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 28.595° N 83.819° E
Annapurna II 7,937 m (26,040 ft.) Ranked 16th; Prominence=2,437 m 28.539° N 84.137° E
Annapurna III 7,555 m (24,786 ft.) Ranked 42nd; Prominence=703 m 28.585° N 84.000° E

Annapurna IV 7,525 m (24,688 ft.) (not a separate mountain) 28.539° N 84.087° E

Gangapurna 7,455 m (24,457 ft.) Ranked 59th; Prominence=563 m 28.606° N 83.965° E

Annapurna South 7,219 m (23,684 ft.) Ranked 101st; Prominence=775 m 28.518° N 83.806° E

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.

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.

Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).
ACAP was established in 1986 under the guidance of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation. The project encompasses the entire Annapurna range, more than 7600 sq km. In an innovative approach to environmental protection, it was declared a "conservation area" instead of a national park. A large number of people live within the protected region, but traditional national park practices dictate that few, if any, people reside within park boundaries. In an effort to avoid any conflicts of interest, ACAP has sought the involvement of local people and has emphasized environmental education.

ACAP projects include the training of lodge owners, with an emphasis on sanitation, deforestation and cultural pride. They have trained trekking lodge operators and encouraged hoteliers to charge a fair price for food and accommodation. ACAP encourages the use of kerosene for cooking throughout the region, and requires its use above Chhomrong in the Annapurna Sanctuary and on the route between Ghandruk and Ghorapani. ACAP is supported by a "conservation fee" of Rs 650 that is collected from all trekkers who obtain trekking permits for the Annapurna region.

ACAP has encouraged the construction of toilets throughout the area; use them no matter how disgusting they are. ACAP has also made provision for the supply of kerosene in those parts of the conservation area where the use of firewood by both trekking groups and hotels is prohibited.

In Pokhara, visit ACAP's Trekkers Information & Environmental Centre next to the Hotel Lakeside. In addition to providing information, the centre sells iodine, solar battery chargers and other products that can help you to protect the environment while you are trekking. There is also a "trekkers meeting board" and a battery drop-off centre.


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.

Tilicho lake is one of the highest lakes in the world.[1] It is 4,949m high in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas in Nepal.[2] Another source lists Lake Tilicho as being 4,919 meters high(16,138 feet).[3]

Mountain lakes are known to geographers as tarns if they are caused by glacial activity. Tarns are found mostly in the upper reaches of the Himalaya, above 5,500 metres.[3] Due to the extremely inhospitable surrounding terrain and the difficulties associated with reaching the area, this lake is rarely visited by outsiders.

The Gandaki River, also known as the Kali Gandaki and the Gandak, is a tributary of the Ganges River. It rises in the Himalayas in the Mustang District region of Nepal, near the border with Tibet, where it is known as the Narayani. It flows southward through a steep gorge known as the Kali Gandaki Gorge, between the mountains Dhaulagiri (8167 m) to the west and Annapurna (8091 m) to the east. South of the gorge the river makes a right-angle turn and runs east for a time until turning sharply to the southwest. The river later curves back towards the southeast as it enters India. The river flows southwest across the Gangetic plain of Bihar state, eventually merging with the Ganges near at Hajipur Patna.

If one measures the depth of a canyon by the difference between the river height and the heights of the highest peaks on either side, the Kali Gandaki Gorge is the world's deepest. The portion of the river between the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massifs is at an elevation of between 1300 metres and 2600 metres[1], 5500 to 6800 metres lower than the two peaks.  

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