While the traditional Baltistan Winter Sports and Cultural Festival
2016 concluded in the Hussainabad area of the Baltistan region, ice sporting on frozen surface of lakes in Hunza and Ghizar continues in crippling cold, coupled with the absence of facilities.
A sports and cultural festival was
organised amid temperatures as low as minus 16-degree centigrade on a
snow-covered playground in Hussainabad area of Shigar valley here the other
day.
The event titled
‘Baltistan winter sports and cultural festival, 2016’ was jointly organised by
Pak Army, district administration and Bazme Elm-o-Fun Skardu. A large number of
people turned up.
A traditional ‘Ko Polo’
game played on the occasion ended in a draw with each team scoring a goal
apiece. Later, the winner was decided on toss.
In the daylong winter
sports gala, ice football and ice volley contests were also held between the
teams of Hussainabad and Skardu.
On the occasion,
youngsters demonstrated martial arts, while the players and spectators danced
to the local music.
Khaltit Lake
It’s not unusual for the youth to risk their lives on the frozen surface of Khalti Lake for a
thrill. Even children from adjacent areas go for a stroll on the icy surface.
This seems hardly a risk when a rough and tumble football tournament is played
every year on Khalti – teams from Ghizer usually participate.
At 7,000 feet, the lake is said to be 30 to 70 feet deep. Situated in
Gupis Valley in Ghizer district, it is located about 120 kilometres from Gilgit.
Khalti freezes over in December and remains so till January, allowing
locals an opportunity to hang out and play sports in an otherwise
entertainment-strapped region.
But the crippling cold, coupled with absence of facility keeps all but
the very daring away during winter. When winter ends and the temperature
rises slightly, the area becomes picturesque and would be an ideal retreat. The
neglected state of affairs, a lack of tourist attractions means winter or
summer, few put Khalti Lake on their next holiday destination.
Ice depositories no one knows about
Glaciers in Pakistan constitute the biggest mass and collection of
glaciated ice found anywhere in the world outside the northern and southern
polar regions. These glaciers are heavily concentrated in the three great
mountain ranges of Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindukush, situated in G-B and
Chitral.
The junction point of the three mightiest mountain ranges is in Gilgit.
According to International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development,
Pakistan is home to around 5,218 glaciers; a total area of 15,040 square
kilometres. In addition, around 2,420 glacial lakes have also been identified
and mapped in Pakistan. Karakorum Range has the greatest share as almost 37% of
the region is under the glaciers there.
Karakoram is also home to the world’s third longest Biafo glacier, which
is 63km long. It meets Hispar Glacier at the height of 5,128 metres, creating
the longest glaciated highway—100km—in the world from G-B’s Askole in Shigar
valley to Hispar in Nagar Valley.
Express Tribune.
C
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