The Nepalese government has just officially recognised six new peaks over 8000 metres in Nepal, which already had eight. This brings the total number of 8000-metre peaks in Nepal to fourteen, and twenty in total. A publicity stunt? Some of these ‘new’ summits are well individualized, others less so, and one of them is still unclimbed.
If it’s a PR coup, it’s a masterstroke. The Nepalese government has announced the official recognition of fourteen mountains exceeding 8,000 metres. The Nepalese Ministry of Tourism recently published information on each peak, adding six new 8000-metre peaks in Nepal to its dedicated page. To date, Nepal has eight peaks over 8,000 metres – some of which lie on the borders of two other countries.
The current list, recognised by the UIAA, includes Everest (8848 m), Kanchenjunga (8586 m), Lhotse (8516 m), Makalu (8463 m), Cho Oyu (8201 m), Dhaulagiri (8167 m), Manaslu (8163 m) and Annapurna (8091 m). Everest, Lhotse and Cho Oyu are shared with China, having a Tibetan side. Kangchenjunga, on the other hand, is on the border with India.
Peaks over 8000 metres in Nepal according to the NMA.
What new peaks has Nepal added to its list of 8000? Four are in the chain of the enormous Kangchenjunga. They are Yalung Khang (8505 m), Yalung Khang West (8077 m), Kanchenjunga Central (8473 m) and Kanchenjunga South (8476 m).
Two other peaks close to Lhotse have also been added: Lhotse Middle (8410 m) and Lhotse Shar (8400