evidence: One of the Valleys lying hidden in the inaccessible depths of the Trans Karakorams is the Shaksgam Valley but thats not its real claim to fame. It is purported to be an integral part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir but under Pakistani control and has since been "ceded" to China by Pakistan as per the terms of their Border Settlement Agreement.It is also referred to as the Trans Karakoram Tract and the Tract has an area of almost 7000 sq km. And as soon as it became a part of China access and approach to it became much more complicated and has been out of bounds till the Chinese decided to open the Valley as it serves as a an alternative Basecamp from the North for the K2, the second highest Peak on the Planet. The Valley itself is around the Shaksgam River and as said before its bounded by the Karakorams in the South and the Kun Luns in the North. Its political status notwithstanding the Shaksgam valley is one of the most inhospitable places on the planet. As mentioned one Passes through this Valley on the way to the North Base Camp of the K2 which is situated in the same Region and you descend into this amazing wilderness after crossing the Aghil Pass which serves as the Gateway to the Shaksgam Valley. The Shaksgam River itself is a tributary of the Yarkand River and hence the water ends of in the void of the Tarim Basin. The Shaksgam Valley was explored by sir Francis Younghusband once upon a time though he referred to it as the Oprang. Few Explorers had ventured into this Mountain wilderness before Younghusband.