Ibn Sina Peak, formerly Lenin Peak (Пик Ленина, Qullai Lenin; renamed Ibn Sina Peak in July 2006), rises to 7,134 m in Gorno-Badakhshan (GBAO) on the border of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and is the second-highest point of both countries. Ibn Sina is the highest mountain in the Trans-Alay Range of Central Asia, and in the Pamir Mountains it is exceeded only by Ismail Samani Peak (7,495 m). It was thought to be the highest point in the Pamirs until 1933, when Ismail Samani Peak (known as Stalin Peak at the time) was climbed and found to be more than 300 metres higher (7,495 m).

Names

The peak was discovered in 1871 and originally named Mount Kaufmann after Konstantin Kaufman, the first Governor-General of Turkestan. In 1928 the mountain was renamed after the Russian revolutionary and first leader of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin. The peak was renamed again in July 2006, and today it is officially called in Tajik Qullai Abuali ibni Sino (қуллаи Абӯалӣ ибни Сино) after Abu Ali ibn Sina, or in English Ibn Sina Peak (alternatively, Avicenna Peak ). Despite the official renaming, Lenin Peak remains common English usage.

Some sources give Achiktash as the Kyrgyz name for this 7,134 m mountain on the border with Tajikistan, but it seems that Achiktash, or more properly Achik-Tash, is the name of a plateau and a base camp at an altitude of 3,600 m on a popular northern climbing route to Lenin Peak, which starts in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh, a day's drive north of the border.

Climbing history and routes

The peak was first climbed in 1928 by Karl Wien, Eugene Allwein and Erwin Schneider, members of a German expedition.

There are 16 established routes, nine on the southern side and seven on the northern slopes. The peak is quite popular with climbers due to its easy access and some uncomplicated routes. However, the peak is not without its share of disasters. In 1974, an entire team of eight climbers died high on the mountain in a storm. An avalanche triggered by an earthquake killed 43 climbers in 1990.

References

External links

• Lenin Peak on summitpost