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Geography
PHYSIOGRAPHY

Hussaini is located in the center of the Karakoram Range, surrounded by high mountains having the heights of more than 7000 meters. Most of the peaks, remain snow covered throughout the year. Shishper (7611 m) is the highest peak of the study area. The rock exposed in the area is mainly Slate i.e. metamorphic.

GLACIERS

There are two important glaciers in the study area: (a) Hussaini glacier, and (b) Prigoz glacier.

HUSSAINI GLACIER (Sisuni Yaz)

The glacier is situated in the west of the village and moves from northeast to southwest towards KKH and Hunza River.

It is approximately 17.5 km long with a headwall at up to 5950 m between two peaks that rise to 7331 m and 7613 m. The glacier descends from 5500 m with a mean slop of 14.6%. Its terminus in 1980 was separated into two parts, a northern tongue and an irregular southern margin, which could be further sub-divided into two small lobes separated a melt water portal. It appears to have this general form since at least 1996. However, its heavily crevassed snout and numerous small caves testify to large scale melt water production. These melt water flows frequently change in volume and exit position. The changing pattern of debris production and redistribution on the steeply sloping out wash cone pose a major hazard to the Karakoram highway and a 200 m. section of road was actually destroyed by these means during August1980.

The main valley section of the glacier is enclosed between steep high moraines, the black debris-laden ice smothered by large quantities of superficial moraine. Ogives and rock fall crevasse pattern are well developed, and there are extremely steep ice falls towards the head. The twin lobes of the snout appear to have an extension in the ice topography for several km up the glacier, the two ice ridges being separated by the pronounced central depression.

The recent history of the glacier is poorly known since most visitors have merely confined themselves to discussing the difficulties of crossing the out wash spreads and only give crude estimates of the distance of the snout from the Hunza river. Although the precise pattern of movement is unknown, reliable records do exist which indicates that the snout position has fluctuated by 625 m during the period 1885-1980, with a notable advance between 1913 and 1925 and a further small advance between 1966 and 1978. This again repeats the general pattern observed for the Minapin and Hasanabad glacier, although the advance early in this century appears to lag by some ten to fifteen years. It is significant that the minor advance of the early 1970s appears on all three records. The movements, therefore, appear to be periodic but in this case there is no overall secular retreat. There has been no record of blocking of the Hunza river and no evidence either of massive retreat. Instead, the snout seems to have experienced limited oscillation around its present positionp.

According to this field survey, the distance between the snout and the KKH is 301 meters (990 feet)l. It is advancing for last many years. It can be predicted that if the same situation remains in future, it may be reach at KKH within between 10 to 15 years.

It is the only source of water supply for irrigation and also for drinking in summer season. The whole village is depending on this glacier, locally known as "Sisuni Yaz", and the wash out of the glacier area from the old to the new China bridge is called "Sisuni Yaz Yopk".

PRIGOZ GLACIER

It is a small glacier between Zarabod and Khuramobod. Though it is not a glacier in geomorphic term rather is a depression called cirque. The stream originated from that glacier irrigates the land of Zarabod. This stream is shared between Zarabod (Hussaini) and Khuramabd (Passu). The stream water is shared by Zarabod, and Khuramobod on alternate day.

RIVER

The rivers of the valleys of Khunzhrav (Khunjarab), Misgar, Chipursan, and Shimshal which include the water of various famous glaciers Batura, Verzhrav, Khurdopin, Yazghel, Passu, Hussaini and Gulmit passing through Central Hunza and Nagar to Gilgit. Thus, this river is named as the Hunza River that flows from the north to the south.

TERRACES

HUSSAINI

Hussaini is located on a glacial landform e.g., lateral moraine, formed by Hussaini glacier. The moraine is exposed of huge boulders, gravel, pebbles, and sandy soil with a gentle slope.

Hussaini spreads upward from the bank of the Hunza River and reaches up to a considerable elevation along the lateral moraine of Hussaini glacier. In the south the snout of glacier and the glacial stream separates Hussaini from Ghulkin. In the northern part, the boundary of Hussaini, it ends at Rukhn kor with Passu.

According to the folklore, Hussaini was a big village of Gojal, but unfortunately Shimshal flood eroded it many times in early 1960s. It is said that the distance between Hussaini and Zarabod was very close, people used to throw stone to Zarabod by their left hands (about 60 meter), but now, according to this field survey the distance between these two villages (Hussaini & Zarabod) is 1 kilometer. Shimshal flood occurred periodically every twenty years, the last flood, which was very disastrous, came in 1960 and continued up-to 1963. This flood happened as a result of glacial hazard. Two glaciers merged Khurdopin and Yazghel with each other and blocked the stream of other glacier (Verzrav), which made a big dam and when it was opened, it eroded a large area of Passu, Hussaini, and Gulmit.

ZARABOD

Zarabod is located to the east of Hussaini at the eastern-bank of Hunza River. It is an alluvial fan, formed by Zarabod-Khuramobod stream. It also has a gentle slope. It starts from the eastern bank of Hunza River and goes up slowly and gradually and reaches at the foot of Prigoz glacier, which is locally called as "Zwor". The stream has naturally separated Zarabod from Khuramobod (Passu).

Chramn is the old settlement of Zarabod, where inhabitants of Hussaini live together in a local house. From this place they used to go their fields to work.

Zarabod has the following areas with different local names, Shah Khunzo, Qash Sar, Ben, Chramn, Put Dasht, Yinaghn, Hussneben, and Dasht.

Dasht means barren land, which is located to the north of Zarabod. The government magistracy (tehseel) and the Aga Khan Arbitration and Reconciliation board for the concerned region divided this barren land (Dasht) among the villagers in May 1998: this division of land was 23 kanal per households -numbering 72.

Zarabod has no jeep-able road, and it has connected with Hussaini through a suspension bridge (635 feet) called "Due", constructed in 1970. Both Zarabod and Suspension Bridge are too attractive in tourism perspective.

HOT SPRING

Nature has gifted a hot spring (45*c) to this village, which springs out at the left bank of Hunza River. According to laboratory test, the water is drinkable. It has been using for bath, when the volume of water in Hunza River becomes less and the level down from the spring source in winter season, but the area is covered by river in summer.