KARAKORAM HIGHWAY: ROUTE, HIGHLIGHTS, TOWNS, HISTORY

KARAKORAM HIGHWAY

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THE KARAKORAM HIGHWAY is a 1,300-kilometer (805 mile) road from Islamabad, Pakistan to the Western Chinese city of Kashgar. Winding through some of the most rugged terrain in the world, it was built over 20 years by Chinese and Pakistani road crews at a cost that was staggering in terms of time, money and lives lost. Nearly 500 Chinese and Pakistani workers were killed during the construction. It is generally accepted to be one the most incredible engineering projects of the century.

The Karakoram Highway (KKH) was completed in 1978, inaugurated in 1982 but not fully open to foreigners until 1986. For the bold beauty of the mountains it winds through and the breathtaking views it offers the Karakoram Highway has few equals. It passes within earshot of great 25,000 foot peaks like Nanga Parbat and Rakaposhi. Along the entire length of the highway, but especially around Chilas, there are Buddhist rock carvings.

Travel on the Karakoram Highway is not for the weak hearted. The mostly two-lane road hugs mountainsides and features its share of hairpin turns and stream crossings. Avalanches and landslides crackle in the distance. Landslides of rocks and scree periodically bury trucks and kill people. From time to time buses, trucks and cars form drop off the sides of the cliffs. Some wrecks are visible. There are no shoulders and vehicles sometimes have to skirt within inches of sheer drop-offs into the valleys and rushing rivers below. Some people say "It can take an hour to travel just one mile on the Karakoram, and only a second to depart it."*

The road it is not as treacherous as it once was but it can still be pretty hair raising especially during the monsoon season in the summer. Sections of the road are paved but many parts are dirt, gravel, broken asphalt, and unstable macadam with huge potholes. The road is open in the summer but is often closed other time of the year. It can be closed for weeks by floods and landslides. Spring is the avalanche season. Floods and landslides occur in the monsoon season.

The Karakoram Highway was reportedly built as a "symbol of Pakistan-Chinese friendship and cooperation" and hailed it as a means of promoting tourism and bring mountain tribes into the mainstream. But there is no denying the road's strategic military importance was also an important consideration. Neither Pakistan or China have traditionally been on friendly with India and both fought Himalayan wars with India, The silkworm missiles that China got in trouble for selling to Pakistan came via the Karakoram Highway, whose bridges are constructed to handle heavy military equipment and tanks.[Source: John McCarry, National Geographic March 1994]

Traveling on the Karakoram Highway

The Karakoram Highway is a joint project between Pakistan and China. China's Xinjiang Province runs through the Northern Areas.. It reaches an elevation of 4,594 meters (15,072 feet) and follows parts of the Silk Road trade routes that linked China and India. Most travelers go by bus. Some do it by bicycle. Buses from Islamabad stop at the Chinese border where passengers change to a Chinese bus to Kashgar. Buses from Kashgar stop at the Chinese border where passengers change to a Pakistani bus to Islamabad. The buses on the Karakoram are covered with tassels and bright colors. Foreign tourist sometimes travel by sitting on the roof.

Traveling on KKH after the monsoon season one traveler wrote in the International Travel News, "Huge landslides had washed away entire villages, killing thousands of people. The road was completely gone again and again as we traveled...People of all ages had collected with their picks, shovels and bare hands to clear the road and in many cases cut new roads into the hillsides.

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Many landslides are produced by the tremors and earthquakes that rock the area. In 1987 a huge landside washed-out a huge section of road. Tourist were airlifted out of Gilgit and the road to took months to repair and open.

Much or the repair and construction work on the KKH is done by the Pakistani army. Some of the bridges along the Karakoram highway used watched over by armed guards, not because the bridge was of any particular strategic importance but because, with the scarcity of wood, they were worried somebody would steal the wooden planks.¡â

Before modern bridges were built some rivers were crossed by dicey bridges made with cables constructed of twisted birch twigs, Some of these bridge can still be fond in remote areas. They are quite scary to cross especially when a strong wind is blowing. Across the Indus are a variety of footbridges, cable cars and rope walkways.

Route of the Karakoram Highway

In Pakistan, the dual carriage metalled road starts in Pakistan at Havelian 100 kilometers from Islamabad and winds through Abbottabad (where Osama bin Laden was killed), Mansehra, Thakot, Besham, Pattan, Sazin, Ghils, Gilgit, Hunza to the Chinese Frontier across the 4,733-meter (15,530-foot) high Khunjerab Pass. The road not only opens up the Northern Areas to trade and travel but also provides easy access to regions previously only accessible by jeep, goat tracks and helicopters..

In Pakistan, the Karakoram Highway passes through the Kohistan, Gilgit and Hunza valleys. Part of the road follows the Batura glacier, rated as one of the world's largest valley glaciers. The southern part of the road winds along the Indus river, sometimes rising 4,000 feet above it, and the northern part follows a branch of the old Silk Road. Rock carvings from a variety of people bear witness to the number of culture that used this route for trading over the centuries.

In northern Pakistan the Karakoram Highway penetrates the Hunza Valley. Here the scenery is spectacular and the sky is lapis lazuli blue. Along the way are guest houses that offer basic accommodation and serve chapatis, curried chicken and potatoes. Near the Chinese border the road has been blasted in the sides of sheer cliffs. Far below is the Hunza Rover.

At the Chinese Border, where road signs warn drivers to start driving on the right, the highway crests at Khunjerab Pass (15,600 feet) and then descends into the western deserts of China where it connects with the famous silk road caravan towns of Kashgar and Urumqi. On the way to Kashgar the highway skirts a lake in front of awesome twin peaks of Kungur and Muz Tagh Ata, both over 24,000 feet.

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The Karakoram Highway on the Chinese side is now almost completely paved, making it is easier to get to Kashgar overland from Pakistan than most places in China. Covering the entire distance between Kashgar and Islamabad takes about 48 hours. Most of the region is desolate and empty. The road between Kashgar and Tashkurghan is dusty and long, passing through lunar landscapes with mountains in the distance. Web Sites : Wikipedia Wikipedia Map : John the Map John the Map Photos : Karakorum Highway Blog

Little Karakul

Little Karakul (near the small town of Subashi, 196 kilometers southwest of Kashgar, about halfway between Kashgar and the Pakistani border) is a beautiful blue green lake and one of the world's most incredible sights. Rising up from side of the lake opposite the road are two of the worlds highest mountains: 7,649-meter (25,325-foot) -high Kongur Tagh,7,509-meter (24,635-foot) -high Muztagata and 7,530-meter (24,705-foot) -high Kongur Tiube.

Little Karakul is also called Karakul. It is called Little Karakul in part to distinguish it from other Karakul’s such as the one in Kyrgyzstan. The mountains around Karakul are encased in glaciers and clouds. Muztagata looks like an ice plateau that has been slightly tilted. Skiers have descended from its summit. Kongur Shan is comprised of many peaks and is considered by mountaineers to be more difficult to climb than Muztagata. Muztagata and Kongur Shan are part of the Pamir Range which extends into Tajikstan and is an area the Persians called the "roof of the world."

Situated at the meeting place of the Pamir, Tian Shan and Kunlun mountain ranges, Little Karakal is around 3,645 meters (11,959 feet) above sea level, the highest lake of the Pamir plateaua, and lies in a long grassy valley populated by Kyrgyz nomads who graze their flocks of sheep and goats on high mountain meadows surrounded by barren hills, alluvial deposits and some of the highest sand dunes in the world. [Source: Ned Gillette, National Geographic, February 1981]

Little Karakul covers 380 square kilometers (150 square miles) and has a maximum depth of 242 meters (794 feet). The lake is popular among travelers for its spectacular scenery and the clarity and color of the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. There are two Kirgiz settlements along the shore of the lake, a small number of yurts about one kilometer east of the bus drop-off point and a village with stone houses located on the western shores. Budget Accommodation: Check Lonely Planet books.

Kongur Tagh

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Kongur Tagh (near Little Karakul Lake) is at 7,649 meters (25,325 feet) high and is the highest mountain wholly within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (K2 is higher but on the border with China). Kongur Tagh is within a range called the Kongur Shan is located just north of Muztagh Ata and visible from Karakul Lake. Some sources use "Kongur Shan" mistakenly to refer to the peak itself. The Kongur Shan range, including Muztagh Ata, is separated by the major Yarkand River valley from the Kunlun Mountains and thus is sometimes included in the "Eastern Pamirs". Kongur Tagh is the highest peak in the Kunlun Range, and is higher than any peak in the Pamirs as well. [Source: Wikipedia]

Due to its remoteness and being hidden by nearby peaks, Kongur was not discovered by Europeans until 1900. However, the building of the Karakoram Highway from Pakistan to China, which runs past nearby Tashkurgan and Karakul Lake, has now made it more accessible. The first attempt to climb Kongur Tagh was made in 1956 but the party aborted the attempt when it realized it was beyond their abilities. The first ascent of Kongur Tagh was completed in 1981 by a British expedition consisting of Chris Bonington, Al Rouse, Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker.

Kongur Tagh, which means "a brown mountain" in Uyghur language, is the 37th highest mountain in the world. It has a significant subpeak known as Kongur Tiube, which means "the mountain with a white cap" in Uyghur. It is 7,530 meter (24,705 feet) hig. It is the 47th highest mountain in the world and was first climbed in 1956.

Muztagh Ata

Muztagh Ata or Muztagata Kongur Tagh (near Little Karakul Lake) is at 7,509 meters (24,635 feet) high and is the second highest mountain wholly within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. In Uyghur, its name literally means "ice-mountain-father" and was formerly known as Mount Tagharma or Taghalma and Wi-tagh. It is sometimes regarded as being part of the Kunlun Mountains, although physically it is more closely connected to the Pamirs. It is also one of the relatively easier 7,000 meter peaks in the world to climb, due to its gentle western slope and the comparatively drier weather of Xinjiang, though a thorough acclimatization period and a very strong physical condition are crucial for success. [Source: Wikipedia]

Muztagh Ata is the 43rd highest mountains in the world. It lies just south of Kongur Tagh. Not far to the north and east is the Tarim Basin and the Taklamakan Desert. The Karakoram Highway passes very close by. The closest city is to the mountain is Tashkurgan.

The Swedish explorer and geographer Sven Hedin made the first recorded attempt to climb Muztagh Ata, in 1894. Additional attempts were made in 1900, 1904 and 1947, the last by the team of Eric Shipton and Bill Tilman who came very close to the summit but were turned back due to cold and deep snow. The first ascent of the peak was in 1956 by a large party of Chinese and Soviet climbers (including Liu Lianman and Xu Jing) led by E.A. Beletskiy, via the west ridge, which is now the standard route. Since the first ascent, many ascents of Muztagh Ata have been made. In 1980, a party led by Ned Gillette made a ski ascent/descent of the standard route, the first ski ascent of a mountain over 7,500 m (24,600 ft).

Tashkurgan

Tashkurghan

Tashkurghan (near the border Pakistan) is the westernmost town in China. It is a one-street Tajik town, located at 12,136 feet, often visited by Pakistani traders who load up with cheap Chinese good and pungent Chinese liquor. In recent years the town has become a boom town of sorts, with restaurant, supermarkets and shops that cater to to service road crews, soldiers and Pakistani shoppers. From Tashkurghan you can get the daily bus to Khunjerab Pass and the Pakistani border town of Sust. On the grassy plateau beyond the town you can see the Pamirs, Hindu Kush and the Karakorums. Budget Accommodation: Check Lonely Planet books.

Between Tashkurghan and Khunjerab Pass the bus climbs on an asphalt road and passes through Chinese passport control and two military checkpoints staffed by soldiers from the People Liberation Army. As the road climbs some tourist suffers from altitude sickness.

The road leading to the pass contains steep grades and sharp turns. The low oxygen levels at this altitude can cause physical discomfort for travelers. The temperature at the summit remains low even during the summer months. It serves as the final destination on the Pakistani side of the highway.

The journey from Tashkurghan to Sust takes all day. At Sust travelers get off the bus, pass through immigration and customs and hop on minibus for the ride into the Hunza Valley. Sometimes the Chinese border officials find irregularities in the paper work and try weasel bribes. Sust is occupied by members of the Wakhi Tadjik tribe. There are some treks and hikes that can be done from here.

Khunjerab Pass

Khunjerab Pass is the highest point on the Karakoram Highway. It is located at an elevation of 4,714 meters (15,466 feet) above sea level. The pass marks the official international border between Pakistan and China. It is one of the highest paved border crossings in the world. Khunjerab means "Vale of Blood," a reference to the violence that occurred during raids by bandits on the caravans. Said to be the highest border crossing on the world, the pass broad is clearing of rock and grass with some clouds, grazing yaks and ibex and snowcapped mountains.

Describing the route in 400 A.D. the Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian wrote: "The way was difficult and rugged, running along a bank exceedingly precipitous. When one approached the edge of it, his eyes became unsteady; and he wished to go forward in the same direction, there was no place he could put his foot, and beneath were the waters of the river called the Indus."

Khunjerab Pass is near where the world's five highest mountain ranges¡ªthe Himalayas, the Karakorams, the Hindu Kush, the Kunlan Shan and the Tien Shan¡ªall meet. Also nearby is 18,000-foot Karakoram Pass which was used by Bactrian camel caravans until it was in he 1950s. Six countries also come together here: China, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the former Soviet republics of Tajikstan and Kyrgyzstan.

After Khunjerab Pass, drivers switch to the left hand side of the road. The road descends through one of the most spectacular gorges on the Indian subcontinent on a road blasted into the side of a cliff. The bus lurches from side to side as the driver descends the switchbacks and maneuvers around large boulders.

The pass is situated within the Khunjerab National Park. This protected area was established to conserve endangered animal species. Wildlife in the park includes snow leopards, Marco Polo sheep, and Himalayan ibex. Visitors frequently see domestic yaks grazing near the highway at this altitude. A concrete monument stands at the pass to mark the boundary line. Border police from both countries manage the crossing and check travel documents. The pass is also known for hosting a high-altitude automated teller machine. Due to cold weather and heavy snow, the border is closed from December to April.

Karakoram Highway in Pakistan

The Pakistani portion of the Karakoram Highway is officially designated as National Highway 35. It starts at Hasan Abdal in the Punjab province and runs north for 887 kilometers to the border with China. The route crosses through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the Gilgit-Baltistan region. It is one of the highest paved roads in the country and is a key transport corridor.

The construction of this section of the highway began in 1962 under a joint agreement. The Frontier Works Organisation of the Pakistan Army built the road on the Pakistani side. The construction process was difficult due to the mountainous terrain and frequent landslides. More than 800 Pakistani workers died during the building of the highway.

little more detai;ed map of the Karakoram Highway region Researchgate

This highway serves as a vital trade route between Pakistan and China. It forms a central component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project. Heavy commercial trucks use the road daily to transport industrial goods and materials. The government of Pakistan maintains the road to ensure year-round transport capacity.

The road passes through deep valleys carved by the Indus River and its tributaries. It allows travelers to access remote northern regions that were previously difficult to reach. The highway has significantly increased domestic tourism and economic development in Gilgit-Baltistan. It remains a crucial piece of infrastructure for northern Pakistan.

Hunza Valley

Hunza Valley (near the Chinese border) is perhaps the most beautiful valley in the Karakoram Range area. Dominating it is 7,787-meter-high (25,551-foot-high) Rakaposhi, an unusual mountain in that rises directly up from the river valley without any other mountains in the way to obstruct the view. It rises nearly 6,000 meters from top to bottom, the greatest uninterrupted rise of any mountain in the world. Covered in the thick glaciers the mountain is best seen in the mid-afternoon when its entire face glistens in the sun. The Karakorum Highway goes so close to its base, spurs of the mountain block the view of the summit. It best viewed from further back. Nearby is Ultar Mountain, which protects a once-secret pass to Central Asia. Hunza was largely cut off from the outside world until a road was chiseled into the mountains in 1978, connecting it with western China.

The Hunza Valley is about half the size of Massachusetts, with a population 35,000 people. The states of Hunza and Nagir are regarded as semi-independent entities within Pakistan. Surrounded by glaciers and 7000 meter (20,000 foot) peaks, the Hunza area was accessible for many years only on cliff-chiseled footpaths and shaky bridges, but now with the Karakorum highway threading right through the middle it it is visited by a steady stream of tourists. To get to some places you have to cross dangerous rivers on scary, rickety hanging bridges made of steel cables string across the river with wooden steps every 50 centimeters or so held in place with wires.

The Hunza area is mountainous and characterized by deep valleys cut by the Hunza River. The region is quite barren but thrives through the ingenuous use of irrigation and terracing . The sides of the mountains are stark and forbidding but the bottom of the valley itself is an oasis of apricot orchards, glacier-irrigated corn fields and lush green pastures grazed by goats and sheep. Many Himalayan valleys are said to be the inspiration for James Hilton's Shangri-la but perhaps this is the one valley that best fits the billing

Attabad Lake

Attabad Lake is a body of water located in the Hunza Valley of northern Pakistan. The lake was formed in January 2010 due to a massive landslide. The landslide blocked the flow of the Hunza River and buried several villages. It also completely submerged a 20-kilometer section of the highway.

The blockage of the road cut off overland trade and travel to China for five years. During this period, travelers had to transport goods and vehicles using wooden boats. This boat transit was slow and created major economic challenges for the local population. The government had to monitor the landslide dam to prevent a sudden collapse.

To resolve the transport issue, a new bypass route was constructed. The project involved building five tunnels through the surrounding mountains. These tunnels are known as the China-Pakistan Friendship Tunnels and opened in 2015. The completion of these tunnels allowed regular vehicle traffic to resume.

The lake has now become a permanent geographical feature of the region. Local businesses have developed tourism activities around the water, such as boating. Several small hotels and guesthouses operate along the lakeside. The water has a distinct blue color because of suspended glacial silt.

Nanga Parbat

view of Nanga Parbat from Fairy Meadows in 2015

Nanga Parbat is a major mountain peak situated in the Diamer District of Gilgit-Baltistan. It stands at an elevation of 8,126 meters above sea level. This peak is the ninth-highest mountain in the world. It is visible from several points along the Karakoram Highway.

The mountain forms the western anchor of the Himalayan range. It rises directly above the Indus River valley, creating a massive vertical elevation difference. Climbers regard this mountain as one of the most difficult peaks to ascend. Numerous fatal climbing accidents have occurred on its slopes over the decades.

Travelers can see the mountain clearly near the town of Jaglot along the highway. This location is also the meeting point of three major mountain ranges. Visitors often stop at designated roadside viewpoints to observe the peak. The surrounding terrain consists of steep cliffs and glacial valleys.

The area near the base of the mountain supports a small tourism industry. Local guides offer hiking trips to base camp areas like Fairy Meadows. These hikes require leaving the main highway and traveling on unpaved roads. The mountain remains a significant point of interest for geologists and geographers.

Main Towns Along the Route

Karimabad is a historic town located in the Hunza Valley along the northern highway. It was once the capital of the former princely state of Hunza. The town contains two ancient stone forts, Altit Fort and Baltit Fort. Today, it is a center for agriculture, where local farmers grow apricots and cherries.

Gilgit is the administrative capital and largest city of the Gilgit-Baltistan region. It is situated at the confluence of the Gilgit and Indus rivers. The city has an airport and serves as a major commercial hub for the region. It is the primary base for mountaineers planning expeditions to nearby peaks.

Besham is an important transit town located further north along the Indus River. It has many roadside hotels, restaurants, and vehicle repair shops. The town serves as a rest stop for long-distance trucks and passenger buses. The highway runs directly through the commercial center of the town.

Abbottabad is a major town located near the start of the highway in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is situated in a green basin and has a relatively mild climate. The town is an administrative center and has several educational institutions. Many travelers use Abbottabad as a stopping point before entering the high mountains.

Birds and Animals Along the Karakoram Highway

Abbottabad is 1255 meters high open valley with green surrounding mountains, cultivated fields, orchards and streams. The fauna in this area is oriental and the bird species are replaced by palae-arctic species as one proceeds further along the Karakoram Highway beyond Thakot.. Among the mammals seen in the Karakorams are markhor, shapu, ibex, Marco Polo sheep, marmot, pikas and brown bear.

Among the many birds that are seen are buzzard, golden eagle, steppe eagle, lammergeier, kestrol, snow partridge, seesee partridge, Himalayan snow-cock, Chukor partridge, monal pheasant, snow pigeon, hill pigeon, rufous turtle dove, the cuckoo, great horned owl, the swift, European bee-eater, European roller, scaly-beltied green, woodpecker, short-toed lark, horned lark, grey martin, swallow, golden oriole, brahminy myna, magpie, nutcracker, alpine chough, redbilled chough, rook, rufous tailed flycatcher, booted warbler, orphan warbler, chiffchaff and other phylloscopus species, several other warblers, blue throat and ruby-throat, chats, thrushes, wren, dipper, accentors, tits, tree creeper, wall creeper, pipits, redpols, wagtails, finches and buntings..

According to a report submitted to UNESCO: The Karakoram Range lies in a transitional zone between the arid Central Asia and the semi-humid tropics of South Asia. Within the Central Karakoram National Park there is a variety of ecosystems, from rock cliffs to juniper shrub land, conifer and broadleaf forests and alpine pastures, home to a very high level of biodiversity. These diverse ecosystems provide a refuge for threatened species of mammals such as arkhor, musk deer, snow leopard, Ladakh urial and Marco Polo sheep, and also for important “flagship” species including the Himalayan Ibex and Lynx, Blue Sheep and Grey Wolf. [Source: Government of Pakistan, Directorate General of Archaeology]

This environmental “hotspot” is also reflected in one of the most diverse avifauna of the mountainous regions of the world, with approximately 90 species of birds in 13 families known to occur in the Central Karakoram National Park. Alpine and moraine lakes are important stopovers on the Indus flyway and are part of one of the largest migratory bird routes in the world.

Central Karakoram National Park in Pakistan

Central Karakoram National Park in Pakistan was nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2016.. According to a report submitted to UNESCO: “The Central Karakoram in the Gilgit-Balitstan region of Pakistan is an extreme mountain area between Skardu and Gilgit. It was declared as the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) in 1993 and today it is the largest protected area in Pakistan, covering over 10,557.73 square kilometers in the Central Karakoram mountain range. The area is part of the Asian high-mountain system of Hindukush- Karakoram-West Himalaya, and is the highest park in the world. [Source: Government of Pakistan, Directorate General of Archaeology]

“The Central Karakoram National Park is a place of superlatives: the highest park in the world, containing within its borders sixty peaks over 7,000 m. and ten of the world’s highest and most famous mountains including four peaks more than 8000 m.a.s.l. and K2, the second highest peak in the world. This density of exceptionally high peaks is an important attribute of the park’s OUV. Location: Gilgit - Baltistan, Coordinates: N36 55 55 E75 5 2

“Central Karakoram National Park is an outstanding example representing major stages of earth’s history, including past and continuing geological processes in the development of the Himalayan massif; the dramatic growth and formative action of some of the world’s most important glaciers; and the continuous cycle of landform change brought about by the dynamic force of landslides. : As a regional priority area for conservation of bird and animal species, Central Karakoram National Park is an outstanding example of significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of mountain ecosystems.

The national park is of more than adequate size to ensure compete representation of these features and natural processes, spanning over 10,557 square kilometers of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers. It represents the great range of geological forms, altitude and climatic conditions that have carved out distinctive ecological zones, from alpine dry steppe to permanent snow fields and cold deserts, with their associated rare and in some case threatened species.

The first American attempt was in 1953. It like three other expedition ended in failure and took the lives of five climbers. Finally in 1978. AmericansLou Reichardt and Jim Wickwire made it the top. Wickwire was forced to spend the night in a bivouac sack just below the summit and during the effort he said he went temporally insane.

Trekkers generally in Pakistan camp 10 kilometers from K2 at 4541-meter (14,900-foot-high) spot on Godwin Austen Glacier. Most climbing attempts of K2 have been launched from the Pakistan side of the mountain. Few have been launched from Chinese side; only a handful of trekkers have visited the Chinese side of K2.

Image Sources: Map from Wikipedia, photos from Mongabey.com and Perrochan.com

Text Sources: CNTO (China National Tourist Organization), UNESCO, Wikipedia, Lonely Planet guides, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, Bloomberg, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Compton's Encyclopedia and various books and other publications.

Updated in July 2026