Annapurna is a mountain range in the Himalayas, where the highest peaks are located - Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, separated by the deepest valley on the planet, Kaligandaki. The highest point is Annapurna Main (8091 m), two more peaks of the southwestern spur are adjacent to it - Annapurna Middle (8010 m) and Annapurna East (8000 m), together forming one of the 14 eight-thousanders. Annapurna is the tenth highest peak in the world and the first conquered by man.
Annapurna is considered the most dangerous eight-thousander - the death rate among climbers for all the years of ascents reaches 32% (as of March 2012). However, for modern mountaineering, the mountain has become less dangerous, yielding to Kangchenjunga (8586 m) - according to statistics for the period 1990 - 2008, the death rate on Annapurna is 19.7% versus 22% at Kanchenjunga.
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The name Annapurna is translated from Sanskrit as "Goddess of Fertility".
Tourism
The Annapurna mountain range and its surrounding areas are part of the Annapurna National Park, with a total area of 7629 km². In the national park there are several hiking trails (tracks), which are world famous.
More than 60% of the total number of mountain tourism lovers who come to Nepal go to the Annapurna region, which attracts travelers with a variety of natural landscapes, as well as the opportunity to join the culture and life of the local population.
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Trekking
There are three main routes for trekking around Mount Annapurna: Jomsom Trek, Sanctuary Trek, Circuit Trek. Hiking around Annapurna is a rare opportunity to get to the very center of the Himalayas and get acquainted with the original culture of the locals - Gurung, Tamang, Thakali and Pokhari. On the way you can meet many beautiful Buddhist monasteries, Hindu shrines, suspension bridges and gorges. The most striking moment is the ascent to the Torung La Pass (5416 m), from where a stunning view of the Main Himalayan Range opens. The route usually starts in ancient Kathmandu, passes through mountain paths and ends in the city of Pokhara.
The highest of the peaks in which is Annapurna I (8091 m) - the tenth highest eight-thousander in the world (out of fourteen) and the first conquered by man (1950).
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Annapurna base camp
The Annapurna Base Camp trek lasts about 12 days, starting in Pokhara and ending in Naya Pul. The best time for its passage: March-June or October-December. On the way you can meet the following attractions: Annapurna Base Camp, located in the heart of the Annapurna mountain range. From here you have a great view of the Annapurna, Gangapurna and Machhapuchhre peaks. Here is one of the best viewing platforms in Nepal - Poon Hill with a panorama of the Annapurna mountain range at sunset.
Trek around Annapurna
The Annapurna Circuit or Annapurna Circuit is one of the most popular hiking trails along the slopes of the Annapurna mountain range through the Annapurna National Park. It is distinguished by picturesque and colorful natural attractions. Its length is 211 km, it takes about 20 days.
You can also stop and gain strength at the Thorong La pass, where there are two tourist camps - Thorong Pedi and the Upper Camp. He takes his start in the village of Besisakhar, part of the way follows the valley of the Marsyandi River, passing through which it is impossible not to admire the Annapurna mountain range, the Manaslu massifs, the Peri Himal and the Damodar Himal.
Here you can replenish supplies in the large settlements of Dharapani, Chame, Pisang and Manang. Near the village of Ranipauwa is the temple complex of Muktinath. In the Kali-Gandaki valley, the track goes through the villages of Jomsom, Marfa, Dana, Tatopan. At the end of the path you will climb Mount Poon Hill, which offers a view of the eight-thousanders of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. And finally Nayapul, a small settlement from where you can get to Pokhara by bus. Also, the "Trek around Annapurna" can be supplemented with a trip to Lake Tilicho, which is 16 km west of the village of Manang.
Jomsom track
Jomsom trek - hiking along the Kali Gandaki River from Nayapul to Muktinath. Not a very popular track, so not crowded.
Other tracks
In addition to the classic tracks to Annapurna Sanktuary base camp, the track around Annapurna (Annapurna Circuit), passing through the pass Thorang La (Thorang La Pass, 5416 m), there is a shortened version with a length of 40 km along the route "Birethanti - Ghandrung - Ghorepani - Ulleri — Birethanti. It passes through rice fields, villages and tropical rainforests. The best time to complete the route is mid-late November.
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Chronology of ascents to the summit of Annapurna
- 1950 - June 3, Annapurna became the first eight-thousander conquered by man. French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal climb Annapurna I
- 1970 - May 1, the first female ascent of Annapurna III (7555m) by Japanese Junko Tabei
- 1970 - May 27, the first ascent of the south face of the British Douglas Huston and Don Vilans
- 1978 - October 15, the first female ascent of Annapruna I on the north face along the Dutch route. Vera Komarkova, Irene Miller and 2 Sherpas climbed to the top. Vera Watson and Alison Chadwick-Onyszkiewicz died during the ascent
- 1987 - February 3, the first winter ascent of the Poles Jerzy Kukuczka and Artur Heiser
- 1991 - N. Cherny and S. Arsentiev became the first Russians to climb Annapurna
- 1994 - South Annapurna, 7219 m. The first winter ascent of climbers of the Russian Federation in the Himalayas. On December 17, V. Bashkirov - the leader, V. Shataev, N. Cherny - from Moscow, A. Minibaev, V. Lobankov - from the Republic of Bashkortostan climbed to the top along the southern wall.
- 2010 - April 27, in one day 17 people visited the summit of Annapurna I, among them the Russian climber Sergey Bogomolov, for whom Annapurna became the thirteenth conquered eight-thousander
- 2013 - On October 9, the Swiss climber Steck, Uli made a solo ascent of the Annapurna South Face, but some climbers and mountain guides question his ascent, due to the fact that Uli could not provide evidence of his stay on the top of Annapurna. Two weeks later, two French climbers climbed this route.
Interesting Facts
- The French climbers, who made the first ascent of Annapurna in 1950, originally planned to climb Dhaulagiri, however, after reconnaissance, they considered this mountain impregnable and went to Annapurna. Dhaulagiri was conquered 10 years later - the Swiss-Austrian team climbed to the top on May 13, 1960
- Although Annapurna was the first conquered eight-thousander peak, at that time it was no longer the record height that a person climbed - when trying to climb Everest in 1924, Edward Norton reached a height of 8570 m, and George Mallory and Andrew Irwin - more 8600 m (as estimated by Noel Odell). Some researchers believe that Mallory and Irvine died already during the descent from the summit, the debate about whether they reached the summit of Everest or not continues today.
- The Annapurna mountain range after the earthquake in Nepal on April 25, 2015 became higher by about 20 centimeters
Films about Annapurna
- The Hard Way - Annapurna South Face (1970)
- "The Unconquered Peak" (about Anatoly Bukreev, who died on the mountain under an avalanche), authors Severnyuk A. and Tyulkin V., 2002, 40 min.
- "Real Life" ("Pura vida - The Ridge") (detailed re-enactment of the May 2008 rescue of Spanish climber Iñaki Ochoa), by Pablo Iraburu, Migueltxo Molina, 2012, 85 min.