Katpana Desert

{{short description|High-altitude desert in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan}}

{{More citations needed|date=January 2021}}

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{{Use British English|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox valley

| name = Katpana Desert

| other_name = Cold Desert

| photo = Unexpected Snow in Katpana Skardu.jpg

| photo_caption = February 2016 photograph of the high-altitude desert, where sand dunes are seasonally covered in snow

| map = Pakistan

| map_caption = Location within Pakistan

| country = {{flag|Pakistan}}

| region =

| district = Skardu District

| city = Skardu

| relief =

| label = Cold Desert

| label_position = left

| coordinates = {{coord|35.310522|N|75.590747|E|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_ref =

| elevation =

| elevation_m = 2226

| elevation_ft = 7303

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|state_type=Adm. Unit

|state={{flagicon|Gilgit-Baltistan}} Gilgit-Baltistan

|district_type=District

}}

The Katpana Desert (Biang-a Naqpo), known also as Katpana Biang-a or Cold Desert,{{Cite web |title=Sarfaranga Cold Desert |url=https://guidetopakistan.pk/destination/sarfaranga-cold-desert/ |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=Guide To Pakistan |language=en-US}} is a high-altitude desert located in Skardu Valley in District Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gilgitbaltistan.gov.pk/ |title=Government of Gilgit-Baltistan |access-date=2020-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512204501/http://www.gilgitbaltistan.gov.pk/ |archive-date=2015-05-12 |url-status=dead}} The desert contains large sand dunes that are sometimes covered in snow during the winters. Situated at an elevation of {{Convert|2226|m|ft|abbr=}} above sea level, the Katpana Cold Desert is one of the highest deserts in the world. While the desert technically stretches from the banks of Indus River in the south of Skardu to New Ranga Village in the north, the portion of the desert that is most frequented by tourists is located near Katpana Lake close to Skardu Airport.{{Cite web|url=https://www.caapakistan.com.pk/timeline/skardu/Default.aspx|title = PCAA | Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority - Skardu Airport|access-date=2023-07-02}}