What do the colors on the contour map of K2 (8611m) 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 K2 (8611m)?

The contour map of K2 (8611m) uses a 200m contour interval. This means each line represents a 200m change in elevation. Closely spaced contours indicate steeper terrain, while widely spaced contours show gentler slopes.

What does the elevation profile of K2 (8611m) show?

The elevation profile is a cross-section through K2 (8611m) from west to east, passing through the summit at 8,611m. 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 K2 (8611m)?

At K2 (8611m)'s latitude (36°), the estimated permanent snow line is approximately 3,800m. Since K2 (8611m) reaches 8,611m, about 4,811m of the mountain extends above the snow line. This is shown as a dashed blue line on the elevation profile.

Why does K2 (8611m) have elongated ridges?

K2 (8611m) 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.

K2 (8611m)

K2 stands at 8611 meters in Pakistan, part of the Karakoram, Asia. This peak is classified as a Fold Mountain.

Elevation

8611 m

Prominence

— m

Coordinates

35.881389, 76.513333

Type

fold_mountain

Elevation Comparison

Eight-Thousander

About This Mountain

K2 (8611m) is a fold mountain in the Karakoram, Pakistan. Grade 5/5: extreme expedition where supplemental oxygen is typically required. Known as the "Savage Mountain," it has one of the highest fatality-to-summit ratios of any 8000er.

Routes

Seasonal Conditions

Topographic Analysis

Contour Map

The topographic contour map of K2 (8611m) in the Karakoram shows elongated parallel contours following the ridge axis. Contour lines are drawn at 200m intervals, with index contours (thicker lines) every 1000m. The hypsometric color scale ranges from green (lower elevations) through yellow and orange to white (highest elevations near the 8,611m 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 K2 (8611m) in the Karakoram shows the terrain cross-section through the summit at 8,611m. 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.