No other single peak has ever seen so many deaths as Mt.Tanigawa（谷川岳）, Gunma Prefecture（群馬県）, Japan. In the years 1931 to 2005 as many as 781
climbers lost their life, the world's worst record according to the Guinnes Book.
With its altitude of only 1,977 m, why does Mt.Tanigawa have to rank the worst among many other higher peaks in the world?
The reason is simple.
Mt.Tanigawa is located at the water shed which divides the Japanese archipelago into two entirely different weather zones; the Sea of Japan side and the
Pacific Ocean side.
Unlike the Pacific Ocean side, the Sea of Japan side is known for its heavy snowfall that reaches four to five meters in depths. This is caused by the winter
monsoon from Siberia that absorbs moisture over the Sea of Japan and hits the mountains in the central part of Japan.
Amid such climatic condition, Mt.Tanigawa is exposed to extremely unstable weather, often accompanied by strong winds. Such dramatic nature
carved steep cliffs and deep valleys in Mt.Tanigawa.
