International Mountain Day - December 11th, 2024
December 11th is just around the corner, and you know what that means - it's time to get ready to celebrate International Mountain Day! This amazing holiday has been observed every year since 2003, when it was established by the United Nations General Assembly. The idea behind it is to raise awareness about the importance of mountains to life on Earth, and to encourage sustainable development in mountain regions. History of International Mountain Day The concept of International Mountain Day actually originated at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. At the conference, mountains were recognized as a vital component of the Earth's ecosystem, and the need to protect them was highlighted. Fast forward to 2003, when the UN General Assembly officially declared December 11th as International Mountain Day. So, why mountains? Mountains cover around 24% of the Earth's land surface, and are home to around 15% of the global population. T...