ANNAPURNA

massif of the Himalayas in north-central Nepal, forming a ridge 30 miles (48 km) long between the basins of the Kali Gandak and Marsyandi rivers. It contains four main summits, two of which, Annapurna I (26,545 feet ) and II (26,040 feet ), stand at the western and eastern ends of the range, respectively; III (24,786 feet ) and IV (24,688 feet ) lie between them. Annapurna I is one of the world's highest peaks. Although climbers had reached 28,150 feet (8,580 m) on Mount Everest in 1924, Annapurna I became famous in 1950 as the first peak more than 26,000 feet (8,000 m) to be ascended to the summit. The feat was achieved by a French expedition led by Maurice Herzog, who with Louis Lachenal reached the top on June 3. Annapurna IV was climbed on May 30, 1955, by H. Biller, H. Steinmetz, and J. Wellenkamp, and Annapurna II on May 17, 1960, by R.H. Grant and C.J. Bonington in an expedition led by James O.M. Roberts. In 1970 an all-woman Japanese climbing team scaled Annapurna III.