Gangapurna

Gangapurna is located at the border of Annapurna Rural Municipality, Kaski and Nesyang Rural Municipality, Manang in Gandaki Province at {{Convert|7455|m}} above sea level and its prominence is {{Convert|563|m}}.{{Cite web|title=Gangapurna|url=https://nepalhimalpeakprofile.org/gangapurna|access-date=13 December 2021|website=Nepal Himal Peak Profile}}{{Cite peakbagger|title=Gangapurna|pid=18712|access-date=2021-12-13}} It is part of the Annapurna mountain range in north-central Nepal, and Gangapurna is on the main ridge that connects Annapurna I to Gangapurna and Annapurna III.{{Cite book|last=Gurung|first=Harka B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bRRuAAAAMAAJ|title=Vignettes of Nepal|date=1980|publisher=Sajha Prakashan|pages=229|language=en|access-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118212048/https://books.google.com/books?id=bRRuAAAAMAAJ&newbks=0|archive-date=18 November 2021|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|last=Shirahata|first=Shirō|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=igbcAAAAMAAJ|title=Nepal Himalaya|date=1983|publisher=Heian International|isbn=978-0-89346-220-8|pages=220|language=en}} The main peak of the mountain range, Annapurna I Main, is the tenth highest mountain in the world at {{Convert|8091|m}} above sea level.{{Cite book|last1=Western|first1=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s5biLtQdZS4C|title=Natural Connections: Perspectives In Community-Based Conservation|last2=Wright|first2=Michael|date=2013-03-19|publisher=Island Press|isbn=978-1-61091-094-1|pages=264|language=en}}

The mountain is named after Ganga, the Hindu goddess who is a personification of the river Ganges.{{Cite book|last=Bezruchka|first=Stephen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TFa-ant72OgC|title=Trekking in Nepal: A Traveler's Guide|date=1997|publisher=The Mountaineers Books|isbn=978-0-89886-535-6|pages=186|language=en|access-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205184520/https://books.google.com/books?id=TFa-ant72OgC&newbks=0|archive-date=5 December 2021|url-status=live}} Gangapurna entirely lies in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal's largest protected area established in 1985,{{Cite book|last1=Singh|first1=R. B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mZfDCgAAQBAJ|title=Environmental Geography of South Asia: Contributions Toward a Future Earth Initiative|last2=Prokop|first2=Pawel|date=13 October 2015|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-4-431-55741-8|pages=274|language=en}} which also encompasses Annapurna Sanctuary and is known for several trekking routes including Annapurna Circuit.{{Cite book|last=Gurung|first=Manaslu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mUraAAAAMAAJ|title=Women and Development in the Third World: A Case Study from Ghandruk, Nepal|date=2004|publisher=WWF Nepal Program Office|pages=76|language=en}}{{Cite book|last1=Western|first1=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s5biLtQdZS4C|title=Natural Connections: Perspectives In Community-Based Conservation|last2=Wright|first2=Michael|date=19 March 2013|publisher=Island Press|isbn=978-1-61091-094-1|pages=263|language=en}} The glaciers of Gangapurna, Annapurna IV, Khangsar Kang, and Glacier Dom create Gangapurna Lake,{{Cite web|last=Neupane|first=Tufan|date=3 September 2020|title=Forests replace glaciers in the Himalaya|url=https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/forests-replace-glaciers-in-the-himalaya/|access-date=13 December 2021|website=Nepali Times|language=en-US}} and the glaciers of the mountain have been melting extensively due to climate change.{{Cite web|last=Rana|first=Ramji|date=8 October 2018|title=Gangapurna Lake rapidly becoming shallower|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/gangapurna-lake-rapidly-becoming-shallower|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205182715/https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/gangapurna-lake-rapidly-becoming-shallower|archive-date=5 December 2021|access-date=5 December 2021|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en}}{{Cite book|last=Huettmann|first=Falk|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cPgf5NTcwg4C|title=Protection of the Three Poles|date=26 April 2012|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-4-431-54005-2|pages=17|language=en|access-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205184635/https://books.google.com/books?id=cPgf5NTcwg4C&newbks=0|archive-date=5 December 2021|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|last=Oestigaard|first=Terje|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCpmAAAAMAAJ|title=Death and Life-giving Waters: Cremation, Caste, and Cosmogony in Karmic Traditions|date=2005|publisher=Archaeopress|isbn=978-1-84171-698-5|pages=158|language=en|access-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120222738/https://books.google.com/books?id=PCpmAAAAMAAJ&newbks=0|archive-date=20 November 2021|url-status=live}} The base camp is located at {{Convert|4800|m}}.{{Cite book|last1=Club|first1=American Alpine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bGmGKqbwe14C|title=1995 American Alpine Journal|last2=Carter|first2=H. Adams|publisher=The Mountaineers Books|isbn=978-1-933056-42-5|pages=253|language=en}}

On 6 May 1965, Gangapurna was first climbed by Erich Reismueller, Ang Temba Sherpa, and Phu Dorjee Sherpa during a German expedition via its south face and east ridge.{{Cite book|last1=Isserman|first1=Maurice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JgEKGGYEpZIC|title=Fallen Giants: A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes|last2=Weaver|first2=Stewart Angas|last3=Molenaar|first3=Dee|date=1 January 2010|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-16420-6|pages=521|language=en}} A Japanese expedition managed a second ascent in 1971 before avalanches killed eight members over a two-day period, the single worst climbing disaster in the Annapurna Himal to date.{{Cite aaj|article_id=12197218504|title=Asia, Nepal, Gangapurna|year=1982|volume=18|issue=1|pages=185|access-date=2025-06-07}} Another Japanese party succeeded without major incident in 1974.{{Cite web|title=Gangapurna, 1974|url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/|access-date=13 December 2021|website=The Himalayan Journal|language=en}}

In 1981, Canadian James Blench and John Lauchlan climbed the mountain using the alpine style,{{cite aaj|article_id=12198223301|title=Asia, Nepal, Gangapurna, South Face|year=1982|volume=24|issue=56|pages=233|links=off|access-date=2025-06-07}} which is considered to be a "remarkable achievement for the era".{{Cite web|title=Gangapurna, South Face Direct, Korean Way; Gangapurna West, South Face (Almost to Summit)|url=http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13201214165/Gangapurna-South-Face-Direct-Korean-Way-Gangapurna-West-South-Face-Almost-to-Summit|access-date=13 December 2021|website=AAC Publications}}

In 1988, Gudmundur Petursson led an Icelandic expedition via the mountain's east ridge; due to a three-day thunderstorm that added 50 cm of snow to the mountain every day and increased the risk of an avalanche, the expedition was abandoned after it reached an altitude of {{Convert|5500|m}}.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2supqqoGy7wC|title=1988 American Alpine Journal|publisher=The Mountaineers Books|isbn=978-1-933056-35-7|pages=218|language=en}} In 1992, Timothy Brill led an American expedition to climb Gangapurna in winter from the south ridge; however, this attempt only reached {{Convert|5800|m}}.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qrhry6y9GYMC|title=1992 American Alpine Journal|publisher=The Mountaineers Books|isbn=978-1-933056-39-5|pages=216–217|language=en}} The same year, there were two unsuccessful expeditions led by Spanish mountaineer Francisco Jose Palacios. In 2017, three Korean climbers climbed Gangapurna using a newly discovered south face route, and won a "Special Mention" at the 2017 Piolet d'Or.

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{{wide image|Annapurna Massif Aerial View.jpg|500px|The Annapurna massif, view from aircraft}}

• Singu Chuli: {{Convert|6501|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} {{coord|28|35|14|N|83|52|59|E|display=inline}}
• Annapurna III: {{Convert|7555|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} {{coord|28|35|8|N|83|59|22|E|display=inline}}
• Annapurna IV: {{Convert|7525 |m|ft|0|abbr=on}} {{coord|28|32|15|N|84|4|58|E|display=inline}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://nepalhimalpeakprofile.org/gangapurna Gangapurna] at Nepal Himal Peak Profile

{{commons cat|Gangapurna}}

Category:Seven-thousanders of the Himalayas

Category:Mountains of the Gandaki Province