An ancient dzong by Jomolhari mountain, Bhutan
© Alex Treadway/plainpicture
An ancient dzong by Jomolhari mountain, Bhutan
From this vantage point, it’s easy to see why Tibetan Buddhists believe the Himalayan mountain called Jomolhari is a sacred place, home to a protector goddess. Shown here behind the ruins of an ancient dzong fortress, the mountain rises more than 24,000 feet above sea level, straddling the border between Tibet and Bhutan. If a goddess does live here, then she’d probably approve of International Mountain Day, celebrated annually on December 11 to highlight the importance of mountain ecosystems.