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| Sunday, 11 December 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Int'l Mountain Day - today : Mountains and the environment The International Mountain Day is celebrated today.
The International Mountain Day on December 11 was first observed by the United Nations in 2003, and was a result of the global focus on mountains that emerged during the International Year of Mountains in 2002.The Day seeks to foster recognition of the vital role that mountains play in our lives, and the responsibility to protect mountain environments. This increased global awareness of the importance of mountains stimulated (activated) the establishment of national committees in 78 countries and strengthened alliances through promoting the creation of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions, known as the 'Mountain'. Every year, International Mountain Day is observed with a different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development. The theme chosen for 2005 is 'Sustainable Tourism for Poverty Alleviation in Mountain Areas'. This theme is highly relevant to the past and ongoing work of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and its UN partners in mountain development, and is related to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of eradicating extreme hunger and poverty, as well as the necessity of working together to protect our common environment. The Day provides an occasion to heighten awareness about the perils (dangers) and potentials of tourism in mountain areas and to appeal for sustainable tourism among governments, non-governmental organisations, UN agencies, private sector organisations, members of the Mountain Partnership, the public and the media.International Mountain Day also presents an excellent opportunity to showcase FAO's multi-disciplinary work in sustainable mountain development around the world. As we observe this important day today, we feature the three highest mountains in the world and a table listing the 10 highest mountains in the world. *** K2
This is because of the massiveness of its size and the numerous unsuccessful attempts made on it by various expeditions, which include mostly American expeditions. K2 is a rocky mountain up to 6,000m, beyond which it becomes an ocean of snow.K2 was first discovered and measured by the Survey of India in 1856, and first named for English topographer Henry Godwin - Austen, who explored and surveyed the region.K2 is taken from the first letter of Karakorum, and the number indicates that it was the second peak in the range to be measured. K2 was first climbed on July 31, 1954 by a team of Italian climbers led by Ardito Desio; accompanying him were Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni. A March 1987 measurement of K2 indicated that it might be higher than the Everest, but later that year, Everest was re-measured by a similar method and found to be 778 ft (237m) taller. *** Mount Everest Mount Everest, also known as Sagarmatha in Nepal and Chomolangma in Tibet is the highest mountain in the world. Located between Tibet and Nepal, Mount Everest has an altitude of 29,035 feet (8,850 m). Climbing this mountain is known as one of the most difficult tasks in the world. English climbers were the first to try to conquer the Everest. Before World War II, three English expeditions were sent to the north of the Himalayas, which is the Tibetan side of Mount Everest. Twice, the climbers reached the altitude of 8,600m, but unfortunately, failed to reach the summit. The southern side of Mount Everest, that is the Nepalese side of the mountain, was opened to mountaineers after World War II. After the occupation of Tibet by China, the mountaineering expeditions toward Mount Everest began from the Nepalese side. On May 29, 1953, after three decades of attempts, man finally reached the highest point on Earth. The winning team of the first climbers of Mount Everest consisted of New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal. **** Kangchenjunga Kangchenjunga (Kanchenjunga) is situated on the eastern border of Nepal. Its main peak is the third highest in the world (8,586 m). Several other peaks in the Kangchenjunga range are over 8,000m.Kangchenjunga remained unconquered, inspite of the several attempts made furnished with the most modern equipment, till 1975. Kangchenjunga is located on the Sikkim (India) - Nepal border as part of the Himalayan mountain range. It has five peaks, of which the true summit is 8,586 m (28,169 feet). The name means "the Five Treasures of the Snow" in the local dialect,
referring to its five summits, all above 8,000 metres. Kangchenjunga has
an enormous mass with numerous satellite peaks along its ridges. |
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This Day provides an opportunity to create an awareness of the
importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and
limitations in mountain development and to build partnerships that will
bring positive changes to the world's mountains and highlands. 
The K2 peak, also known by the name 'Chogo Ri' (The Great Mountain), is
the second highest mountain in the world at 8,611 m. K2 is placed on the
Pakistan - China border in the mighty Karakoram range.With no simple
routes, leading to it, K2 is known as the finest and most dangerous
mountain in the world. 
