Kharta is a region in
Tibet lying to the east of
Mount Everest and centred on the
Kharta valley and
Kama valley. The Kharta valley starts at the col at
Lhakpa La at the head of the
Kharta Glacier from which the
Kharta Chu river flows east to join the
Phung Chu just beyond
Khata village. Nearby to the south, the Kama valley starts at the
Kangshung Glacier at the foot of Everest's
Kangshung Face, and the
Kama Chu flows southeast to the Phung Chu. The
1921 British Mount Everest reconnaissance expedition discovered Kharta when reconnoitring ways to climb Mount Everest and managed to reach the
North Col via the Lhakpa La. Since that time Kharta has not been used as a way to approach the summit of Everest but the two valleys have become a popular area for trekking.