What do the colors on the contour map of Broad Peak (8051m) mean?

The contour map uses a hypsometric color scale where green represents lower elevations, yellow and orange indicate mid-range altitudes, and white marks the highest zones near the summit. Thicker contour lines (index contours) are drawn at wider intervals to help you quickly estimate elevation.

What is the contour interval for Broad Peak (8051m)?

The contour map of Broad Peak (8051m) uses a 100m contour interval. This means each line represents a 100m change in elevation. Closely spaced contours indicate steeper terrain, while widely spaced contours show gentler slopes.

What does the elevation profile of Broad Peak (8051m) show?

The elevation profile is a cross-section through Broad Peak (8051m) from west to east, passing through the summit at 8,051m. It reveals the mountain's shape, steepness, and relative height compared to the surrounding terrain. The horizontal axis shows distance in kilometers from the peak.

What is the snow line on Broad Peak (8051m)?

At Broad Peak (8051m)'s latitude (36°), the estimated permanent snow line is approximately 3,800m. Since Broad Peak (8051m) reaches 8,051m, about 4,251m of the mountain extends above the snow line. This is shown as a dashed blue line on the elevation profile.

Why does Broad Peak (8051m) have elongated ridges?

Broad Peak (8051m) was formed by tectonic folding, which compressed rock layers into long, parallel ridges. The contour map shows elongated lines that follow the axis of the fold, rather than circular patterns.

Broad Peak (8051m)

Broad Peak stands at 8051 meters in Pakistan, part of the Karakoram, Asia. This peak is classified as a Fold Mountain.

At 8,051 metres, Broad Peak is the twelfth-highest mountain on Earth and one of the cluster of giants ringing the Baltoro Glacier in the Karakoram of Pakistan. Its name describes the mountain's form: a long summit crest well over a kilometre wide, carrying several tops of similar height. It is a fold mountain raised by the India–Asia collision, standing close to K2 and the Gasherbrums. The site rates it grade 5, an extreme classification, and although it is sometimes considered one of the more attainable Karakoram eight-thousanders, its broad, corniced summit ridge has repeatedly turned back climbers who mistook a lower top for the true summit.

Elevation

8051 m

Prominence

— m

Coordinates

35.811667, 76.568611

Type

fold_mountain

On this page

Elevation Comparison

Eight-Thousander

About This Mountain

Broad Peak (8051m) is a fold mountain in the Karakoram, Pakistan. Grade 5/5: extreme expedition where supplemental oxygen is typically required. Formed by tectonic compression, it displays layered rock strata typical of fold ranges.

Routes

West Spur (Normal Route) (Broad Peak) 5

24.00 km · 408.0h

Seasonal Conditions

Topographic Analysis

Contour Map

The topographic contour map of Broad Peak (8051m) in the Karakoram shows elongated parallel contours following the ridge axis. Contour lines are drawn at 100m intervals, with index contours (thicker lines) every 500m. The hypsometric color scale ranges from green (lower elevations) through yellow and orange to white (highest elevations near the 8,051m summit). Above 3,800m, the estimated snow line at this latitude, contours transition to cooler tones indicating permanent snow and ice.

Elevation Profile

The east–west elevation profile of Broad Peak (8051m) in the Karakoram shows the terrain cross-section through the summit at 8,051m. The color gradient transitions from green (valley floor) to white (summit zone), with the red summit marker indicating the peak. The dashed blue snow line at 3,800m marks the approximate elevation above which permanent snow persists year-round.