Annapurna: The Hindu goddess of food and one of the world's deadliest mountain ranges

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Named for the deity who provides nourishment, the Annapurna massif in Nepal is a paradox of life and death. While its rivers sustain the greenery of the plains below, its treacherous peaks and unpredictable weather have claimed countless lives, making it both a trekking paradise and a formidable mountaineering challenge.

The Annapurna massif is a 55-kilometre-long range in the Himalayas, defined by its immense verticality. It contains one peak exceeding 8,000 metres, thirteen over 7,000 metres, and sixteen more above 6,000 metres. The highest point, Annapurna I Main, reaches 8,091 metres, earning the distinction of being the world's tenth-highest mountain. In 1950, it became the first eight-thousander ever successfully summited, led by Maurice Herzog. Its name, Annapurna, translates to the giver of food and nourishment, reflecting the vital role its glacial rivers play in supporting vegetation across the lower plains of Nepal.

Despite its cultural significance, the range is notoriously lethal. Annapurna I Main features a south face that rises 3,000 metres, a sheer rock wall that ranks among the most difficult climbs on Earth. By January 2022, the mountain had seen 365 successful summit ascents, but this achievement came at a heavy cost: 72 recorded fatalities. This results in a fatality rate of just under 20 percent, cementing its reputation as one of the most treacherous environments for high-altitude mountaineers.

The region is also a major hub for tourism, protected by the 7,629-square-kilometre Annapurna Conservation Area. While it attracts about two-thirds of all trekkers in Nepal, the terrain remains unforgiving. In October 2014, the area experienced its worst-ever trekking disaster when snowstorms and avalanches killed at least 43 people. The tragedy highlighted the risks of the high-altitude environment, where weather can turn deadly for those crossing mountain passes like Thorong La. Today, the region remains a complex intersection of local culture, religious sanctity—such as the restricted peak of Machhapuchchhre—and the raw, indifferent power of the Himalayas.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Annapurna: The Hindu Goddess of Nourishment That Claims the Lives of Elite Climbers
• Known as the mountain of the spirit, Manaslu is the world's eighth-highest peak.
• The sacred Himalayan peak that once hosted a secret CIA nuclear listening post
• Sanskrit’s “abode of snow” holds a hundred peaks over 7,200 metres
• Why the ninth-highest mountain on Earth earned the terrifying nickname Killer Mountain
• The Russian volcano that looms over a city and demands constant scientific attention
• How the collision of continents forged Europe's most iconic peaks
• How a comic book hero redefined the physics of the modern roller coaster
• Why a Broadway musical about the Declaration of Independence broke the rules of theater
• Is this Irish mountain a relic of the Ice Age or a living fossil?
• The summit that was once named for a military commander
• Why Idaho's highest peak is a monument to a senator and tectonic shifts

More in Mountain peaks and volcanos · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics