Rhododendron, the national flower of Nepal, grow in forests of large oak-size trees.  Mountainsides of magenta.

On the right is a rhododendron tree that has been stripped of its foliage by locals, providing kindling for their hearths, and a ready perch for the most clever and successful bird on earth, the raven.

What appears to be the highest peak, just to the right of center, is Annapurna South, altitude 7219m (23,100 ft).  To the left of it is Varaha Shikhar at 7847m (25,110 ft).  Directly behind Varaha Shikhar is unseen Annapurna I at 8091m (25,900 ft), the first 8000m+ peak to be summitted. 

Sunrise at Poon Hill, looking north with Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m/26135ft) in the distance.  There are fourteen peaks above 8000m in the world.  Eight of them are in Nepal.
This photo ©1999 Rebecca Madge.

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