Abele Blanc to 14th 8000m Peak
Annapurna aka Morshiadi ( 8091 meters high; 26545 feet) is located on the Annapurna massif in North-central Nepal. Annapurna, the tenth highest mountain in the world, was first climbed in 1950 by the French expedition Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal on June 3rd, 1950. The first 8000 meter peak climbed, today it is arguably the most feared. Annapurna is translated " Goddess of the Harvests" or "the Provider".
The major peaks on the Annapurna range is Annapurna I (8091 meters high), Annapurna II (7937 meters), Annapurna III (7555 meters), Annapurna IV (7525 meters), Gangapurna (7455 meters) and Annapurna South (7219 meters).
Annapurna was the first 8000-meter peak ever climbed. The 1950 first ascent via the North Face was immortalized in the great Maurice Herzog's book "Annapurna". 20 years more it took for another team to succeed on the mountain. Chris Bonington's team 1970 ascent of the South Face of Annapurna was a landmark in the history of mountaineering. Two American women, Irene Miller and Vira Komarkova, have reached the summit via the North Face in October of 1978, making the first ascent by Americans! In May of 1988, American Steve Boyer, working with a large French expedition, reached the summit, repeating the Bonington route on the South Face with a large French expedition.
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