8 controversial mountain names from around the world

8 controversial mountain names from around the world

Naming mountains is a delicate matter. We take a look at some of the most controversial mountain names from around the world and examine why they have sparked so much debate

As an avid hiker, climber and aspiring mountaineer, I have long been fascinated by the mountains of this world and the story behind their names.

The first real mountain I ever climbed was Ben Nevis in beautiful Scotland. One would be forgiven for wondering who Ben was and why a mountain was named after him. In fact, “Ben Nevis” is the anglicized form of the Scottish Beinn Nibheis, meaning “mountain by the water.”

Unfortunately, not all mountain names have such noble origins. Some have sparked controversy for years with various parties denying correct names, correct pronunciation and political correctness.

We were reminded of this debate by the recent release of PeakVisor, a seemingly magical app that uses a combination of your phone's camera, location tracking, and a highly accurate 3D mountain panorama to instantly recognize the name of every mountain peak that comes into view. It also has a 3D compass and an altimeter that also measures altitude accurately.

Clearly, mountain nomenclature is no longer nerdy. (Well, okay, it is, but at least it's a shared interest.) With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the most controversial mountain names from around the world and examine why they've sparked so much debate.

1. Denali

Location: Alaska, USAAKA: Mount McKinleyElevation: 6,190 m (20,310 feet)

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The highest mountain in North America has long been known as Mount McKinley, so named by a prospector in 1896 after hearing that William McKinley had been nominated for the U.S. presidency.

In 1917, the U.S. government officially recognized Mount McKinley as the name of the mountain - even though McKinley never set foot in Alaska!

For centuries, the Koyukon people who inhabit the area around the mountain have referred to the peak as “Denali.” After the 1917 renaming, the Koyukon campaigned for decades to restore the original Alaska Native name.

Finally, in 2015, President Obama restored the name Denali, which translates to “High One” or “Great One.”

2. Avatar Mountain Hallelujah

Location: Hunan Province, ChinaAKA: Southern Sky ColumnElevation: 1,080 m (3,540 ft)

Following the release of James Cameron's 2009 blockbuster Avatar, tourists flocked to the Southern Sky Column in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China. Since the boom in tourism, the pillar has been officially renamed Avatar Hallelujah Mountain.

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The soaring quartz sandstone tower was the inspiration for some of the film's most iconic digitally rendered scenes. The “floating peaks” featured in the film were modeled on vacation photos taken by a member of the production team.

The renaming has caused widespread consternation on social media, and the huge influx of visitors has alarmed environmentalists who believe the area and its ecosystems cannot handle such a high number of visitors. Concerns were heightened by the construction of the world's longest and tallest glass pedestrian bridge nearby.

3. Uluru/Ayers Rocks

Location: Northern Territory, AustraliaAKA: Ayers Rock, Ayers Rock/UluruElevation: 863m (2,831ft)

The huge rock formation in central Australia is actually an inselberg, which literally means "island mountain" and refers to isolated rocky hills, ridges or small mountains that rise abruptly from a flatter environment.

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From 1873, this particular inselberg was widely known as Ayers Rock, a name coined by European explorer William Gosse, who sighted the landmark and named it in honor of the then Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers.

However, local Aboriginal people called it Uluru for centuries. In 1993 a dual naming policy was introduced and it was renamed Ayers Rock/Uluru before changing to Uluru/Ayers Rock in 2002.

4. Negro Mountain

Location: Maryland and Pennsylvania, USAAKA: NoneHeight: 979m (3,213ft)

Negro Mountain is actually a 30-mile-long ridge that stretches along the Allegheny Mountains in Maryland and Pennsylvania, with Mount Davis as its highest point. Not surprisingly, his racially charged nickname is one of the most controversial mountain names in the United States.

alt=“Controversial mountain names – Negroes”>Fair use

There are several stories surrounding the name of the mountain. The most notable is a skirmish during the French and Indian War in 1756. It is believed that frontiersmen clashed with Native Americans on the mountain. A black slave named Nemesis, who fought for the frontiersmen, was killed in the battle. The ridge was named Negro Mountain in his honor.

There have been several calls for the mountain to be renamed. Interestingly, Christopher Bracey, professor of law and associate professor of African and African-American studies at George Washington University School of Law, has said: "I have a slightly different take on it...Here we have a mountain whose name should be a testament to the valor of Negroes. It seems rather crass and unassuming to call it Negro Mountain, but the intentions were." strong."

The debate continues.

5. Castle Hill

Location: Alberta, CanadaAKA: Mount EisenhowerElevation: 2,766m (9,075ft)

Located in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, Castle Mountain is one of the region's most iconic peaks. It's easy to see why Scottish geologist James Hector named it Castle Mountain in 1858. The distinctive castle-like appearance is clearly visible.

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In 1946, the day before U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, then Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, visited Canada, Prime Minister Mackenzie King suddenly changed the name to Mount Eisenhower. The move came without warning and immediately caused an uproar.

From 1946 to 1979, it was known as Mount Eisenhower in honor of the World War II general. Decades of protests followed until 1979, when the mountain was renamed Castle Mountain. In honor of the late Eisenhower, a prominent peak on the southeast side of the mountain was named the Eisenhower Tower.

6. K2

Location: Pakistan/ChinaAKA: Mount Godwin-AustenElevation: 8,611 m (28,251 ft)

Although it lies on the disputed China-Pakistan border, the name of the world's second highest mountain, K2, is more intriguing than controversial.

alt=“Controversial mountain names – k2″>Dreamsite

K2 is derived from the notation used by the Great Trigonometric Survey of British India. British surveyor Thomas Montgomerie first mapped the Karakorum range, home to K2 in the Himalayas, in 1856. He did this from Mount Haramukh, which is actually 210 km (130 miles) to the south. He sketched the two most striking peaks and labeled them K1 and K2.

K1 was promptly renamed to its local name Masherbrum, but no equivalent for K2 could be found. The mountain was so remote that the local population could hardly see it, so no local name was used. The name Mount Godwin-Austen (after Henry Godwin-Austen, an early explorer of the area) was suggested and used sporadically on several maps, although it was rejected by the Royal Geographical Society.

Montgomerie's label, K2, therefore continues to be the name by which the mountain is officially known.

7. Mount Rainier

Location: Washington, USAAKA: Tacoma, TahomaElevation: 4,392 m (14,411 feet)

Similar to Denali, Native Americans have made several requests over the years to rename the highest point in Washington state. Alternative names include Tacoma or Tahoma, which means "snow-capped mountain peak."

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Unlike McKinley, Rainier was not an American president or even an American. Peter Rainier Jr. was a British naval officer who fought against the United States during the American Revolution.

The US Board on Geographic Names has repeatedly refused to change the name.

Executive Secretary Lou Yost says, “The board’s job is not to restore historic names, but to adapt to current usage and reflect local usage and preference.” The board argues that there is insufficient evidence that alternative names are widely used.

Last year, Harney Peak in South Dakota was renamed Black Elk Peak. There have also been requests to rename Devil's Tower in Wyoming and Mount St. Helens in Washington to Native American alternatives.

8. Everest

Location: Nepal/ChinaAKA: (pronounced) Eve-wristAltitude: 8,848 m (29,029 ft)

Mount Everest was known by so many local names in several different languages ​​that the Great Trigonometric Survey of British India claimed it would be unfair to single out one. Despite objections, the Royal Geographical Society allowed the mountain to be named after the Welsh surveyor Sir George Everest. The name has since become widespread and used.

alt="the most dangerous mountains in the world everest">DreamtimeTo date, at least 297 people have died on Everest

However, Sir George's surname is pronounced ˈiːvrᵻst (Eve wrist with 'Eve' pronounced as on Christmas Eve), while the mountain has long been called Ever-est as in Everlasting.

The mispronunciation is unfortunate as Sir George himself was against calling the mountain “Everest” because it could neither be written in Hindi nor pronounced by “the native of India”.

Other names include Deodungha (Holy Mountain) in Darjeeling, Chomolungma (Holy Mother) in Tibetan and the youngest of all, Sagarmāthā (Forehead in Heaven), which was coined by the Nepalese government in the 1960s as they felt that the Tibetan name was "unacceptable".

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The PeakVisor smartphone app can be downloaded from iTunes here. The Android version is available here.

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