The Hunza valley is situated at an elevation of
2,438 meters (7,999 feet). Geographically, Hunza consists of three regions,
Upper Hunza Gojal, Central Hunza Hunza Valley and Lower Hunza Shinaki.
The historical area of Hunza and present
northern Pakistan has had, over the centuries, mass migrations, conflicts and
resettling of tribes and ethnicities, of which the Dardic Shina race
is the most prominent in regional history. People of the region have recounted
their historical traditions down the generations. The Hunza Valley is also home
to some Wakhi, who migrated there from northeastern Afghanistan beginning
in the nineteenth century onwards.
In January 4, 2010, a landslide blocked the river
and created Attabad Lake, resulting in 20 deaths and 8 injuries and has
effectively blocked about 26 kilometres of the Karakoram Highway. The new
lake extends 30 kilometres and rose to a depth of 400 feet (120 m) when it
was formed as the Hunza River backed up. The landslide completely covered
sections of the Karakoram Highway.
On 1 July 2018, Pakistan Army pilots in a
daring mission rescued 3 foreign mountaineers stuck in snow avalanche at above
the height of 19,000 feet (5,800 m) on Ultar Sar Peak near
Hunza. The perilous weather conditions had made it difficult for the Army
helicopter to go forth with a rescue operation on the 7,388 metres
(24,239 ft.) high Ultar Sar. But they completed it. Bruce Normand and
Timothy Miller from UK were successfully rescued alive while their companion
Christian Huber from Austria had succumbed to avalanche.
