The Mount Machhapuchhre (literally "Fish Tail" in English) is located at the end of a long spur ridge, coming south out of the main backbone of the Annapurna Himal, that forms the eastern boundary of the Annapurna Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is a favorite trekking destination, and the site of the base camps for the South Face of Annapurna and for numerous smaller objectives. The peak (6,993m) is about 25 km north of Pokhara, the main town of the region. It is revered by the local population as particularly sacred to the god Shiva, and hence off limits to climbing. The only attempt was in 1957 by a British team, which stopped at 150m of the summit, because had promised not to set foot on it.
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