Istor-o-Nal

Infobox Mountain
Name = Istor-o-Nal
Elevation = 7,403 m (24,288 ft)The height is sometimes given as 7,398 m (24,271 ft).]
Location = Pakistan
Range = Hindu Kush
Coordinates = coord|36|23|13|N|71|53|21|E|type:mountainOther sources give slightly different coordinates.]
Prominence = 1,025 m (3,363 ft) [http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=18698 Istor-o-Nal on peakbagger.com] ]
First ascent = 1955 by Ken Bankwala, Joseph E. Murphy, Jr., and Thomas A. MutchJoseph E. Murphy, Jr., "The Ascent of Istor-o-Nal", "American Alpine Journal, 1956, pp. 66-74.] [http://www.alpine-club.org.uk/hi/index.htm Himalayan Index] ]
Easiest route = glacier/snow/ice climb

Istor-o-Nal is the third highest mountain in the Hindu Kush, in the Chitral district of the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is the 68th highest independent peak in the world. It crowns a massif with eleven peaks of elevation more than 7,000 m (22,966 ft). The peak is located a few kilometres northeast of Tirich Mir (the highest mountain in the Hindu Kush), across the Tirich Glacier. Because Istor-o-Nal is behind the higher peak of Tirich Mir from many viewpoints, it is not easily visible and therefore not well known.

The word "Istoro Nal" means horseshoe in the Khowar language (Istor means "horse"). The origin of the name is unclear.

Istor-o-Nal was first climbed on June 8, 1955 by the Americans Major Ken Bankwala, Joseph E. Murphy, Jr., and Thomas A. Mutch, on a Princeton Mountaineering Club expedition. They climbed the west ridge, starting from the south side of the peak on the Tirich Glacier. Their small, minimally financed expedition (by the standards of the time for high-altitude mountaineering) achieved what was then the second highest summit attained by Americans.

ee also

*Hindu Kush
*NWFP
*List of mountains in Pakistan

Notes

External links

* [http://atp.com.pk/atp/expeditions/istoro-nal.htm Expedition Istoro Nal]
* [http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/60868/ Terichmir, Highest Peak in Hindukush]
* [http://www.peakware.com/encyclopedia/unclimbed.htm Unclimbed 7000m Peaks]