Annapurna Peak is a mighty mountain in the Annapurna mountain range of Nepal. The peak lies in north-central Nepal, the Gandaki Province, with a high of 8,091 meters (26,545 ft) among the Annapurna mountain ranges. Likewise, Annapurna is the tenth-highest peak in the world and is well-famed for its high fatality rate and difficulties among the mountaineering community.
Annapurna Mountain is a beautiful and dangerous summit. The ranges include one peak over 8,000m, thirteen peaks over 7,000m, and sixteen more with elevations over 6,000m. The Annapurna range is approx 55 kilometers (34 mi) far, bounded by the Marshyangdi River on the northern side, Kali Gandaki Gorge on the western side, from the all-time popular destination Pokhara Valley.
The Annapurna mountain range’s name is derived from the Hindu goddess Annapurna, the goddess of food and nourishment. The peak’s name generally originated from the surrounding evergreen rivers and greenery supporting venerating at lower altitudes. Hindu devotees also revered her as the daughter of the Himavat (the mountain king). Let’s discuss the Annapurna peak of the Annapurna mountain range more below.
Annapurna Peak of Annapurna Mountain Range
Annapurna Himal or Mt Annapurna is the Himalayas massif, mainly in Nepal’s north-central region. The ranges form a ridge of 30 miles (48 km) long between the gorges named Kali Gandak to the west and Marsyandi (east) rivers to the north of the Pokhara valley.
The Annapurna ranges in total contains four main Annapurna summits named Annapurna I at (8,091 meters 26,545 feet), Annapurna II at 7,937 meters/ (26,040 feet, Annapurna III at 7,555 meters/ 24,786 feet and Annapurna IV at 7,525 meters/ 24,688 feet.
Moreover, the Anapurna range sits in Nepal’s central north, in the Annapurna Conservation Area. If you want to glimpse the Annapurna, you will find the world’s tenth peak here. The world-famous trek around the Conservation Area includes Annapurna Sanctuary and the Annapurna circuit trek.
Talking more about the Annapurna peaks, Annapurna I is recognized as the first peak over 8,000m to be climbed. With this in mind, the Annapirna 1 was first conquered by mountaineers Louis Lachenal and Maurice Herzog in 1950 and is still considered a dangerous mountain to climb to date.
Likewise, the Annapurna IV was first summitted by a German mountaineers team of Jürgen Wellenkamp, Heinz Steinmetz, and Harald Biller. And Annapurna II was conquered five years later, in 1960, by Chris Bonington, sherpa Ang Nyima, Richard Grant, and James O.M. Roberts.
Geography of Annapurna
Annapurna is not just a single mountain but a massif (a group of mountains connected and lying in the same fault line). The Annapurna summit has three peaks, the highest being Annapurna I, 179 km (111 miles), far northwest of Kathmandu. Likewise, the famed Pokhara Valley and the Phewa Lake sits south of the peak.
The rocks of the Annapurna are made of limestones from millions of years ago at the bottom of the ocean. Likewise, all the peaks of the Annapurna ranges sit at a high elevation, a constant reminder of its incredible landscape, forming mountains with its changing forces.
The Annapurna ranges have a great backdrop view of other prominent peaks like Machapuchare, also called fishtail, at (6,993 m/ 22,943 ft) to the south. Machapuchare ‘s summit appears like a fish diving down, showing its tail. Similarly, another prominent peak in the Annapurna range is the world’s seventh highest peak, Dhaulagiri, at (8,167m/ 26,795 ft) across the Kali Gandaki Gorge.
Flora And Fauna of Annapurna Ranges
Annapurna ranges are located within the Annapurna Conservation Area, covering an area of 7,629 km2 (2,946 sq miles), around 5% of Nepla’s total area. The peak of the Annapurna may be only covered with snow and no vegetation, but the lowers area of the Annapurna is entirely covered with flora and Fauna. This being said, a total of 6,000 species of flora had been listed in ACA, among which 181 are found over the elevation of 5,000 m (16,400 ft).
The lower region of the Annapurnas is heavily cultivated with rice fields, etc. The lower region produces fruits like oranges, which reflect Annapurna’s tropical climate. The forest section of the Anapurna contains rhododendron, beech, and Oak. Continuing to ascend, the coniferous forests with pine and juniper are spotted afterward.
The fauna of the Annapurna is as impressive as the floors here. In total, the Annapurna area lists a total of 486 birds, 23 amphibians, 102 mammals, and 39 reptiles.
Among all the animals, snow leopard is found in the northern parts of the Annapurans and is very rare to be spotted during the treks. Similarly to the high elevated area of the Annapurna lives the long-haired back Himalayan tahr, a goat-like creature. It is easy to spot and is most hunted by the villages. Bharal or blue sheep are other rare animals residing in the Annapurans. They are known to have large horns shaped like giant eyebrows.
Mt. Annapurna and Its ranges Death History
As we said earlier, mount Annapurna was the first peak above 8000 m to be summited, but the history of death at the peak is heart-wrenching. Among all Annapurna ranges, Annapurna I, at (8,091 meters 26,545 feet) holds the highest fatality rate among all the eight-thousander summits. Though Annapurna has seen many climbing successes, the fatality rate seems to fall only slightly, from 32% to 20%, which is still the highest fatality rate here.
Despite many successful summits and decreases in the fatality rate from 2012 to 2022, Annapurna is still the world’s deadliest mountain due to the threats through avalanches, too steep, unpredictable weather, climbing routes, etc., for the climbers. This being said, one of the Annapurna routes- a 3,000-metre (9,800 ft) south face is recognized as the most challenging route in the world.
The fatality rate of the Annapurna is something every climber wanting to summit the peak should not ignore and particulate, why only experienced and spiked mountains should only attempt.
Mountaineers like Louis Lachenal and Maurice Herzog were the first to summit the Annapurna I, but they paid the price for their success. Louis and Maurice lost their toes and finger due to frostbite, and Louis died due to several operations five years later. In addition, some of the famous mountains who lost their lives dung the Annapurna I expedition are Alpinist Ian Clough, Christian Kuntner, Anatoli Boukreev, and Inaki Ochoa.
Mount Annapurna is indeed called the deadliest mountain because it is faulty and unstable due to its prone nature to avalanches and snowstorms. The peak saw its biggest casualties in 2014 when 40 people were killed by a snowstorm on the mountain. Besides the avalanches and snowstorms, the climate of the mountain is also deadly.
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