Heinrich Harrer has died

On 7 January 2006, Heinrich Harrer, a renowned Austrian mountaineer known for being one of the key figures in the ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, died in Friesach (Carinthia). The fame that came from this feat led to him being “recruited” for propaganda purposes by the Nazi regime, which organised an expedition to Nanga Parbat in 1939 with him on board. It was wartime, and the expedition was taken prisoner. Harrer managed to escape to Tibet; this adventure was recounted in the famous book “Seven Years in Tibet” , which was also adapted into a reasonably successful film. After returning home, he devoted himself to explorations in Africa, Asia and South America, alongside a number of mountaineering adventures, including several first ascents in Alaska.