Chakragil
Encyclopedia
Chakragil is a major mountain in Xinjiang
, China
. It is located about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) southwest of Kashgar
, about 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) due north of Muztagh Ata
, and 37 kilometres (23 mi) northwest of Kongur. It is in the subrange known as the Kingata Shan, at the extreme northwest end of the Kunlun Mountains
, near the Pamir Mountains
, and is sometimes considered part of the latter. The Gez River flows just south of the mountain.
Due to its remote location, Chakragil is a little-visited peak. It was attempted by the famed mountaineering
pair of Eric Shipton
and Bill Tilman
in September, 1948. However they only reached a height of about 5200 m (17,060.4 ft). On September 1, 1988, Japan
ese leader Misao Hirano, together with Minoru Hachisu and Kenji Nakayama, made the first ascent of the mountain. The peak was climbed again in 2000 by Mark Newcomb, alone, via the west ridge. The Himalayan Index lists no other ascents or attempts.
Names of peaks and ranges in this area are often uncertain. Chakragil is one of the peaks in the Kingata Shan, but it is unclear which of these peaks it should be identified with. For the purposes of this article (in particular the topographic prominence
value), we are treating Chakragil as identical with Kingata Tagh, the highest peak of the Kingata Shan. If this identification is incorrect (in particular, Chakragil may actually be Kingata Tagh II), it is unclear what peak(s) were climbed in 1988 and 2001, and it is unclear whether Kingata Tagh has been climbed. A map of Central Asia published by Map Link shows a 6760 meter mountain north of the Gez river which it calls 'Karabekter Tagh'. It shows Chakragil as a small lake to the southwest. The mountain is just north of the Karakorum Highway.
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It is located about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) southwest of Kashgar
Kashgar
Kashgar or Kashi is an oasis city with approximately 350,000 residents in the western part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Kashgar is the administrative centre of Kashgar Prefecture which has an area of 162,000 km² and a population of approximately...
, about 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) due north of Muztagh Ata
Muztagh Ata
Muztagh Ata, or Muztagata , is the second highest of the mountains which form the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau . It is sometimes regarded as being part of the Kunlun Shan, although physically it is more closely connected to the Pamirs...
, and 37 kilometres (23 mi) northwest of Kongur. It is in the subrange known as the Kingata Shan, at the extreme northwest end of the Kunlun Mountains
Kunlun Mountains
The Kunlun Mountains are one of the longest mountain chains in Asia, extending more than 3,000 km. In the broadest sense, it forms the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau south of the Tarim Basin and the Gansu Corridor and continues east south of the Wei River to end at the North China Plain.The...
, near the Pamir Mountains
Pamir Mountains
The Pamir Mountains are a mountain range in Central Asia formed by the junction or knot of the Himalayas, Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush ranges. They are among the world’s highest mountains and since Victorian times they have been known as the "Roof of the World" a probable...
, and is sometimes considered part of the latter. The Gez River flows just south of the mountain.
Due to its remote location, Chakragil is a little-visited peak. It was attempted by the famed mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
pair of Eric Shipton
Eric Shipton
Eric Earle Shipton CBE was a distinguished British Himalayan mountaineer.-Early years:Born in Ceylon in 1907 where his father, a tea planter, died before he was three years old. His mother buried her grief by taking Eric and his sister Marge and travelling constantly for the next five years...
and Bill Tilman
Bill Tilman
Major Harold William "Bill" Tilman, CBE, DSO, MC and Bar was an English mountaineer and explorer, renowned for his Himalayan climbs and sailing voyages.-Early years and Africa:...
in September, 1948. However they only reached a height of about 5200 m (17,060.4 ft). On September 1, 1988, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese leader Misao Hirano, together with Minoru Hachisu and Kenji Nakayama, made the first ascent of the mountain. The peak was climbed again in 2000 by Mark Newcomb, alone, via the west ridge. The Himalayan Index lists no other ascents or attempts.
Names of peaks and ranges in this area are often uncertain. Chakragil is one of the peaks in the Kingata Shan, but it is unclear which of these peaks it should be identified with. For the purposes of this article (in particular the topographic prominence
Topographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
value), we are treating Chakragil as identical with Kingata Tagh, the highest peak of the Kingata Shan. If this identification is incorrect (in particular, Chakragil may actually be Kingata Tagh II), it is unclear what peak(s) were climbed in 1988 and 2001, and it is unclear whether Kingata Tagh has been climbed. A map of Central Asia published by Map Link shows a 6760 meter mountain north of the Gez river which it calls 'Karabekter Tagh'. It shows Chakragil as a small lake to the southwest. The mountain is just north of the Karakorum Highway.