Abruzzi, Luigi Amedeo, duca degli

Abruzzi, Luigi Amedeo, duca degli (lwē'jē ämāde'ō dOO'kä dā'lyē abrOOt'tsē) [key], 1873–1933, Italian explorer and mountain climber; cousin of Victor Emmanuel III. He led (1897) the first ascent of Mt. St. Elias in Alaska. His polar expedition (1899–1900) reached a point farther north than Nansen's record. He explored (1906) the Ruwenzori range in Africa and in an attempt on K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) in the Himalayas set (1909) a world record for altitude (24,600 ft). The southeast ridge of the peak is named in his honor. After 1919 he explored and tried to establish colonies in East Africa.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

• • Cite
  • Print
  • Email
  • Bookmark
    • Add bookmark
    • Add to del.icio.us
    • Digg It!
    • Add to Reddit