El mount K2 It is one of those that has the reputation of being one of the highest and most dangerous to climb. And it is that it is the second highest mountain in the world and one of the most dangerous. It is estimated that one in four individuals who try to reach the top lose their life. Being dubbed the wild mountain name in as it is the second highest death toll after Annapurna. Given the danger it has, it has never been climbed in winter.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, geography, geology, flora and fauna of Mount K2.
Key features
Some know this mountain as Godwin-Austen and Chogori or Ketu, depending on the region. Since it has a high index of danger, many people lose their lives when trying to climb it, climbs are never made during the winter. The name of this mountain was initially designated provisionally by the surveyor George Montgomerie in 1852. During this time there was the Great Trigonometric Topography Project. All the mountains of the Karakorum were to be called local names, but some have been known. Another of the names that have been given are too old and have been renewed over time.
It is a mountain that is located in the northwest of the Karakorum mountain range and is part of the great mountains that make up the himalayan mountain range. Within the group of the great Himalayas is also the mount Everest, which is known for its challenges. The K2 borders China and Pakistan. It is one of the highest points of the mountain range being quite steep and triangular in shape. Its relief is quite irregular, making climbing difficult even if there is good experience on the part of the climber.
We approximately find a maximum altitude of 8611 meters above sea level. The north side is much steeper than the south. However, if we analyze the overall topography, we see that its geography is dotted with Ticos on all sides and is not visible from several towns. Its summit and part of the slopes are covered by large glaciers throughout the year, which are part of the Himalayan glaciersThese glaciers have a thick layer of snow that has accumulated over the years. At the base, some glacial valleys can be seen. The environmental conditions near the mountain are quite severe, especially at the top. Due to the climatic conditions at the top of the mountain, there is a continuous high risk of avalanches. However, the weather on K2 is often unpredictable, so the risk of accidents can increase or decrease as you climb. Typically, this risk increases as we increase altitude climbing.
The towards is very close to the mountain and from there you have a very good view of all the surrounding mountains. The only feasible access to enter these areas is through the Baltoro valley.
K2 formation
Let's see the conditions under which this mountain formed. The Karakoram Range lies on the edge of the Eurasian Plate. This edge is the plate boundary where two tectonic plates collide. Therefore, we know that the origin and formation of K2 was the result of the collision between two tectonic plates: the Indica and Eurasian plates. The appearance of this mountain and the subcontinent began to move north more than 40 million years ago. This movement of the continent produced the proximity of the tectonic plates and their collision.
The mountain is composed mostly of metamorphic rocks. It is thought that the production of enormous quantities of magma in a subduction zone gave rise to all of the mountain's ancestral rocks, and it is interesting to consider how mountains are formed. All these metamorphic rocks began to moderate Mount K2 during post-glacial times. Miocene.
Flora and fauna of K2
If we do not refer to the flora and fauna that live in this mountain, we must know that the climate, the altitude and the difficulty to be able to climb all the slopes prevent it from being a mountain where living beings proliferate well. There are only a few species that are adapted to these extreme conditions and can survive on slopes and foothills.
Some of the birds best adapted to these adverse environmental conditions are able to fly alone in one of the surrounding areas. As for plants, only mosses, lichens, and other low plants survive, growing in and between the rocks. The heights at which they grow are considerable, but they do not reach the highest part. Flora is completely absent once we reach areas near the summit and on the summit itself.
Over time, living things develop certain adaptations to survive in adverse conditions. However, there comes a time when there are not enough basic nutrients from my primary producers to help establish a community of living things. To the heights that Mount K2 reaches there is no type of exchange of matter or energy between different living beings. We only find remains of glaciers and high rocks, so we could say that the abiotic environment predominates.
Spontaneous Climbing
This mountain has a multitude of ascent routes. The routes of ascent of official climbers that have become more popular are the Abruzzo and the Magic Line. The first is more frequently used for ascents; the second is arguably the most difficult route of any mountain on the planet, making it a great test for climbers. For those curious, it's much harder to climb than Mount Everest.
To give you an idea, by 2004, 2.238 climbers had climbed Everest, while only 2 had climbed K246. This figure highlights how difficult it is to climb K2, a mountain that remains a challenge and represents a milestone for many climbers.