View source for Northern Pakistan

{{Short description|Geographical region in Pakistan}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Distinguish|Gilgit-Baltistan{{!}}Northern Areas, Pakistan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Northern Pakistan
| native_name              = {{Nastaliq|شمالی پاکستان}}
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| align                    = center
| total_width              = 250
| image_style              = 
| perrow                   = 1/2/2/2
| image1                   = K2, Mount Godwin Austen, Chogori, Savage Mountain.jpg
| caption1                 = [[K2]] (8,611m)
| alt1                     = 
| image2                   = Nanga Parbat The Killer Mountain.jpg
| caption2                 = [[Nanga Parbat]] (8,126m)
| alt2                     = 
| image3                   = Shangrila, Lower Kachura Lake.jpg
| caption3                 = [[Shangrila Lake]]
| alt3                     = 
| image4                   = The Land of Giants, Deosai.jpg
| caption4                 = [[Deosai Plains]]
| alt4                     = 
| image5                   = Lake of Chitta Khatta, Kashmir.jpg
| caption5                 = [[Chitta Katha Lake]]
| alt5                     = 
| image6                   = River Swat Pakistan 3.jpg
| caption6                 = [[Swat River]]
| alt6                     = 
| image7                   = Saif ul malook lake-01.jpg
| caption7                 = [[Lake Saiful Muluk]]
| alt7                     = 
| image8                   = Snow Lake Pakistan.jpg
| caption8                 = [[Biafo Glacier]] (67 km long)
| alt8                     = 
| image9                   = Jheeka Gali Murree Pakistan in Winter.jpg 
| caption9                 = [[Jhika Gali]]
| alt9                     = 
}}
| pushpin_map              = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = 
| coordinates              = 
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|Pakistan}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Administrative units of Pakistan|Adm. Units]]
| area_footnotes           = 
| area_note                = {{efn|name=c|The total area of regions of [[Gilgit-Baltistan]], [[Azad Kashmir]], [[Rawalpindi Division]], [[Islamabad Capital Territory]] and [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]].}}
| subdivision_type2        = Largest city
| subdivision_name2        = [[Rawalpindi]]
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_rank                = 
| area_total_km2           = 210,954
| area_land_km2            = 
| area_water_km2           = 
| population_total         = 
| population_as_of         = 
| population_density_km2   = auto
| timezone1                = [[Pakistan Standard Time|PKT]]
| utc_offset1              = +05:00
| timezone1_DST            = 
| utc_offset1_DST          = 
| official_name            = 
| native_name_lang         = ur
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Azad Kashmir|name=Azad Jammu and Kashmir}}<br/>{{flag|Gilgit-Baltistan}}<br/>{{flag|Islamabad}}<br/>{{flag|Khyber Pakhtunkhwa}}<br/>{{flag|Punjab, Pakistan|name=Punjab}} ([[Rawalpindi Division]])
| settlement_type          = [[Geography of Pakistan|Region]]
}}

'''Northern Pakistan''' ({{Text|[[Urdu]]: {{Lang|ur|{{Nastaliq|شمالی پاکستان}}|rtl=yes}}}} {{small|[[ALA-LC romanization|ALA-LC]]:}} {{transliteration|ur|ALA-LC|śimālī Pākistān}}) is a [[tourism region]] in the [[geography of Pakistan|northern and north-western parts]] of Pakistan, comprising the administrative units of [[Gilgit-Baltistan]] (formerly known as ''Northern Areas''), [[Azad Kashmir]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], [[Islamabad Capital Territory]] and the [[Rawalpindi Division]] in [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Öztürk |first1=Münir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v1X1CAAAQBAJ |title=Climate Change Impacts on High-Altitude Ecosystems |last2=Hakeem |first2=Khalid Rehman |last3=Faridah-Hanum |first3=I. |last4=Efe |first4=Recep |date=2015-05-05 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-12859-7 |pages=455 |language=en |quote=The northern Pakistan covers Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the upper region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, and some parts of the central and northern regions of Pakistan.}}</ref><ref name="ICT">{{cite web|title=Islamabad history |publisher=Pakistan.net |url=http://www.pakistan.net/cities/islamabad/islamabad.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630100106/http://www.pakistan.net/cities/islamabad/islamabad.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 June 2008|quote=Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, and is located in the Potohar Plateau in the north of the country...}}</ref> The first two territories are Pakistani-administered sectors of the wider [[Kashmir]] region.{{efn|name=a|The Kashmir region also includes [[Ladakh]] and [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] which are claimed by Pakistan due to ongoing [[Kashmir conflict]]. These portions are ''de facto'' under Indian control.}} Northern Pakistan is a mountainous region straddling the [[Himalayas]], [[Karakoram]] and the [[Hindu Kush]] mountain ranges, containing  [[List of highest mountains on Earth|many of the highest peaks]] in the world and [[List of glaciers#List of longest glaciers on Earth in non-polar regions|some of the longest glaciers]] outside polar regions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Öztürk |first1=Münir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v1X1CAAAQBAJ |title=Climate Change Impacts on High-Altitude Ecosystems |last2=Hakeem |first2=Khalid Rehman |last3=Faridah-Hanum |first3=I. |last4=Efe |first4=Recep |date=2015-05-05 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-12859-7 |pages=455–456 |language=en}}</ref> Northern Pakistan accounts for a high level of [[Tourism in Pakistan|Pakistan's tourism industry]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/beautiful-natural-wonders | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225192410/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/beautiful-natural-wonders | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 February 2021 | title=Explore Pakistan's wildest, most beautiful landscapes | website=[[National Geographic Society]] | date=16 August 2022 }}</ref>

== Geography ==
The geography of Northern Pakistan is mountainous and terrain differing in each part.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smartertravel.com/swat-valley-mini-switzerland-pakistan-pakistan-better-tips-better-trips/ | title=Swat Valley, Mini Switzerland of Pakistan, Pakistan: Better Tips for Better Trips | date=16 February 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://seepakistantours.com/northern-areas-of-pakistan/ | title=Northern Areas of Pakistan | date=2 April 2019 }}</ref> The Karakoram range in Gilgit Baltistan covers the border between Pakistan, [[India]] and [[China]] in the regions of [[Ladakh]] and [[Xinjiang]].<ref name=":0" /> The Himalayan range in Pakistan occupies the regions of Kashmir, [[Kaghan Valley|Kaghan]], [[Kohistan District, Pakistan|Kohistan]], [[Deosai]] and [[Chilas]].<ref name=":0" /> The Hindu Kush rises southwest of the [[Pamir Mountains|Pamirs]] extending into [[Swat District|Swat]] and Kohistan areas, separated on the east from Karakoram by the [[Indus River]].<ref name=":0" />

Snow often falls in the winter and many towns are closed such as Naran.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2333932/steps-being-taken-to-promote-winter-tourism | title='Steps being taken to promote winter tourism' | date=14 December 2021}}</ref>

== Climate ==
The climate of Northern Pakistan is much colder than that of the [[Climate of Pakistan|rest of the country]], and it has many glaciers and ice-capped mountains, earning it the nickname "Earth's 3rd pole".<ref>{{Cite web |title=SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya - NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/servir/servir-hindu-kush-himalaya/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114093526/https://www.nasa.gov/servir/servir-hindu-kush-himalaya/ |archive-date=14 November 2024}}</ref> The winters (Nov-Mar) are cold and dry, while the summers (Apr-Jun) are warm to hot and very rainy. The rest of the year is warm and sunny.

==Flora and fauna==
The regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan include portions of two [[biodiversity hotspot|biodiversity hotspots]]; [[Mountains of Central Asia]] and [[Himalayas]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lms.su.edu.pk/lesson/200/week-7-biodiversity-hot-spots-of-pakistan-and-the-world&ved=2ahUKEwju6MmQsdb7AhWBPewKHYc4CzI4ChAWegQIDBAB&usg=AOvVaw2BY2XK5dy7SgPlRJHdnYH7 |access-date=2022-11-30 |title=Biodiversity Hot spots of Pakistan and the world - SU LMS}}</ref> Some of the wildlife species found in northern mountainous areas and [[Pothohar Plateau]] include the [[Bharal]], [[Eurasian lynx]], [[Himalayan goral]], [[Marco Polo sheep]], [[Marmot]] (in [[Deosai National Park]]) and [[Yellow-throated marten]] and birds species of [[Chukar partridge]], [[Eurasian eagle-owl]], [[Himalayan monal]] and [[Himalayan snowcock]] and amphibian species of [[Duttaphrynus himalayanus|Himalayan toad]] and [[Paa vicina|Muree Hills frog]]. Threatened species include the [[Snow leopard]], [[Himalayan brown bear]], [[Indian wolf]], [[Rhesus macaque]], [[Markhor]], [[Siberian ibex]] and [[White-bellied musk deer]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Anwar, M.B. |author2=Jackson, R. |author3=Nadeem, M.S. |author4=Janečka, J.E. |author5=Hussain, S. |author6=Beg, M.A. |author7=Muhammad, G. |author8=Qayyum, M. |year=2011 |title= Food habits of the snow leopard and common leopard Panthera uncia (Schreber, 1775) in Baltistan, Northern Pakistan |journal=European Journal of Wildlife Research |volume=57 |issue=5 |pages=1077–1083 |doi=10.1007/s10344-011-0521-2|s2cid=3004597 }}</ref>

== Locations ==
The western part of Northern Pakistan include [[Chitral district|Chitral]], [[Dir District|Dir]], [[Swat District|Swat]], [[Shangla District|Shangla]], [[Kolai-Palas]], [[Battagram District|Battagram]], [[Kohistan District, Pakistan|Kohistan]], and [[Mansehra District|Mansehra]]. These include the famous tourist spots of [[Chitral]], [[Kalash Valley]], [[Bahrain, Pakistan|Bahrain]] and [[Kalam Valley|Kalam]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mytrip.pk/tour/swat-chitral-tour-29 | title=MyTrip - Swat and Chitral }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g317115-Activities-c57-Chitral_Khyber_Pakhtunkhwa_Province.html | title=THE 10 BEST Parks & Nature Attractions in Chitral }}</ref>

Along the [[Karakoram Highway]] are major destinations for tourists including the famous [[Kaghan Valley]], [[Babusar Top]], [[Fairy Meadows]], [[Rakaposhi]], [[Nanga Parbat]], [[Attabad Lake]], and [[Lulusar Lake]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://onthewayaround.com/karakoram-highway/ | title=How to Travel the Karakoram Highway (Backpacker's Guide) | date=7 April 2020 }}</ref>  Main cities or towns include [[Mansehra]], [[Balakot]], [[Kiwai, Pakistan|Kiwai]], [[Naran (town)|Naran]], [[Kaghan (town)|Kaghan]], [[Batakundi]], [[Jalkhad]], [[Tatta Pani, Gilgit Baltistan|Tatta Pani]], [[Chilas]], [[Gilgit]], [[Karimabad, Gilgit Baltistan|Karimabad]], and [[Passu]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.trangotour.com/2014/07/name-of-cities-along-karakorum-highway.html | title=Major cities, towns, valleys and villages along the Karakorum Highway }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dawnnews.tv/news/1182198 | title=سی پیک سیاحت: شاہراہِ قراقرم پر پہلا قدم (پہلی قسط) | date=20 May 2022 }}</ref>

To the east of the [[Pothohar Plateau]] is located [[Azad Kashmir]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g3576442-Activities-Azad_Kashmir.html | title=THE 15 BEST Things to do in Azad Kashmir - 2022 (With Photos) }}</ref>  Main cities of Azad Kashmir include [[Muzaffarabad]], [[Mirpur, Azad Kashmir|Mirpur]], [[Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir|Rawalakot]], and [[Sharda, Azad Kashmir|Sharda]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g3576442-Azad_Kashmir-Vacations.html | title=Azad Kashmir 2022: Best Places to Visit }}</ref> [[Banjosa Lake]] is a major attraction in [[Poonch District, Pakistan|Poonch district]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sco.gov.pk/banjosa-lake/ | title=Banjosa Lake }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

{{Geography of Pakistan}}
{{Portal bar|Pakistan}}

{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Landforms of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
[[Category:Landforms of Gilgit-Baltistan]]
[[Category:Landforms of Azad Kashmir]]
[[Category:Northern Pakistan]]