Conservation and Development in Hunza and Baltistan

Hunza and Baltistan, two high valleys located in the upper catchment area of the River  Indus and deep within the Karakoram mountain range, abound with spectacular  treasures of nature: 8000-metre-high mountain peaks, endless glaciers, rare flora  and fauna, as well as beautiful, terraced fields using ingenious irrigation techniques,  which attest to the efforts of man to make the best use of nature under harsh living  conditions. In spite of their relative seclusion and inaccessibility, the valleys have  provided the scene for important movements of cultural exchange.