Northern Pakistan

Northern Pakistan (Urdu: ALA-LC: ) is a tourism region in northern and north-western parts of Pakistan, comprising the administrative units of Gilgit-Baltistan (formerly known as Northern Areas), Azad Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad Capital Territory and the Rawalpindi Division in Punjab. The first two territories are a part of the wider Kashmir region. It is a mountainous region straddling the Himalayas, Karakoram and the Hindu Kush mountain ranges, containing many of the highest peaks in the world and  some of the longest glaciers outside polar regions. Northern Pakistan accounts for a high level of Pakistan's tourism industry.

Geography
The geography of Northern Pakistan is mountainous and terrain is different in each part. The Karakoram range in Gilgit Baltistan cover the border between Pakistan, India and China in the regions of Ladakh and Xinjiang. The Himalayan range in Pakistan occupies the regions of Kashmir, Kaghan, Kohistan, Deosai and Chilas. The Hindu Kush rises southwest of the Pamirs extending into Swat and Kohistan areas, separated on the east from Karakoram by the Indus River.

Snow often falls in the winter and many towns are closed such as Naran.

Climate
The climate of Northern Pakistan is much colder than that of the rest of the country, and it has many glaciers and ice-capped mountains, earning it the nickname "Earth's 3rd pole". The winters (Nov-Mar) are cold and dry, while the summers (Apr-Jun) are warm to hot and very rainy. The rest of the year is warm and sunny.

Flora and fauna
The regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan include portions of two biodiversity hotspots; Mountains of Central Asia and Himalayas. Some of the wildlife species found in northern mountainous areas and Pothohar Plateau include the Bharal, Eurasian lynx, Himalayan goral, Marco Polo sheep, Marmot (in Deosai National Park) and Yellow-throated marten and birds species of Chukar partridge, Eurasian eagle-owl, Himalayan monal and Himalayan snowcock and amphibian species of Himalayan toad and Muree Hills frog. Threatened species include the Snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Indian wolf, Rhesus macaque, Markhor, Siberian ibex and White-bellied musk deer.

Locations
The western part of Northern Pakistan include Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kolai-Palas, Battagram, Kohistan, and Mansehra. These include the famous tourist spots of Chitral, Kalash Valley, Bahrain and Kalam.

Along the Karakoram Highway are major destinations for tourists including the famous Kaghan Valley, Babusar Top, Fairy Meadows, Rakaposhi, Nanga Parbat, Attabad Lake, and Lulusar Lake. Main cities or towns include Mansehra, Balakot, Kiwai, Naran, Kaghan, Batakundi, Jalkhad, Tatta Pani, Chilas, Gilgit, Karimabad, and Passu.

To the east of the Pothohar Plateau is located Azad Kashmir. Main cities of Azad Kashmir include Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Rawalakot, and Sharda. Banjosa Lake is a major attraction in Poonch district.