Makalu – 8,463m/27,765ft
EXPEDITION OVERVIEW
Mount Makalu is the fifth highest mountain on earth raising at an elevation of 8,463 meters above the sea level.
It is located in the Mahalangur Himal 19km southeast of Mt. Everest on the Nepal-Tibet border in Makalu-Barun National Park.
The name “Makalu” is derived from a Sanskrit word “ Maha and Kala” which means “Big Black”. As it’s named, it is the mountain having four sharp ridges forming a perfect pyramid of rock and ice on the top.
The Everest summiteers take Makalu as evidence of reaching the summit of Everest if anyone presents a photograph having Makalu in the background, as Makalu is visible from the Everest summit.
Makalu was first climbed on 15th May 1955 by a French expedition team members Jean Couzy and Lionel Terray. A few days later, the other seven team members reached the summit.