Mt. Makalu : New Study
The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has successfully scaled Mt. Makalu — the world’s fifth highest peak, the China-border guarding force said recently.
- Mt. Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world, standing at 8,485 meters (27,838 ft) above sea level.
- It is located in the Mahalangur range of the Nepal Himalayas on the border between Nepal and Tibet.
- It lies 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Mount Everest.
- The mountain lies in the Makalu Barun National Park and is known for its perfect pyramid shape with four sharp ridges.
- Makalu I and Makalu II are the two notable subsidiary peaks of Makalu lying 3 km north-northwest of the main summit.
- At the base of Mt. Makalu, there lies a natural wonder: the Barun Valley.
- This valley facilitates stunning elevated waterfalls falling inside the deep gorges, diverse species of flora and fauna with rich cultures of ethnic communities like Sherpa and Kirat.
- Makalu is one of the harder eight-thousanders and is considered one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb.
- Makalu expeditions are difficult because the mountain is notorious for its steep pitches and knife-edged ridges that make the climbing Makalu very open to the elements.
- The final ascent of the summit pyramid involves technical rock climbing.
- Makalu was first summited on 15 May 1955 by a French team including Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy, led by Jean Franco, two years after the first ascent of Everest (the highest mountain in the world).
