Siachen Glacier is situated to the

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]

(a) East of Aksai Chin

(b) East of Leh

(c) North of Gilgit

(d) North of Nubra Valley

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

• Located in Ladakh, India, the Nubra Valley serves as a crucial entry point to the strategically significant Siachen Glacier and Karakoram Pass. To the northwest, the Karakoram Pass links the valley with Xinjiang, China. The Nubra River, which is a tributary of the Shyok River forming part of the Indus River system, flows through the Nubra Valley and has its source in the Siachen Glacier.
• The Siachen Glacier, located in the Karakoram range, is the second-longest glacier in the world’s non-polar regions and the longest in the Karakoram range. Previously, the area formed part of the historic Silk Route that linked China to the Middle East. The Siachen Glacier is situated in the extensively glaciated region of the Karakoram range in the Indian subcontinent, often referred to as the “Third Pole.”

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.