Nepal Now recognizing 14 mountains over 8000 meters
Nepal has officially updated its peak profile, now recognizing a total of 14 mountains that exceed 8,000 meters in height. This significant change comes as the Nepal government has added six new peaks to its previously recognized list of eight-thousanders, which included only eight mountains.
Nepal Now recognizing 14 mountains over 8000 meters
Newly Recognized Peaks
1. Yalung Khang – 8,505 meters
2. Yalung Khang West – 8,077 meters
3. Kanchenjunga Central – 8,473 meters
4. Kanchanjunga South – 8,476 meters
5. Lhotse Middle – 8,410 meters
6. Lhotse Shar – 8,400 meters
These additions primarily come from the Kanchenjunga and Lhotse ranges.
Official Recognition Process
While the Department of Tourism in Nepal has made this updated list public, it awaits formal approval from the Cabinet and subsequent recognition from the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) for global acknowledgment.
The government is preparing documentation to present these peaks on international platforms
How does the UIAA determine which peaks qualify as eight-thousanders?
The International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) determines which peaks qualify as eight-thousanders based on two primary criteria:
1. Height: A peak must exceed 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) above sea level.
2. Independence from Neighbouring Peaks: The peak must be considered sufficiently independent from nearby mountains. However, the
UIAA does not have a precise definition for what constitutes this independence. It has been suggested that a minimum topographic prominence of around 600 meters (1,969 feet) from the nearest larger mountain’s saddle is a reasonable threshold, although this is not universally applied across all assessments.
The UIAA has also considered expanding the list of eight-thousanders to include additional peaks, but this would require them to meet similar criteria for height and independence.
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All recognized eight-thousanders are located within the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges in Asia, and their summits are situated in the altitude range known as the death zone, where conditions are extremely harsh for climbers.
How long has Nepal been lobbying for international recognition of these peaks?
Nepal has been actively lobbying for international recognition of six additional peaks over 8,000 meters for over a decade.
This effort began in earnest when the UIAA initiated the Agura Project around 2013, aimed at identifying and recognizing peaks above this height.
Despite various attempts to present these peaks for official recognition, including a proposal scheduled for the UIAA general assembly in October 2013, the issue faced delays due to external controversies and subsequent natural disasters in Nepal, such as the deadly 2014 Everest avalanche and the 2015 earthquake
The Nepal Mountaineering Association and other stakeholders have continued to advocate for these peaks, emphasizing their potential to boost tourism and mountaineering activities in Nepal
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