Tuesday, September 3, 2019

TOP 10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ANNAPURNA


#1:

Annapurna simply means “full of food” in Sanskrit. For Hindus, Annapurna is ‘The Goddess of Harvest’ or ‘The Goddess of Food and Nourishment’. Nepalese people believe that the goddess resides in the mountain and thus named it as Annapurna.

#2:

Annapurna is a massif in the Himalayas of the North-Central Nepal. Technically known as Annapurna I, it is the 10th highest mountain in the world 8091m/26,545ft and is the highest point of the Annapurna massif that includes 5 other major peaks which are Annapurna II (7937m/26,040ft; 16th highest mountain in the world), Annapurna III 7555m, Annapurna IV 7525m, Gangapurna 7455m and Annapurna South 7219m. The other peaks in the Annapurna which are less prominent include:
  1. Annapurna I Central 8051m (26,414 ft)
  2. Annapurna I East 8010m (26,280 ft)
  3. Annapurna Fang 7647m (25,089 ft)
  4. Khangsar Kang 7485m (24,557 ft)
  5. Tarke Kang 7202m (23,629 ft)
  6. Lachenal Peak 7140m (23,425 ft)
  7. Tilicho Peak 7135m (23,409 ft)
  8. Nilgiri Himal North 7061m (23,166 ft), Central 6940m (22,769 ft) and South 6839m (22,438 ft)
  9. Machapuchare 6993m (22,943 ft)
  10. Hiunchuli 6441m (21,132 ft)
  11. Gandharba Chuli 6248m (20,499 ft)

#3:

The top part of Annapurna is formed of limestone which goes the same with Everest and Dhaulagiri I. That’s why the mountain is believed to have been emerged from the ocean which was gradually pushed by tectonic forces to the present state.

#4:

Annapurna I is the highest point in the 34 mile long distance, which is east of the Kali Gandaki River’s deep gorge. This gorge is considered as the world's deepest canyon which separates Annapurna from Dhaulagiri I some 20 miles away.

#5:

Annapurna is the most dangerous 8000m peak to climb, with the fatality to successful climb ratio of 38%. This is really a surprising number compared to other mountains above 8000m. The death rate in Everest is around 6.5%.

#6:

Annapurna was the first 8000m peak ever scaled and which is also without supplemental oxygen.
Initial ascents of Annapurna: Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal, the first to summit Annapurna in 1950, were part of a French team that included other great climbers, Gaston Rébuffat and Lionel Terray.​ Herzog and Lachenal both suffered heavy frostbite on their feet and Herzog in his hands too. The book Annapurna written by Maurice Herzog about the 1950 expedition, which sold over 11 million copies, making it the best-selling climbing book of all time.
Subsequently, further ascents were done by the British expedition team, the Japanese and the American team. The first American team to do first American ascent of the mountain in 1978 was the women’s expedition team.

#7:

The Annapurna massif is protected in the Annapurna Conservation Area, the largest protected area in Nepal. Annapurna Conservation Area was formally established in 1985 and covers 7629km2 over Kaski, Manang, Mustang, Myagdi and Lamjung.

#8:

About 2/3 of all trekkers in Nepal visit Annapurna or Annapurna region. Because of many reasons like easy accessibility, plenty teahouses, incredible diverse sceneries with both high mountains and lowlands, etc. Also, since the entire area is inhabited, trekking in Annapurna offers unique cultural experiences.
Annapurna offers the highest number of trekking routes comparing to any other regions in Nepal and also the diverse ones; Lower/Upper Mustang, Damodar Kund, Khopra Ridge, Mardi Himal, Mohare Danda, Royal Trek, Poon Hill, Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Sikles, Panchase, Nar Phu Valley, Jomsom Muktinath, Tilicho Lake, Mustang Teri La Pass and many more.
The Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Base Camp {Annapurna sanctuary} trail are the busiest trails in Nepal during Spring and Autumn season.

#9:

Many highest lakes of Nepal lies in Annapurna region but the journey to these beautiful lakes is not an ordinary journey. Tilicho Lake 4919m is one of the highest lakes in the world. Similarly, Khayar Lake 4660m and Ice lake 4700m also belongs to this region.

#10:

A former kingdom, Mustang close to the Tibet border lies in Annapurna, but trekking to the Upper Mustang is subjected to special restrictions.
Muktinath in Mustang is the holiest shrine for both Hindus and Buddhists and is a popular pilgrimage site.
Some villages in Mustang such as Thini and Lupra still practice the BonPo religion and one among the last places in the world to preserve and continue this practice.

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