Annapurna I — 8,091m Mountain

Annapurna I, at 8,091 meters, holds a special place in mountaineering history as the first eight-thousander ever climbed. On June 3, 1950, French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal reached the summit, an achievement that stunned the postwar world. The mountain's name means Goddess of the Harvests in Sanskrit. Despite being only the 10th highest, Annapurna has one of the highest fatality rates among the eight-thousanders, with roughly one death for every three successful summits. Its south face is among the most technically challenging climbs in existence. The entire Annapurna massif is protected within Nepal's largest conservation area.