International Mountain Day 2024

International Mountain Day 2024 is on Sunday, 11 December 2024. The United Nations’ General Assembly nominated 11 December as “International Mountain Day” in 2002 and this day(IMD) was first observed in 2003.

International Mountain Day (IMD) is the UN’s observance and the holiday is only in Japan.

Theme of International Mountain Day 2024

The United Nations(UN) proclaimed “Women move mountains” as the theme for International Mountain Day 2024. The theme aims to raise awareness among people about the vital role of women in the environmental, social, and economic development of mountain people. It also highlights their efforts to protect and sustain life in mountain areas.

Celebrations of International Mountain Day will encompass the rich biodiversity of mountains and address the threats they face. Mountains are the most attractive part of tourism. International Mountain Day theme is a great opportunity for young people to indulge themselves in the awareness of mountain development as they are the custodians of this Golconda in the future.

Purpose of Mountain Day

Mountains are a vital source of water, food and energy. More than one billion people in the world are habitant of mountain areas. The Alps mountain range in Europe is the most populated mountain range area in the world.

Climate change is severely affecting mountain and mountain people. Global warming is a significant reason for the melting of mountain glaciers at untraditional rates. Climate change and climate disasters can affect the lives of mountain people through food shortages and poverty. This may cause an excessive migration of mountain people to urban areas.

The basic purpose of this special day is to create awareness about the importance of mountains and mountain people and to provoke the governments to launch urgent policies to alleviate the harsh living conditions of mountain people.

Logo of International Mountain Day

The logo of International Mountain Day is a combination of three equilateral triangles with a stripe under these.

These triangles are the symbol of mountains. The first left triangle has a rhombus shape at the top, which is a sign of ice at the mountain top. The central triangle having an orange circle inside it is a sign of minerals and resources inside the mountain. The triangle on the right side has its lower right corner green which is the symbol of forests and crops in mountains.

The black stripe under these triangles has the words 11 December in white color. Under this stripe, the words “International Mountain Day” are written in two rows. The upper row has the words “International” in blue color while the lower row has the words “Mountain Day” in light blue color.

Mountain Day Holiday in Japan

Japan is the only country that has had the holiday of Mountain Day on 11 August since 2016. The purpose of this holiday is to know the importance and blessings of mountains.

Uses and Importance of Mountains

About 60% to 80% of the world’s fresh water originates from mountains.
Mountains attract about 20% of tourists to their beautiful scenery.
Mountains keep 28% of the earth’s forests.
Mountains are producers of certain important food crops.
Mountains are the habitat of plants and animals.

Facts of International Mountain Day

The annual date of 11, December for International Mountain Day was proclaimed by the UN on 20 December 2002.
2002 was the International Year of Mountains that was declared by the UN in 2001.
First International Mountain Day was observed on 11 December 2003.
UN presents a theme for International Mountain Day every year.
International Mountain Day awakes the world about the importance and necessity of mountains and mountain people.
Japan is the only country that has a public holiday on Mountain Day.

10 Interesting Facts About Mountains

Mountains make up about one-fifth of the world’s landscape.
About 1,200 people attempt to climb Mount Everest each year, but only half reach the summit.
Mountains provide homes to at least one-tenth of the world’s people.
12% of the world’s people live in the mountains.
Mountains also exist at undersea levels.
Mountains boast a wide variety of plants and trees. These include shrubs, grasses, mosses, lichens, and alpine flowers.
Himalaya has thirty of the world’s highest mountains.
Olympus Mons is the tallest mountain in the solar system.
Mount Everest is the World’s highest mountain.
There are three types of mountains:

Celebrations

Activities of International Mountain Day

On this day raise awareness about the role that mountains play in providing us with fresh water, food, clean energy and recreation.
Arrange presentations, debates and art competitions for the execution of the theme of this day.
On social media use the hashtag, #MountainsMatter.
You can write your event story of this day to [email protected] to publish it on the International Mountain Day website.

7 Interesting Activities to perform on this day

Clean up your local natural preserves. You can clean your nearby natural and local places that look interesting and add beauty to the area. After all, they need cleaning as these trails don’t clear themselves.
Read about the features and role of mountains. If you want to celebrate the day at home, you can read about the unique features of mountains to increase your knowledge.

Share posts about the idea of the day. Share posts about this year’s theme on social media to raise understanding and act upon the day’s idea. You can also share informative facts about mountains.

Mountain climbing. If you want an outdoor activity to celebrate the day and climb any mountain last year, try another mountain climbing route this year. In the States, Colorado is the best bet for you. Try it this year and share your experience on social media.

Take someone with you on your journey. Introduce the mountain’s charm to someone who has not yet taken this day as an opportunity to learn about mountains.

Meet mountain people. You can meet with mountain people to appreciate and encourage them to maintain and develop mountains and explore more about mountains.

Share your day’s experience on social media. Feel free to share your activity and effort of the day, videos, and pictures to raise awareness and encourage others to do so.

History of International Mountain Day

In 1992 the United Nations conference on “Environment and Development” foresaw the implementation of its agenda “Managing Fragile Ecosystem: Sustainable Mountain Development” which engraved a charismatic emblem on the face of the history of mountain development.

On 11 December 2001, the United Nations declared 2002 as the “International Year of Mountains” for the awareness and importance of mountains. On 20 December 2002, the UN declared 11 December as “International Mountain Day” for the awareness of mountain development and urged the international community to hold events relating to sustainable mountain development on this date. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was appointed as the coordinating organization of the UN for this mission.

The first International Mountain Day was observed on 11 December 2003. Every year UN allocates a theme for this day.

How to Make Mountains Sustainable

Always leave the mountains cleaner by leaving no garbage behind.
Choose environment-friendly means of transportation.
Look for sustainable practices.
Reduce, reuse, recycle and upcycle.
Choose less popular locations and avoid peak season for reduced impact.
Spread awareness about a sustainable environment.

Why We Celebrate this Day?

We celebrate world mountain day to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development. Its purpose is to generate worldwide awareness about the significance of mountains to life.

Why We Love Mountain Day?

Mountains are too ancient but still stand in their place firmly. The exciting thing is that mountains do not move much in the human life course, but their nature is that they are ever-changing. Moreover, this day offers an incomparable escape from everyday life’s doldrums and finds the best natural beauty.

Especially, adults love this day because mountains are playgrounds for grown-ups between the various rivers, rock faces, and viewing points. They can perform different energetic and their favorite mountain activities.

What are the Mountains?

A mountain is made from rock and earth. Their surface is rugged and hard to climb. Mountains are filled with forests and animals.

Mountains may have ice, snow or glacier that is hard to climb or cross.

A group of mountains is called a mountain range, for instance, the Himalayan and the Rocky are mountain ranges. One-tenth of the world’s people live in these mountains.

Quotes to share on Mountain Day

“The mountains are calling, and I must go.” – (John Muir)
John Ruskin said, “Mountains are the beginning and the end of all-natural scenery.”
“Everyone wants to live on tops of mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it.” – (Andry Rooney)
Barry Finlay quoted, “Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.”
“Nothing lives long, Only the earth and mountains.” – (Dee Brown)
Mark Obmascik said, “I like the mountains because they make me feel small,’ Jeff says. ‘They help me sort out what’s important in life.”
John Muir quoted, “You are not in the mountains. The mountains are in you.”
David McCullough Jr. said, “Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.”
“Going to the mountains is like going home” – (John Muir)
William Blake quoted, “Great things are done when men and mountains meet; This is not done by jostling in the street.”
“The best view comes after the hardest climb.” – (Anonymous)
John Muir said, “How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!”

Types of Mountains

Fold Mountains

These mountains are formed by the collision of two plates of the earth’s crust by heads. The Himalayas, the Alps. the Andes, the Rockies, and the Urals are the Fold Mountains.

Fault-Block Mountains

These mountains are formed when the earth’s crust forces some blocks of rocks upwards The Sierra Nevada Mountains in North America and the Harz Mountains in Germany are Fault-Block mountains.