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Dhaulagiri

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Dhaulagiri is a giant mountain found in Nepal.

Dhaulagiri I
Dhaulagiri I

It is the seventh highest mountain on Earth. It is also the highest mountain located entirely inside one country. The name comes from a language called Sanskrit. In this language, the name means a dazzling, white, and beautiful mountain. This peak is the highest point of the Gandaki river basin. It stands out as a very important part of the Himalayan range.

Sunrise on Dhaulagiri
Sunrise on Dhaulagiri

The mountain sits near other famous peaks. Annapurna I is located to the east of Dhaulagiri. The Kali Gandaki River flows between these two mountains. This river creates the Kali Gandaki Gorge, which is the deepest in the world. To the south of the Annapurna range lies the town of Pokhara. This town is a busy place for the region. It serves as a gateway for people who want to trek or climb. Many visitors stay there before they head toward the high mountains.

Dhaulagiri has a very sudden and steep rise. It rises quickly from the lower land nearby. The mountain sits about 30 km away from the Kali Gandaki River. Its south and west faces rise very sharply. The rocks at the very top are quite special. They are made of limestone and dolomite. These layers actually formed at the bottom of an ocean a long time ago. Other high peaks are made of granite from deep underground.

People first reached the summit on 13 May 1960. A team from Switzerland, Austria, and Nepal made this first climb. They used a very early type of fixed-wing aircraft to help. In 1808, survey math showed it was the highest mountain ever measured. This changed in 1838 when Kangchenjunga was measured. Later, in 1858, Mount Everest was found to be higher. Many teams have since tried to climb the mountain from different sides.

Climbing Dhaulagiri is a very hard job. The mountain can be dangerous for climbers. Many people have died from falls or avalanches. For example, an American team lost seven members in an avalanche in 1969. Another Japanese team lost six members in 1975. However, people still find ways to reach the top. In 1985, a Polish team made the first winter climb. They did this despite winds and temperatures below −40c°.

Dhaulagiri I
Dhaulagiri I
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File:Sunrise on Dhaulagiri.jpg
Sunrise on Dhaulagiri.jpg
File:Dhaulagiri I.jpg
Dhaulagiri I.jpg
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