The Indian subcontinent is bordered on the north by the Himalayan and Karakoram Mountains. The Karakoram (meaning black stone), is said to be the North Western extension of greater system of Himalayan mountains. It covers the borders between the countries Pakistan, China and India, in some regions of Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan, Ladakh of India, and Xinjiang region of China. Its range is about 500km in length. It is bounded by the edge of the Tibetan Plateau on the northeast.