Description

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Context

Sikkim's Chief Minister has sought that the Centre ensure that Mt. Khangchendzonga, the world's third-highest peak and a sacred site for the state's people, is off-limits to mountaineers.

About Mt. Khangchendzonga

Location	Mt. Khangchendzonga is the third-highest mountain in the world at 8,586 metres, located on the India-Nepal border in the eastern Himalayas.
Major Glaciers and Rivers	Surrounded by Zemu, Talung, Yalung, and Kanchenjunga glaciers; bordered by rivers like Tamur, Lhonak, and Teesta.
Etymology	Known as the “Five Treasuries of the Great Snow” due to its five towering peaks, all above 8,000 metres.
Geological Age	Rocks date between 445 million to 1 billion years old, from the Neoproterozoic to Ordovician periods.
Ecological Zone	Located within Khangchendzonga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with rich altitudinal diversity and rare species.
Wildlife and Ecosystems	Home to snow leopards, red pandas, musk deer, Asiatic black bears, and over 220 glacial-fed water bodies.
Hydrological Importance	Highest point in the Brahmaputra basin; contributes to the Ganges and Kosi River systems.
Climate	Receives heavy monsoon snowfall and lighter winter snow.

Historical Significance

Held the title of tallest peak until the 1856 confirmation of Mount Everest.
Joe Brown and George Band (a British expedition) were the first to climb it in 1955.
It is customary for mountaineers to refrain from reaching the peak out of respect for religious beliefs.
A 1955 expedition on the southwest face was also headed by Charles Evans.

Source: The Hindu

Practice Question:

Q. Consider the following pairs:

Peak : Mountain Range

Namcha Barwa — Garhwal Himalaya
Nanda Devi — Kumaon Himalaya
Nokrek — Sikkim Himalaya

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Options:
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only

Explanation:

Namcha Barwa is located in the Eastern Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh, not in the Garhwal Himalaya (which lies in Uttarakhand).
Nanda Devi is indeed in the Kumaon Himalaya in Uttarakhand.
Nokrek is a peak in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, not in the Sikkim Himalaya.