Pieter Both (mountain)
Pieter Both, sometimes referred to as Peter Botte Mountain,[1] is the second highest mountain of Mauritius, at 820 metres (2,690 ft) tall.[2] The mountain is slightly shorter than Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire by eight metres. It is named after Pieter Both, the first Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. It is located in the Moka Range.[3]
| Pieter Both | |
|---|---|
| Peter Botte Mountain | |
 Pieter Both Mountain in 2009 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 820 m (2,690 ft) |
| Prominence | 820 m (2,690 ft) |
| Listing | Country high point |
| Coordinates | 20.1923°S 57.5552°E |
| Geography | |
  Pieter Both Location of Pieter Both in Mauritius | |
| Location | Mauritius, East Africa |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 7 September 1832 by |
The notable feature of this mountain is the gigantic rock formation at the very top of it, which resembles a human head. The palm species Hyophorbe amaricaulis, famous for being the world's rarest palm today, was once a common sight on this mountain.
The first ascent of Pieter Both was by Captain Lloyd, Lieutenant Phillpotts, of the 29th Reg., Lieutenant Keppel, R.N., and Lieutenant Taylor on 7 September 1832.[4]
To climb the mountain following the main ridge takes about an hour, and is mildly difficult. It is mainly a scramble, and being exposed, a rope is advised. The dramatic boulder on the pinnacle is about nine metres in diameter, and has several iron spikes fixed to it to aid climbing to the top. The top is flat and about two metres across.[5]
Gallery
Mauritius Port Louis Vallée des Prêtres
Mountains - panoramio - pyraniton.jpg.webp)
Pieter Both
View from Le Pouce facing Pieter Both
References
- Chamers, William; Chambers, Robert (28 July 1877). "Peter Botte". Chamber's Journal of Popular Literature, Science and Arts. Vol. 4, no. 709. W. & R. Chambers Publishers. p. 465.
- Bhayro, Thunkoomar (30 July 2013). The Life and Times of a Mauritian Expatriate. p. 328. ISBN 978-1-291-49267-5.
- Schürmann, Felix (3 April 2023). "A Dream Destination and a Danger Zone". The Grey Undercurrent: Whalers and Littoral Societies at the Deep Beaches of Africa (1770–1920). Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. ISBN 978-3-11-075991-4.
- Lieutenant Taylor (1833). "Account of the Ascent of the Peter Botte Mountain, Mauritius, on the 7th September, 1832". The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. 3: 99–104. doi:10.2307/1797600. JSTOR 1797600.
- Jahp, Alex (24 July 2016). "Pieter Both". Explore Mauritius.
Further reading
- Macmillan, Allister (1914). Mauritius: Illustrated. Historical and Descriptive, Commercial and Industrial Facts, Figures, and Resources. W.H. & L. Collingridge.
