Mountains Of The World

Provides facts about the mountains of the world and describes the animals that live there and the adventurers who have tried to scale these peaks.

A fascinating exploration of the symbolism of mountains in the mythologies, religions, literature, and art of cultures around the world.

An environmental history of the mountain areas of Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Morocco.

"The year 2000 is the fiftieth anniversary of the ascent of Annapurna, the first of the 8000-meter peaks to be climbed. In the decade following that first ascent in 1950, all but one of the world's fourteen highest mountains were climbed; the period from 1950 to 1960 can be considered the Golden Age for high altitude climbing. Only Shisha Pangma remained unclimbed until 1964 when a Chinese party led by Hsu Ching reached the summit." "This book brings together the stories behind the discovery, exploration and first successful ascents of each of the fourteen highest peaks, as well as accounts of the most important attempts and ascents that followed. Many of these stories illustrate how modern technology has enabled mountaineers to climb the previously unscaled peaks, while still demonstrating the importance of the human element."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Explore the geography, weather, plants, plants and animals, and environment of the the Himalaya Mountains.

Some of the world's leading mountaineers describe 50 spectatcular peaks from around the globe - their routes, their challenges, their climbing history, as well as compelling climbing experiences to inspire all who are enthralled by these most awesome of nature's creations.

The intimidating beauty of earth's highest altitudes explored in photography, with excerpts from writers throughout history The mountain is a compelling landform both for its sheer beauty as well as the metaphorical and symbolic significance humans have always placed upon it. This volume pays tribute to the intertwined natural and cultural histories of mountain ranges all over the globe with an exploration of each continent's topography. From Asia, where the Himalayas and the Karakorum hold up "the roof of the world," to the western coast of South America where the Andes lie, Northern Alaska, the Alps and the Dolomites, the reader is accompanied on this extraordinary adventure by famous travelers. Excerpts from the works of Dante Alighieri, Jane Austen, Lord Byron, Paulo Coelho, Victor Hugo, Jeanne Moreau, John Muir, Haruki Murakami, Friedrich Nietzsche, William Shakespeare and J.R.R. Tolkien are juxtaposed with photography that depicts spectacular rock formations scattered over the entire surface of the earth.