Hristo Prodanov
Encyclopedia
Hristo Prodanov (February 24, 1943 - April 21, 1984) was a Bulgaria
n mountaineer
. He was the first Bulgarian to climb Mount Everest
but died on the descent.
Prodanov was still a student when he became involved in mountaineering. He began work as a metallurgical
engineer
in Kremikovtzi AD
in 1976.
Prodanov had his first 7000 m ascent on August 6, 1967 when he climbed Lenin Peak
. He had previously climbed several peaks in the Alps
.
His major successes were related to Hindu Kush
(1976) and Lhotse
. In 1981, he was the first Bulgarian to climb Lhotse without the use of supplementary oxygen.
Alps
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n mountaineer
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
. He was the first Bulgarian to climb Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
but died on the descent.
Prodanov was still a student when he became involved in mountaineering. He began work as a metallurgical
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
in Kremikovtzi AD
Kremikovtzi AD
Kremikovtzi AD is Bulgaria's largest metalworking company. The construction of its facilities began on 5 November 1960 and the first production capacities were put into operation in 1963 to produce cast iron and coke, with production extending to cover other areas in the 1960s and 1970s...
in 1976.
Prodanov had his first 7000 m ascent on August 6, 1967 when he climbed Lenin Peak
Lenin Peak
Lenin Peak , rises to in Gorno-Badakhshan on the border of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and is the second-highest point of both countries. It is considered one of the easiest 7,000 m peaks in the world to climb and it has by far the most ascents of any 7,000 m or higher peak on earth, with every...
. He had previously climbed several peaks in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
.
His major successes were related to Hindu Kush
Hindu Kush
The Hindu Kush is an mountain range that stretches between central Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. The highest point in the Hindu Kush is Tirich Mir in the Chitral region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.It is the westernmost extension of the Pamir Mountains, the Karakoram Range, and is a...
(1976) and Lhotse
Lhotse
Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain on Earth and is connected to Everest via the South Col. In addition to the main summit at 8,516 metres above sea level, Lhotse Middle is and Lhotse Shar is...
. In 1981, he was the first Bulgarian to climb Lhotse without the use of supplementary oxygen.
8000m ascents
- LhotseLhotseLhotse is the fourth highest mountain on Earth and is connected to Everest via the South Col. In addition to the main summit at 8,516 metres above sea level, Lhotse Middle is and Lhotse Shar is...
(8516m) - April 30, 1981, solo, without oxygen - EverestMount EverestMount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
(8848m) - April 20, 1984, solo, without oxygen
7000m ascents
- Lenin PeakLenin PeakLenin Peak , rises to in Gorno-Badakhshan on the border of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and is the second-highest point of both countries. It is considered one of the easiest 7,000 m peaks in the world to climb and it has by far the most ascents of any 7,000 m or higher peak on earth, with every...
(7134m) - August 2, 1975, July 28, 1982, August 6, 1982, July 13, 1983, August 2, 1983 - Communism Peak, today known as Ismail Samani PeakIsmail Samani PeakIsmoil Somoni Peak is the highest mountain in Tajikistan and in the former Soviet Union, named after Ismoil Somoni, the ancestor of the Samanid dynasty.When the existence of a peak in the Soviet Pamir Mountains higher than Lenin Peak was first established in 1928, the mountain...
(7495m) - July 29, 1980, July 24, 1983 - Peak KorzhenevskayaPeak KorzhenevskayaPeak Korzhenevskaya is the third highest peak in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan. It is one of the five "Snow Leopard Peaks" in the territory of theformer Soviet Union. It is named after Evgenia Korzhenevskaya, the wife of Russiangeographer Nikolai L...
(7105m) - July 28, 1979, July 31, 1979, August 8, 1982, July 29, 1983 - NoshaqNoshaqNoshaq is the highest mountain in Afghanistan and the second highest independent peak of the Hindu Kush after Tirich Mir . Noshaq is located in the northeastern corner of the country along the Durand line which marks the border with Pakistan. It is the westernmost peak in the world...
(7492m) - July 30, 1976
AlpsAlpsThe Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
- North face of MatterhornMatterhornThe Matterhorn , Monte Cervino or Mont Cervin , is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Its summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest peaks in the Alps. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, face the four compass points...
(4471m) - September 21-26 1974, together with Trifon Djambazov - North face of Grand Jorasses on the Walker SpurWalker SpurWalker Spur is a notable rock spur forming the east side of Compton Valley in the north part of the Ford Massif, Thiel Mountains. The name was proposed by Peter Bermel and Arthur Ford, co-leaders of the United States Geological Survey Thiel Mountains party which surveyed these mountains in...
(4208m) - July 30 August 1, 1967, together with Atanas Kovandzhiev - Petit Dru (3733m), Bonatti route - July 16-18 1967; "Route of Guides" - September 3-8 1977
- Mont BlancMont BlancMont Blanc or Monte Bianco , meaning "White Mountain", is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union. It rises above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence...
(4807m), Freney Pillar - July 15-16 1969
Caucasus
- Pillar of UshbaUshbaUshba is one of the most notable peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. It is located in the Svaneti region of Georgia, just south of the border with the Kabardino-Balkaria region of Russia. Although it does not rank in the 10 highest peaks of the range, Ushba is known as the "Matterhorn of the...
- July 25-28 1970 - TraverseTraverse (climbing)A traverse is a lateral move or route when climbing; going mainly sideways rather than up or down. Traversing a climbing wall is a good warm-up exercise....
in Shkhelda (4320m) - July 24-August 1, 1973
Awards
Prodanov received several awards, including:- No. 1 Bulgarian Mountaineer for the 20th century.
- "Hero of People's Republic of Bulgaria" (1984 - posthumously)
- "Georgi DimitrovGeorgi DimitrovGeorgi Dimitrov Mikhaylov , also known as Georgi Mikhaylovich Dimitrov , was a Bulgarian Communist politician...
" order (1981; 1984 - posthumously) - "People's Republic of Bulgaria", second class (1977)