Annapurna is a series of peaks in the Himalaya 55-km-long massif whose highest point, Annapurna I, stands at 8,091 m (26,538 ft), making it the 10th-highest summit in the world and one of the 14 “eight-thousanders”. It is located east of a great gorge cut through the Himalaya by the Kali Gandaki river, which separates it from the Dhaulagiri massif. Annapurna is a Sanskrit name which is translated as Goddess of the Harvests.

The Annapurna massif contains six major peaks:
Annapurna I 8,091 m (26,545 ft.)
Annapurna II 7,937 m (26,040 ft.)
Annapurna III 7,555 m (24,786 ft.)
Annapurna IV 7,525 m (24,688 ft.)
Gangapurna 7,455 m (24,457 ft.)
Annapurna South 7,219 m (23,684 ft.)

Annapurna I was the first 8,000 metre peak to be climbed. Maurice Herzong and Louis Lachenal, of a French expedition, reached the summit on June 3 1950.

The south face of Annapurna was first climbed in 1970 by a British expedition led by Chris Bonington and including the alpinist Ian Clough, who was killed by a falling ice-pillar during the descent.

In 1978 an expedition led by Arlene Blum became the first American team to climb Annapurna I. The expedition was also remarkable for being composed entirely of women.

On February 3, 1987, Jerzy Kukuczka and Artur Hajzer, a Polish climber, made the first ascent of a eight-thousander in winter.

The Annapurna peaks are among the world's most dangerous mountains to climb, with a fatality rate of 41%.

The other peaks
Annapurna II was first climbed in 1960 by a British/Indian/Nepalese team led by Jimmy Roberts, via the West Ridge, approached from the north. The summit party comprised Richard Grant, Chris Bonington, and Sherpa Ang Nyima.

Annapurna III was first climbed in 1961 by an Indian expedition led by Mohan Kohli, via the Northeast Face. The summit party comprised Mohan Kohli, Sonam Gyatso, and Sonam Girmi.
Annapurna IV was first climbed in 1955 by a German expedition led by Heinz Steinmetz, via the North Face and Northwest Ridge. The summit party comprised Steinmetz, Harald Biller, and Jürgen Wellenkamp.
Gangapurna was first climbed in 1965 by a German expedition led by Günther Hauser, via the East Ridge. The summit party comprised 11 members of the expedition.

Annapurna South (a.k.a. Annapurna Dakshin, or Moditse) was first climbed in 1964 by a Japanese expedition, via the North Ridge. The summit party comprised S. Uyeo and Mingma Tsering.
Macchapuchhare (6993m) is another important peak of the Annapurna Himal, though it just misses the 7000m mark.