Mt. Kanchenjunga

Mt. Kanchenjunga is located at the middle sections of Himalayas, on the international border between Nepal and India. It is the third highest mountain above the sea level with an altitude of 8586 meters.

Brief Introduction of Mt. Kanchenjunga

Mt. Kanchenjunga is composed of three mountain peaks, including the main peak with an altitude of 8586 meters, the YalungKang Peak with an altitude of 8505 meters and the Southern Kanchenjunga Peak with an altitude of 8491 meters. Some of the experts hold that YalungKang Peak should be listed as the 5th highest mountain above the sea level since it is a little far away from the main peak of Mt. Kanchenjunga. But most of the experts in the mountaineering world hold that YalungKang Peak is a part of Mt. Kanchenjunga.

Mt. Kanchenjunga is highly respected as a holy mountain by Sikkim people. Kanchenjunga means 5 giant white snow treasures in Tibetan. Mt. Kanchenjunga is not as famous as the highest mountain above the sea level – Mt. Everest with an altitude of 8848 meters. But it is regarded as the highest mountain in the world before the accurate height of Mt. Everest was confirmed.

Mt. Kanchenjunga is quite noted for its numerous glaciers in the mountain valleys. The ice fall and snow slide happens frequently and made the mountain more steep and challengeable. The Thermo Glacier on the eastern slope of Mt. Kanchenjunga covers an area of 130 square kilometers with a length of 31 kilometers and a thickness of 300 meters. The Yarlu Glacier on the western slope of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the Kanchenjunga Glacier and Pulu Glacier on the northwestern slope also looked pretty magnificent.

Climbing History of Mt. Kanchenjunga

A British mountaineering expedition conquered Mt. Kanchenjunga on May 25th, 1995. This team is composed of four professional mountaineers and it is the first team reached the top of Mt. Kanchenjunga successfully in the history.

A Japanese mountaineering team conquered YalungKang Peak successfully in 1973, but one of them was dead in an accident while getting back to the base camp at the foot of Mt. Kanchenjunga.

An Austria-Germany mountaineering team conquered the main peak of Mt. Kanchenjunga successfully on May 31st , 1975.

A Chinese mountaineering team reached the top of Mt. Kanchenjunga successfully on May 9th 1998.