Editing Shimshal (section)

==Settlements==
Shimshal comprises four major hamlets: Farmanabad, Aminabad, Center Shimshal, and Khizarabad.<ref name=BBC/> Shimshal obtains hydroelectricity from the Odver stream, particularly during the warmer months of the year which typically span from June to October. The absence of electricity for seven months poses a significant challenge for the local community in Shimshal. During this prolonged period, residents have had to resort to various alternatives such as kerosene oil, firewood, solar panels, and compressed natural gas in cylinders to meet their energy needs However, a small hydro electricity power station of 0.2&nbsp;MW is under construction at Kuk area of Shimshal that is scheduled to be complete in 2017.<ref name=Dawn/>
[[File:Silk Route Caravan of Shimshal Valley.jpg|left|thumb|Silk Route caravan of Shimshal]]
[[File:Traditional Dance of Shimshal.jpg|thumb|Traditional dance of Shimshal]]

The village was inaccessible by motor roads until October 2003, when a new road from the [[Karakoram Highway]] at [[Passu]] was constructed. It is 56&nbsp;km to reach the Shimshal Valley from [[Passu]].<ref name=BBC/> Self-help or [[Nomus]] (in local [[Wakhi language]]) is the major driver for infrastructure development in Shimshal.<ref name=Butz>David Butz, [https://brocku.ca/social-sciences/geography/faculty-and-staff/david-butz/#a-critical-ethnography-of-the-shimshal-road "A Critical Ethnography of the Shimshal Road"], Brock University, retrieved 10 June 2018.</ref>

Shimshalis use numerous seasonal mountain grasslands, located several days walk from the village, to sustain herds of [[yak]]s, goats, and sheep.<!-- The area was founded by Mamo Singh and his wife named Khudija.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} No it wasn't, perhaps the village was, but that's a different statement-->

The people of Shimshal are [[Wakhi people|Wakhi]] and they speak the [[Wakhi language]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Otero |first1=Rocio |title=The Changing Life of the Wakhi People in Pakistan's Shimshal |url=https://thewire.in/agriculture/changing-life-shimshal-wakhi-people |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |date=16 May 2017 |language=en}}</ref> They belong to the [[Ismaili]] sect of [[Shia Islam]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jang.com.pk/thenews/oct2008-weekly/nos-19-10-2008/foo.htm|title=Footloose, NOS, The News International|website=jang.com.pk}}</ref> The community follows [[Aga Khan]], a spiritual leader.<ref>[http://www.theismaili.org/cms/16/The-Ismaili-Community The Ismaili Community], he.ismaili, retrieved 10 June 2018.</ref>

Shimshal has produced several well-known mountaineers for Pakistan. Among those, [[Samina Baig]] is the first woman climber from Pakistan to scale Mt. Everest and all highest peaks in seven continents around the globe.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mission accomplished: Samina becomes first Pakistani woman to scale 7 highest peaks on 7 continents |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/741092/mission-accomplished-samina-becomes-first-pakistani-to-scale-7-highest-peaks-on-7-continents |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=[[The Express Tribune]] |date=25 July 2014 |language=en}}</ref> Rajab Shah has the honor of scaling all five highest peaks in Pakistan.<ref name=Rajab>{{cite news |last1=Tariq |first1=Hanniah |title=The last ascent of Rajab Shah — Pakistan's forgotten mountaineer |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1262638 |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |date=5 June 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Both Rajab Shah and Mehrban Shah have received a Presidential Award for Pride of Performance in the field of mountaineering. Some people call Shimshal [[The Valley of Mountaineers]] in Pakistan.<ref name=Rajab/>

Shimshal is the largest village of the [[Hunza valley]]. Its extensive pasture lands include Shimshal Pamir, Gujerav, Yazghail and Loopghar.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

The [[Lok Versa Museum]] of Shimshal has antiques, artifacts, musical instruments, and daily life items made from wood, showcasing the history of its local community.

Two books by Pam Henson about Shimshal, "Shimshal" and "Women of Shimshal," have been published by the Shimshal Trust. Henson is a teacher from New Zealand and wrote these books based on her experiences teaching and living in Shimshal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Willoughby |first1=Lynette |title=[Interview] Inspiration to Action: The story of Shimshal Trust and Pam Henson |url=https://pamirtimes.net/2013/10/18/interview-inspiration-action-story-shimshal-nature-trust-pam-henson/ |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=PAMIR TIMES |date=18 October 2013 |language=en}}</ref>

The Shimshal River comes from this area and then transforms the shape of [[Hunza River]], which joins the [[Indus River]] below the capital city [[Gilgit]].
Shimshal River is formed from three sources: Khurdopin Glacier, Shimshal Pass and Zardgorban. The Shimshal River flows into the Khunjrab River and then the Passu River before ending in Attabad Lake.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}