Kuh-e Bandaka (Pashto: کوه بندکا) or Kohe Bandaka, Koh-i Bandaka, Bandako, or incorrectly Koh-i-Bandakor[3][4]) is one of the highest peaks of the Hindu Kush mountain range in northeastern Afghanistan. It is northeast of Kabul and west of Chitral. Separated by a relatively low pass from the core of the Hindu Kush, it is the second highest mountain entirely within Afghanistan,[3] and the most topographically prominent peak in all of Afghanistan.[1]

Kuh-e Bandaka
Kuh-e Bandaka is located in Afghanistan
Kuh-e Bandaka
Kuh-e Bandaka
Location in Afghanistan
Highest point
Elevation6,812 m (22,349 ft)[1][2]
Prominence2,834 m (9,298 ft)[1]
Ranked 118th
ListingUltra
Coordinates36°10′45″N 70°59′00″E / 36.17917°N 70.98333°E / 36.17917; 70.98333[1]
Naming
Native nameکوه بندکا (Pashto)
Geography
LocationAfghanistan
ProvinceBadakhshan
Parent rangeHindu Kush
Climbing
First ascent1960 by Wolfgang von Hansemann, Dietrich Hasse, Siegbert Heine, and Johannes Winkler[3]
Easiest routeGlacier/snow climb

On September 22, 1960, the second German expedition to visit the Hindu Kush made the first ascent of Kuh-e Bandaka. The members of the expedition were Wolfgang von Hansemann, Dietrich Hasse, Siegbert Heine, and Johannes Winkler, all from West Berlin; all attained the summit. They made four camps, with their base camp in the Dare-Sachi Valley at an altitude of 4,100 m (13,451 ft). The expedition also made multiple first ascents in the Pagar Valley of the Hindu Kush, and made meteorological and geological observations and sketch maps.[3]

There have been over fifteen subsequent ascents, via a variety of routes; however there have been no recorded ascents since 1977.[5]

Climate

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Afghanistan ultra-prominent peaks on peaklist.org
  2. ^ Some sources, e.g. the Himalayan Index, give 6843 metres; the AAJ 1961 article gives 6660 metres.
  3. ^ a b c d Siegbert Heine, "Berlin Hindu Kush Expedition", American Alpine Journal, 1961, p. 418.
  4. ^ Robin Hartshorne, "Bandako", American Alpine Journal, 1966.
  5. ^ Himalayan Index (Alpine Club)