Annapurna
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Annapurna | |
|---|---|
 Annapurna I and South from Poon Hill |
|
| Elevation | 8,091 metres (26,545 feet) Ranked 10th |
| Location | Central Nepal |
| Range | Himalaya |
| Prominence | 2,894 metres |
| Coordinates | |
| First ascent | 1950 by Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal |
| Easiest route | snow/ice climb |
Annapurna is a series of peaks in the Himalaya, a 55-km-long massif whose highest point, Annapurna I, stands at 8,091 m (26,538 ft), making it the 10th-highest summit in the world and one of the 14 "eight-thousanders". It is located east of a great gorge cut through the Himalaya by the Kali Gandaki river, which separates it from the Dhaulagiri massif. (Dhaulagiri I lies 34km (21 mi) west of Annapurna I.) Annapurna is a Sanskrit name which is translated as Goddess of the Harvests.
The Annapurna massif contains six major peaks over 7,200 m:
| Annapurna I | 8,091 m | (26,545 ft.) Ranked 10th; Prominence=2,894 m | |
| Annapurna II | 7,937 m | (26,040 ft.) Ranked 16th; Prominence=2,437 m | |
| Annapurna III | 7,555 m | (24,786 ft.) Ranked 42nd; Prominence=703 m | |
| Annapurna IV | 7,525 m | (24,688 ft.) (not a separate mountain) | |
| Gangapurna | 7,455 m | (24,457 ft.) Ranked 59th; Prominence=563 m | |
| Annapurna South | 7,219 m | (23,684 ft.) Ranked 101st; Prominence=775 m |
Annapurna I was the first 8,000 metre peak to be climbed. Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal, of a French expedition, reached the summit on June 3, 1950. (See the documentary of the expedition "Victoire sur l'Annapurna" by Marcel Ichac).
The south face of Annapurna was first climbed in 1970 by Don Whillans and Dougal Haston, members of a British expedition led by Chris Bonington which included the alpinist Ian Clough, who was killed by a falling ice-pillar during the descent.
In 1978 an expedition led by Arlene Blum became the first American team to climb Annapurna I. The expedition was also remarkable for being composed entirely of women. Sadly, Alison Chadwick-Onyszkiewicz and Vera Watson died during this climb.
On 3 February 1987, Jerzy Kukuczka and Artur Hajzer, a Polish climber, made the first ascent of an eight-thousander in winter.
The Annapurna peaks are among the world's most dangerous mountains to climb, with a fatality rate of 40%.[1] As of 2005, only 103 successful summits have been made, for the loss of 56 lives, many to the avalanches for which the mountain is known.
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[edit] The other peaks
Annapurna II, the eastern anchor of the range, was first climbed in 1960 by a British/Indian/Nepalese team led by Jimmy Roberts, via the West Ridge, approached from the north. The summit party comprised Richard Grant, Chris Bonington, and Sherpa Ang Nyima. In terms of elevation, isolation (distance to a higher summit, namely Annapurna I, 30.5 km) and prominence (2,437 m), Annapurna II does not rank far behind Annapurna I. It is a fully independent peak, despite the close association with Annapurna I which its name seems to imply.
Annapurna III was first climbed in 1961 by an Indian expedition led by Mohan Kohli, via the Northeast Face. The summit party comprised Mohan Kohli, Sonam Gyatso, and Sonam Girmi.
Annapurna IV, near Annapurna II, was first climbed in 1955 by a German expedition led by Heinz Steinmetz, via the North Face and Northwest Ridge. The summit party comprised Steinmetz, Harald Biller, and Jürgen Wellenkamp.
Gangapurna was first climbed in 1965 by a German expedition led by Günther Hauser, via the East Ridge. The summit party comprised 11 members of the expedition.
Annapurna South (also known as Annapurna Dakshin, or Moditse) was first climbed in 1964 by a Japanese expedition, via the North Ridge. The summit party comprised S. Uyeo and Mingma Tsering.
Machapuchare (6993m) is another important peak of the Annapurna Himal, though it just misses the 7000m mark.
[edit] Sources
- Koichiro Ohmori, Over the Himalaya, 1998, Cloudcap Press, ISBN 0-938567-37-3
- Jill Neate, High Asia: An Illustrated History of the 7000 Metre Peaks, Mountaineers Books, ISBN 0-89886-238-8
[edit] References
- ^ mounteverest.net 2006-09-28
[edit] External links
- Annapurna on Peakware
- Annapurna Circuit map
- Annapurna I on summitpost.org
- Annapurna Base Camp Photo Gallery
- Annapurna Base Camp Trek by Rangan Datta
| Eight-thousanders |
|---|
| Everest • K2 • Kangchenjunga • Lhotse • Makalu • Cho Oyu • Dhaulagiri • Manaslu • Nanga Parbat • Annapurna • Gasherbrum I • Broad Peak • Gasherbrum II • Shishapangma |
In Hinduism, Annapurna is a goddess of fertility and agriculture and an avatar of Durga.
Annapurna also refers to some breath-oriented techniques of meditation.
