Kathmandu, October
Nepal is known as the country of Sagarmatha, the world’s highest peak. Eight of its mountains are already recognised as being above 8,000 metres. Nepal has now taken a formal initiative to have six more of its mountains recognised in the same category.
Nepal made the claim before the world mountaineering community at the opening session of the two-day UIAA general assembly in Kathmandu.
Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) president Phurba Gyalje Sherpa presented the general assembly with details of the six mountains. He also presented a study report with the grounds on which each should be recognised as a separate mountain above 8,000 metres.
According to Sherpa, Yalung Kang is 8,505 metres high, Kanchenjunga South 8,476 metres, Kanchenjunga Central 8,473 metres, Lhotse Middle 8,410 metres, Lhotse Shar 8,400 metres and Yalung Kang West 8,077 metres.
The NMA had formed a study team to identify the mountains and measure their heights. Sherpa said the team collected evidence of the geographical identity of each mountain, its separate summit and its distinct climbing route.
If all six mountains receive international recognition, the number of recognised mountains above 8,000 metres in Nepal will rise to 14. The number of such mountains in the world will rise to 20.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadgaraj Paudel said it would be a remarkable achievement in itself for Nepal to be identified as home to 14 of the world’s 20 mountains above 8,000 metres.
According to Minister Paudel, this would further establish Nepal as a leading centre of the world’s highest mountains. He said it would also open new possibilities for mountaineering, adventure tourism, research, the mountain economy and the promotion of international tourism.
“Nepal’s proposal is not merely about adding to the number of mountains,” Paudel wrote on Facebook. “It is also an effort to establish our Himalayan geography, natural heritage and mountain identity before the international community with facts, study and scientific basis.”
Ninety-five delegates from 45 countries are taking part in the general assembly. Nepal previously hosted the assembly in 1982 and 2011.
