K1–K12 Karakoram Survey Map: Historic Peak Names and Locations

The Karakoram contains one of the greatest concentrations of high mountains, enormous glaciers, and steep rock faces anywhere on Earth. Among its most historically important summits are the mountains identified by the survey codes K1 through K12.

These short names originated during the nineteenth-century mapping of the Karakoram. The letter K represented the Karakoram, while the numbers provided practical identifiers for peaks whose geographic or locally used names had not yet been established on official maps.

Most of the survey codes were eventually replaced by names such as Masherbrum, Gasherbrum IV, and Saltoro Kangri. K2 became the great exception. Its temporary survey designation survived and became one of the most famous mountain names in the world.

The K1–K12 Karakoram survey map shows how these historic designations are distributed across the central and eastern Karakoram, from the Masherbrum Mountains and Baltoro Glacier to the Saltoro Mountains and Siachen region.

🗺️ What Do the K Numbers Mean?

The K numbers are survey designations, not rankings by elevation.

K1 is not the highest mountain in the Karakoram, and K12 is not necessarily the twelfth-highest. The numbers were assigned as surveyors identified, measured, and recorded distant summits.

During the nineteenth century, mapping the Karakoram was exceptionally difficult. Much of the range was inaccessible, glacier travel was dangerous, and many peaks had to be observed from triangulation stations more than 100 kilometers away.

Surveyor Thomas George Montgomerie used the letter K for the Karakoram and assigned numbers to prominent summits. His initial observations included K1 and K2, viewed from a distant survey station at Mount Haramukh in Kashmir.

As additional areas were mapped, the numbering system expanded. Some codes were later replaced by accepted geographic names, while others—including K2, K6, K7, K12, and several higher-numbered peaks—remained in common use.

🧭 The K1–K12 Mountains

The elevations below reflect commonly accepted modern figures. Historical maps may show slightly different heights because early measurements were made from great distances and were later refined.

Survey designation	Modern or commonly used name	Elevation	General location
K1	Masherbrum	7,821 m (25,659 ft)	Masherbrum Mountains, south of the Baltoro Glacier
K2	K2	8,611 m (28,251 ft)	Baltoro Muztagh, near the upper Godwin-Austen Glacier
K3	Gasherbrum IV	7,925 m (26,001 ft)	Gasherbrum massif
K4	Gasherbrum II	8,035 m (26,362 ft)	Gasherbrum massif
K5	Gasherbrum I	8,080 m (26,509 ft)	Gasherbrum massif
K6	Baltistan Peak	7,282 m (23,891 ft)	Masherbrum Mountains near the Charakusa Glacier
K7	Saraska Peak or Gomgma Gangri	6,934 m (22,749 ft)	Charakusa Valley region
K8	Skilma Gangri or Ghursay Kangri II	approximately 7,422 m (24,350 ft)	Western side of the Siachen Glacier
K9	Gamba Gangri	approximately 7,000 m (22,966 ft)	Trango–Baltoro sector
K10	Saltoro Kangri I	7,742 m (25,400 ft)	Saltoro Mountains
K11	Saltoro Kangri II	approximately 7,705 m (25,279 ft)	Immediately north of Saltoro Kangri I
K12	K12	7,428 m (24,370 ft)	Saltoro Mountains, southwest of the Siachen Glacier

Several names and elevations vary among historical surveys, modern databases, expedition accounts, and regional maps. This is especially true for K7, K8, and K9, which are far less frequently documented than K2 or the major Gasherbrum peaks.

🏔️ K1: Masherbrum

K1 is now known as Masherbrum, a spectacular 7,821-meter mountain rising south of the Baltoro Glacier.

Although its survey number suggests that it came before K2, Masherbrum is considerably lower than K2. It received the designation K1 because it was the first major Karakoram summit entered into Montgomerie’s original sequence.

Once surveyors confirmed that the mountain already had an established geographic name, K1 was gradually replaced by Masherbrum.

Masherbrum dominates the surrounding glaciers and valleys with an enormous pyramidal profile. Its steep faces, difficult approaches, and complex upper ridges have made it one of the least frequently climbed major mountains of the central Karakoram.

🏔️ K2: The Survey Name That Survived

At 8,611 meters, K2 is the highest mountain in the Karakoram and the second-highest mountain on Earth.

Unlike K1, K3, K4, and K5, K2 never acquired a replacement name that achieved widespread international acceptance. Mount Godwin-Austen, Chogori, Qogir, and several other names have appeared in maps and literature, but the simple survey code remained dominant.

The name is unusually appropriate for the mountain. Its brief, impersonal sound reflects the isolation and severity of the peak, which rises above the Godwin-Austen Glacier near the Pakistan–China frontier.

K2 stands north of the upper Baltoro Glacier and Concordia, surrounded by Broad Peak, Skyang Kangri, and the Gasherbrum massif.

🏔️ K3, K4 and K5: The Gasherbrum Survey Peaks

K3, K4, and K5 form part of the Gasherbrum massif east and southeast of K2.

K3: Gasherbrum IV

K3 became Gasherbrum IV, a 7,925-meter mountain famous for its steep ridges and enormous West Face.

Gasherbrum IV is lower than the neighboring eight-thousanders but is considered one of the most technically difficult major mountains in the Karakoram. Its West Face, often called the Shining Wall, towers above the upper Baltoro Glacier.

Broad Peak is sometimes described as K3 in popular writing. However, the established Survey of India nomenclature identifies Gasherbrum IV as K3. Broad Peak was retained as a separate descriptive name.

K4: Gasherbrum II

K4 is now known as Gasherbrum II.

At approximately 8,035 meters, it is the world’s thirteenth-highest mountain. It rises along the main Karakoram watershed and forms part of the group of enormous peaks surrounding the upper Baltoro Glacier.

Gasherbrum II is generally considered less technically difficult than K2 or Gasherbrum IV, although it remains a serious high-altitude expedition mountain.

K5: Gasherbrum I

K5 became Gasherbrum I, also known as Hidden Peak.

Its position behind other mountains makes it less immediately visible from the lower Baltoro Glacier, explaining the descriptive name Hidden Peak. At approximately 8,080 meters, it is the second-highest summit in the Karakoram after K2.

Together, K2, K4, and K5 account for three of the four 8,000-meter mountains in the Karakoram. Broad Peak is the fourth.

🏔️ K6 and K7: The Charakusa Mountains

K6 and K7 rise in the rugged Masherbrum Mountains south of the main Baltoro region.

K6: Baltistan Peak

K6, also called Baltistan Peak, reaches approximately 7,282 meters.

It rises near the head of the Charakusa Glacier and possesses enormous vertical relief above the surrounding valleys. Its steep granite, snow, and ice faces have attracted highly skilled climbers despite its relative obscurity.

The mountain was first climbed in 1970 by members of an Austrian expedition.

K7: Saraska Peak

K7 is a dramatic granite mountain near the head of the Charakusa Valley. It is also known as Saraska Peak, while some references use the name Gomgma Gangri.

Although its elevation of approximately 6,934 meters is lower than K6, its sharp profile and steep walls make it an important technical climbing objective.

The K6–K7 region is separate from the main K2 and Gasherbrum cluster. On a regional map, these mountains should appear south of the Baltoro Glacier in the Hushe and Charakusa sector.

🏔️ K8 and K9: Lesser-Known Survey Summits

K8 and K9 are among the most confusing mountains in the historic sequence because their names, positions, and elevations have not been presented consistently across maps and reference works.

K8: Skilma Gangri

K8 is generally identified as Skilma Gangri, also called Ghursay Kangri II.

The mountain rises to approximately 7,422 meters on the western side of the Siachen Glacier. Historical expedition accounts describe K8 as a prominent summit visible from great distances across the eastern Karakoram.

K8 should not be confused with nearby Saltoro Kangri, K12, or the mountains of the Rimo massif.

K9: Gamba Gangri

K9 is generally associated with Gamba Gangri, an approximately 7,000-meter mountain in the Trango–Baltoro sector.

Unlike K8 and the Saltoro survey peaks, K9 does not belong in the eastern Siachen or Rimo region. It should appear farther west, near the central Baltoro landscape and the mountains associated with the Trango Glacier system.

Because K9 is poorly documented compared with the larger Karakoram summits, its exact elevation is often presented as approximate.

🏔️ K10 and K11: The Saltoro Kangri Massif

K10 and K11 are the two principal summits of the Saltoro Kangri massif.

K10: Saltoro Kangri I

K10 is Saltoro Kangri I, the highest mountain in the Saltoro Mountains.

The main summit reaches approximately 7,742 meters and rises west of the Siachen Glacier. It is an independent, ultra-prominent mountain and one of the highest peaks in the entire Karakoram.

Saltoro Kangri was first climbed in 1962 by a joint Japanese–Pakistani expedition.

K11: Saltoro Kangri II

K11 is generally identified with Saltoro Kangri II, the northern summit of the massif.

It reaches approximately 7,705 meters and lies less than one kilometer north of the main K10 summit. Because the two summits are connected by a high saddle, Saltoro Kangri II is usually treated as a subsidiary summit rather than a fully independent mountain.

On an accurate map, K10 and K11 should appear very close together.

🏔️ K12: A Remote Saltoro Giant

K12 is a 7,428-meter mountain in the Saltoro Mountains southwest of the Siachen Glacier.

Unlike K10 and K11, K12 is a separate massif with substantial topographic prominence. The K12 Glacier descends from its northeastern slopes toward the Siachen Glacier system, while its western drainage flows toward glaciers and valleys on the opposite side of the Saltoro Ridge.

A Japanese expedition made the first ascent in 1974. The two summit climbers reached the top but died during the descent. Another Japanese expedition returned and completed the mountain’s second ascent in 1975.

An Indian Army expedition climbed K12 from the Siachen side in 1984 as preparation for its 1985 Mount Everest expedition.

Because K12 stands in a restricted and militarized region, it receives very few mountaineering expeditions.

🧊 Glaciers Shaping the Survey Map

The glaciers shown on the map are essential to understanding the geography of the K1–K12 mountains.

Baltoro Glacier

The Baltoro Glacier forms the central geographic corridor of the western group.

Masherbrum rises south of its lower section, while K2, Gasherbrum IV, Gasherbrum II, and Gasherbrum I surround its upper tributaries. The glacier leads eastward toward Concordia, where several major glacial branches meet.

Godwin-Austen Glacier

The Godwin-Austen Glacier flows southward from the base of K2 and joins the upper Baltoro Glacier at Concordia.

It forms the principal approach to K2 from Pakistan and visually separates K2 from Broad Peak and the Gasherbrum region.

Siachen Glacier

The Siachen Glacier dominates the eastern side of the mapped region.

K8 rises on its western side, while the Saltoro Mountains form the great barrier immediately west of the glacier. K10, K11, and K12 are associated with this wider Saltoro–Siachen landscape.

The region is also politically sensitive. Boundaries shown on general maps should therefore be treated as approximate, especially around the Saltoro Ridge and Siachen Glacier.

🧭 How to Read the K1–K12 Map

The peaks do not form a simple numbered chain running from west to east.

Instead, they occur in several geographic groups:

Masherbrum and Charakusa sector: K1, K6 and K7
Baltoro and Gasherbrum sector: K2, K3, K4 and K5
Trango–Baltoro sector: K9
Siachen and Saltoro sector: K8, K10, K11 and K12

The map should therefore be understood as a reconstruction of a historic survey system rather than a modern mountain-ranking map.

The apparent gaps and irregular ordering reflect the way the Karakoram was surveyed from distant stations over many years.

🗺️ Map Accuracy and Limitations

Historic K-number maps present several challenges.

Names may differ among Survey of India records, expedition reports, modern databases, and local geographic traditions. Elevations have also changed as surveying techniques improved.

Political boundaries in the Saltoro–Siachen region require particular care. The Line of Control terminates south of the main Siachen region, while the military positions extending northward are generally described using the Actual Ground Position Line.

For these reasons, a K1–K12 map should be treated as an educational overview rather than a navigation or boundary-reference map.

🏔️ Field Guide Tip: Never use a decorative or small-scale regional map to plan travel in the Karakoram. Glacier routes, crevasses, military restrictions, permits, and territorial-control lines require current official maps and specialist local guidance.

💡 Why the Survey Codes Still Matter

The K designations preserve an important chapter in the history of mountain mapping.

They show how surveyors attempted to organize a vast landscape containing thousands of unnamed or poorly documented summits. The system also demonstrates how temporary technical labels can sometimes become permanent geographic names.

K2 is the most famous example, but K6, K7, K10, and K12 remain widely recognized. Even where the codes have disappeared from everyday use, they help connect modern maps with early surveys and expedition literature.

The K1–K12 sequence is therefore more than a list of mountains. It is a record of how the Karakoram gradually emerged from distant sketches, angular measurements, glacier journeys, and exploratory expeditions into one of the world’s most carefully studied mountain regions.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the K in K2 mean?

The K stands for Karakoram. K2 was the second summit entered in an early Karakoram survey sequence.

Are the K numbers based on mountain height?

No. They are survey identifiers and do not represent elevation rankings.

K1 is lower than K2, while K5 is higher than both K3 and K4.

Why did K2 keep its survey name?

Surveyors did not find a single local name that became universally accepted internationally. The temporary designation K2 consequently remained in use and eventually became the mountain’s standard name.

Is Broad Peak the same as K3?

Broad Peak has sometimes been described as K3 in popular accounts. However, established Survey of India nomenclature identifies K3 as Gasherbrum IV.

What is K10 called today?

K10 is Saltoro Kangri I, the highest summit in the Saltoro Mountains.

What is K11?

K11 is generally identified as Saltoro Kangri II, the subsidiary northern summit of the Saltoro Kangri massif.

Where is K12?

K12 stands in the Saltoro Mountains southwest of the Siachen Glacier. It reaches approximately 7,428 meters.

Are all K1–K12 mountains in Pakistan?

No. The survey peaks extend across the central and eastern Karakoram, including areas administered or claimed by Pakistan, India, and China. Several summits lie on disputed or internationally sensitive boundaries.

Can the survey map be used for mountaineering navigation?

No. It is intended as an educational reference. Climbers and trekkers need detailed current topographic maps, permits, route information, weather data, and authorized local support.

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