies.

            TARBELA DAM

Also the largest dam by structural volume , Tarbela Dam has a surface area of approximately 250 sq.km . Built across the Indus River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , it is located in the Swabi and Haripur Districts . The dam was completed in 1976 and was designed to store water from the Indus river for irrigation , flood control and the generation of hydroelectric power .