Which mountain range includes K2?

K2 belongs to the Karakoram mountain range.

The Karakoram stretches across parts of Pakistan, China and India, with extensions toward Afghanistan and Tajikistan. K2 stands in the range's central area near the Pakistan–China boundary and is its highest peak. At 8,611 metres, it is the world's second-highest mountain after Mount Everest.

The name K2 came from the British Survey of India. Surveyor Thomas Montgomerie marked it as the second major peak measured in the Karakoram, using “K” for Karakoram. Unlike many famous peaks, the short survey code remained the mountain's best-known name.

K2 is sometimes grouped casually with the Himalayas because both ranges form part of the greater high-mountain system of Asia, but its geographic range is the Karakoram. It is also commonly called the Savage Mountain because of its steep faces, severe weather and demanding climbing routes. The first successful ascent came in 1954, while the first winter ascent was not achieved until 2021.