Which mountain is known as the 'Killer Mountain' due to its high death rate?

Nanga Parbat is the mountain known as the “Killer Mountain” because of its history of deadly climbing attempts.

At 8,126 metres, Nanga Parbat is the ninth-highest mountain on Earth and the western anchor of the Himalayas. It rises dramatically above Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, with enormous relief between the Indus River and its summit. Its steep terrain, avalanches, unstable weather and difficult routes have made it one of the most feared eight-thousanders.

The nickname became especially notorious after repeated expeditions suffered fatalities before the first successful ascent. Austrian climber Hermann Buhl reached the summit alone in 1953, making one of mountaineering’s most celebrated—and controversial—high-altitude achievements. The mountain’s name is also connected with the local name Diamer, commonly interpreted as “mountain of the gods.”

K2 and Annapurna are often confused with Nanga Parbat because they also have exceptionally high fatality rates. However, “Killer Mountain” is the established nickname specifically associated with Nanga Parbat. Its immense Rupal Face, rising roughly 4,600 metres from base to summit, is one of the tallest mountain faces in the world.