Ecology
The highest peaks are at the peak of the highest mountains of the seven continents. Among climbers they are known as " seven peaks", which was first conquered by Richard Bass on April 30, 1985.
Here are a few interesting facts about the highest points in all parts of the world.
highest mountain peaks
One of these days program Google Maps' Street View invited everyone to enjoy the view of the highest peaks of the world, offering interactive galleries of the highest mountains on Earth.
Maps include panoramic view of 4 of the 7 peaks: Everest in the Himalayas of Asia, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe and Aconcagua in South America.
You can make a virtual ascent of these peaks without exposing yourself to the heights and natural difficulties that climbers face.
1. The highest peak in the world and Asia - Mount Everest (Chomolungma)
Mount Everest height
8848 meters
Mount Everest geographic coordinates:
27.9880 degrees north latitude and 86.9252 degrees east longitude (27° 59" 17" N, 86° 55" 31" E)
Where is Mount Everest located?
Mount Everest or Chomolungma is highest mountain on earth, which is located in the region Mahalangur Himal in the Himalayas. The international border between China and Nepal runs along its summit. The Everest massif includes the neighboring peaks of Lhotse (8516 m), Nuptse (7861 m) and Changze (7543 m).
The highest mountain in the world attracts many experienced climbers and amateurs from all over the world. Although climbing the standard route is not technically a big problem, on Everest the biggest dangers are considered to be lack of oxygen, disease, weather and wind.
Other facts:
Mount Everest, which is also called Chomolungma from Tibetan it is translated as "Divine mother of snows" and from Nepali as "Mother of the Universe". The mountain is considered sacred to the locals. The name Everest was given in honor of the Briton George Everest, who was the first to measure the height of the highest mountain peak in the world.
Mount Everest annually rises by 3-6 mm and shifts to the northeast by 7 cm.
- First ascent of Everest committed New Zealander Edmund Hilary(Edmund Hillary) and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay(Tenzing Norgay) as part of the British expedition on May 29, 1953.
The largest expedition to climb Everest consisted of 410 people who were part of the 1975 Chinese team.
- The safest year on Everest was 1993, when 129 people reached the top, and 8 died. The most tragic year was 1996, when 98 people conquered the summit, and 15 people died (8 of them died on May 11).
The Nepalese Sherpa Appa is the person who has most climbed Everest. He set the record by climbing 21 times from 1990 to 2011.
2. The highest peak in South America - Mount Aconcagua
Height of Aconcagua
6.959 meters
Geographic coordinates of Aconcagua.
32.6556 degrees south latitude and 70.0158 degrees west longitude (32°39"12.35"S 70°00"39.9"W)
Where is Mount Aconcagua
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas, located in the Andes mountain system in the province of Mendoza in Argentina. Also this highest peak in both the western and southern hemispheres.
The mountain is part Aconcagua National Park. It consists of a series of glaciers, the most famous of which is the Polish Glacier in the northeast, a frequent climbing route.
Other facts:
- Name "Aconcagua" probably means from the Araucan language "on the other side of the Aconcagua River" or from the Quechua language "Stone Guard".
In terms of mountaineering, Aconcagua is easy mountain to climb, if heading along the northern route, which does not require ropes, hooks and other equipment.
- First conquered aconcagua british Edward Fitzgerald(Edward FitzGerald) in 1897.
The youngest climber to reach the summit of Aconcagua was 10 years old Matthew Moniz(Matthew Moniz) December 16, 2008. The oldest is 87 years old Scott Lewis(Scott Lewis) in 2007.
3. The highest mountain in North America - Mount McKinley
McKinley height
6194 meters
Geographic coordinates of McKinley.
63.0694 degrees north, 151.0027 degrees west (63° 4" 10" N, 151° 0" 26" W)
Where is Mount McKinley
Mount McKinley is located in Denali National Park in Alaska and is the highest peak in the United States and North America, as well as the third most prominent peak in the world after Mount Everest and Aconcagua.
Other facts:
Mount McKinley used to be the highest peak in Russia until Alaska was sold to the US.
Locals call it "Denali" (translated from the Athabaskan language "Great"), and the Russians who inhabited Alaska simply "Big Mountain". Later it was renamed "McKinley" in honor of US President William McKinley.
- The first to conquer McKinley steel American climbers led by Hudson Stack(Hudson Stuck) and Harry Carstens(Harry Karstens) June 7, 1913.
Best climbing period - from May to July. Due to the far northern latitude, there is lower atmospheric pressure and less oxygen at the summit than other high mountains in the world.
4. The highest peak in Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro
Height of Kilimanjaro
5895 meters
Geographic coordinates of Kilimanjaro.
3.066 degrees south latitude and 37.3591 degrees east longitude (3° 4" 0" S, 37° 21" 33" E)
Where is Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and is located in Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania. This volcano consists of three volcanic cones: Kiba, Mawenzi and Shira. Kilimanjaro is a huge stratovolcano that began to form a million years ago when lava erupted in the Rift Valley region.
Two peaks: Mawenzi and Shira are extinct volcanoes, while the highest - Kibo is dormant volcano, which may erupt again. The last major eruption occurred 360,000 years ago, and activity was recorded only 200 years ago.
Other facts:
There are several versions explaining Origin of "Kilimanjaro". One theory is that the name comes from the Swahili word "Kilima" ("mountain") and the Kichagga word "Njaro" ("whiteness"). According to another version, Kilimanjaro is the European origin of the phrase kichagga, which means "we did not climb it."
Since 1912, Kilimanjaro has lost more than 85 percent of its snow. According to scientists In 20 years, all the snow on Kilimanjaro will melt.
- First ascent was made by a German researcher Hans Meyer(Hans Meyer) and an Austrian climber Ludwig Purtsheller(Ludwig Purtscheller) on the third attempt October 6, 1889
- About 40,000 people try to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro every year.
The youngest climber to climb Mount Kilimanjaro was 7 years old Keats Boyd(Keats Boyd), who made the ascent on January 21, 2008.
5. The highest peak in Europe (and Russia) - Mount Elbrus
The height of Mount Elbrus
5642 meters
Geographic coordinates of Mount Elbrus
43.3550 degrees North, 42.4392 East (43° 21" 11" N, 42° 26" 13" E)
Where is Mount Elbrus located?
Mount Elbrus is an extinct volcano located in the western part of the Caucasus Mountains on the border of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia in Russia. The top of Elbrus is the highest in Russia, in Europe and the western part of Asia. The western peak reaches 5642 m, and the eastern 5621 m.
Other facts:
- Name "Elbrus" comes from the Iranian word "Albors", which means "high mountain". It is also called Ming tau ("eternal mountain"), Yalbuz ("mane of snow") and Oshkhamakho ("mountain of happiness")
Elbrus is covered by a permanent ice sheet that supports 22 glaciers, which in turn feed the Baksan, Kuban and Malka rivers.
Elbrus located in a mobile tectonic region, and deep under the extinct volcano is molten magma.
- First ascent on the eastern peak of Elbrus was committed on July 10, 1829 Hilar Kachirov, who was on the expedition of the Russian General G.A. Emmanuel, and to the western one (which is about 40 m higher) - in 1874 by an English expedition led by F. Crawford Grove(F. Crauford Grove).
From 1959 to 1976 a cable car, which takes visitors to a height of 3750 meters.
A year on Elbrus about 15-30 people die mainly due to poorly organized attempts to conquer the summit
In 1997 SUV Land Rover Defender climbed to the top of Elbrus, setting a Guinness world record.
6. The highest peak of Antarctica - Vinson Massif
Vinson array height
4892 meters
Geographic coordinates of the Vinson massif
78.5254 degrees south latitude and 85.6171 degrees west longitude (78° 31" 31.74" S, 85° 37" 1.73" W)
Vinson Massif on the map
The Vinson Massif is the highest mountain in Antarctica, located on the Sentinel Range in the Ellsworth Mountains. The massif, approximately 21 km long and 13 km wide, is located 1200 km from the South Pole.
Other facts
The highest peak is Vinson Peak, named after Carl Vinson- Member of the US Congress. The Vinson Array was first discovered in 1958, and first ascent was committed in 1966.
In 2001, the first expedition reached the summit via the Eastern route and measurements of the height of the summit were made using GPS.
More 1400 people tried to conquer Vinson Peak.
7. The highest peak in Australia and Oceania - Mount Punchak Jaya
Height of Puncak Jaya
4884 meters
Geographic coordinates of Puncak Jaya.
4.0833 degrees south latitude 137.183 degrees east longitude (4° 5" 0" S, 137° 11" 0" E)
Where is Punchak Jaya
Puncak Jaya or Carstens Pyramid is the highest peak of Mount Carstens in western Papua, Indonesia.
This mountain is highest in Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea, in Oceania (on the Australian plate), the highest mountain on the island, and the highest point between the Himalayas and the Andes.
Mount Kosciuszko is considered the highest peak on the Australian continent., whose height is 2228 meters.
Other facts:
When Indonesia began to administer the province in 1963, the summit was renamed Sukarno Summit in honor of the President of Indonesia. Later it was renamed Punchak Jaya. The word "Puncak" in Indonesian means "mountain or peak", and "Jaya" is translated as "victory".
The summit of Punchak Jaya conquered for the first time in 1962, Austrian climbers led by Heinrich Garrer(Heinrich Harrer) and three other members of the expedition.
Access to the summit requires government permission. The mountain was closed to hikers and climbers from 1995 until 2005. Since 2006, access has been possible through various travel agencies.
Puncak Jaya is considered one of the hardest climbs. He has the highest technical rating, but not the greatest physical demands.
Mountain peaks covered with eternal snows have always attracted people with their grandeur, grandiose beauty and some secret that hides behind their impregnable slopes. Let's look at what is the highest mountain in the world and where is it located. There are peaks on Earth that reach 8 km in height.
The highest mountain in the world is Chomolungma, commonly known in the West as Everest. It is located on the territory of the majestic Himalayas, rightfully called the Roof of the World. This is part of the Mahalangur-Himal high-mountain range, where, in addition to Everest, there are several dozen more picturesque peaks exceeding the mark of 7000 m.
Chomolungma has pyramidal outlines with steep southern and high northern slopes. Translated from the Tibetan language, the name means "Divine mother of the energy of life." The largest mountain received such a beautiful name in honor of the Tibetan goddess Sherab Chzhama, who personifies unconditional and all-consuming maternal love. It was proposed by the explorer Andrew Waugh, who was the successor to J. Everest.
Interesting information about Chomolungma:
- Height above sea level - 8848 m.
- The first successful ascent was on March 29, 1953.
- The number of climbers who managed to conquer the peak is 8306 (some of the climbers climbed more than 1 time).
- What is the name of the highest mountain in the world in Nepalese - Sagarmatha.
- The English name Everest was given to the peak in honor of J. Everest, who headed the geodetic department of India, which at that time was under the rule of Britain.
- Abnormal weather: strong winds often blow at the top of the Chomolungma, the speed of which can reach 200 km / h. The air temperature in the cold season sometimes drops to -60 ºС.
- The average rise time to the peak is 2 months.
- The best time for mountain climbing is from mid to late spring and early autumn.
Since ancient times, people have been trying to conquer the most inaccessible peaks of the Earth, which allowed them not only to test themselves for endurance and strength, but also to get closer to the great and boundless space. The majestic Chomolungma is especially popular with climbers.
Every year, about 500 experienced climbers and true braves try to conquer Everest. However, only a few succeed in doing so. The top of the Earth is conquered by few. It is impossible to reach it even by helicopter. Climbers who decide to climb this picturesque peak must undergo lengthy training and have high-quality specialized equipment with them.
Note! Everest in the Himalayas is not only the most beautiful peak in the world, but also one of the most dangerous.
According to official data in 2012, about 260 climbers and extreme sportsmen who tried to conquer this peak did not reach the goal. Their lives were tragically cut short on the slopes of this mountain. Most of the bodies were never found. Despite this, every year many daredevils desperately try to conquer the highest point in the world.
Useful video: the highest mountain in the world
Location
The highest point on our planet is located on the territory of the most famous part of Mahalangur Himal - the Khumbu ridge. In addition to Chomolungma, there are 2 more peaks here, exceeding the mark of 8 thousand meters.
Which country has the largest mountain in the world. Chomolungma is located on the border line between Nepal and Tibet (currently an autonomous region of China).
The highest point in the world is hidden under a layer of ice and snow. To get to it, you will need expensive equipment, which, unfortunately, does not guarantee the success of the ascent.
It is worth noting that at the location of Mount Everest lies part of the Nepalese ecological park Sagarmatha. In Sanskrit, the name means "Divine Mother". Almost the entire territory of the park consists of deep gorges and difficult terrain.
Interesting! A huge number of legends and traditions are associated with Chomolungma. It has long been revered as a place of power.
It is believed that this peak is the abode of the gods. It is also directly related to space. In addition, Everest is the habitat of souls who have not found rest in the other world. Some climbers claim to have seen ghosts during their ascent. The fact is that under the thickness of the ice of the Chomolungma, a huge number of bodies of climbers are stored, who never managed to reach the goal. Therefore, Everest is often called the cemetery of the Himalayas.
Peak ranking
Almost everyone knows that the highest point on Earth is Chomolungma. However, few people know which mountains are in second or third place in terms of their height. It is worth noting that other eight-kilometer peaks are no less interesting than Everest.
All the highest mountains are located in the southern and central parts of Asia. They exceed 7500 m. In total, there are 14 mountains on the planet, towering over 8 thousand meters above the earth's surface.
| № | Name | Height, m | Location | Interesting information |
| 1 | Chogori | 8611 | Baltoro Range (Pakistan), Karakorum mountain system. | This is the northernmost eight-kilometer peak in the world. Today, 10 routes lead to it. Technically, the climbing routes to this peak are much more difficult than to the Chomolungma. The number of successful expeditions is 45. |
| 2 | Kanchenjunga | 8586 | On the border of India and Nepal, on the territory of the Great Himalayas. | The highest peak of the ridge of the same name. In addition, it is one of the most dangerous climbing routes. According to Nepalese legend, Kanchenjunga is a mystical woman who kills all climbers who try to conquer her peak. |
| 3 | Lhotse | 8516 | Massif Mahalangur-Himal, Greater Himalayas, Tibet. | This is one of the most beautiful and most impregnable Himalayan peaks. Only 25% of Lhotse ascents are successful. |
| 4 | Makalu | 8485 | Mountain range Mahalangur-Himal, Central Himalayas. | Several good climbing routes lead to the peak of the mountain. Climbing Makalu is very difficult. Only 30% of expeditions achieved success in conquering the summit. |
| 5 | Cho Oyu | 8188 | Mahalangur Himal, Greater Himalayas. | It was this peak that was first conquered without the use of oxygen cylinders. Today, several excellent routes lead to its summit. |
| 6 | Jaulagiri I | 8167 | Nepal, Main Himalayan range. | The highest point on the ridge of the same name. Translated from ancient Sanskrit, its name means "White Mountain". The number of successful expeditions is 51. |
| 7 | Manaslu | 8163 | Mansiri Himal, Nepal. | The highest peak of the mountain range of the same name. The name Manaslu in ancient Sanskrit means "Mountain of Spirits". This peak is located on the territory of a magnificent and ecologically clean National Park. A trekking route has been laid around it, which can be completed in about 2 weeks. |
| 8 | Nangaparbat | 8126 | Northwestern part of the Himalayas. | This is one of the most difficult and dangerous mountain peaks for mountaineering. In Sanskrit, the name of the mountain sounds like Diamir, which means "Mountain of the Gods." |
| 9 | Annapurna I | 8091 | Nepal, the territory of the Himalayas. | This is the highest point of the ridge of the same name and the most dangerous peak for climbers. The number of successful expeditions to the summit is only 36. The number of tragic cases during the ascent is approximately 32% of the total number of attempts. Despite this, Annapurna became the first eight-kilometer peak in history that was conquered by a man. A successful ascent took place in the middle of the last century, several years before the conquest of Chomolungma. In ancient Sanskrit, the melodic name Annapurna means "Goddess of Fertility". |
| 10 | Gasherbrum I | 8080 | Karakorum, Baltoro Muztag Range, Pakistan. | This is the second highest mountain of the picturesque and impregnable Karakorum. It has another name - Hidden Peak, which means Hidden Peak in English. Translated from the Balti language, the name of the peak means "Beautiful Mountain". |
| 11 | Broad Peak | 8051 | It is part of the multi-peak mountain range Gasherbrum. This is the third highest point of the Karakorum. | |
| 12 | Gasherbrum II | 8034 | Karakorum mountain system, Baltoro Muztag range, Pakistan. | It is part of the multi-peak Gasherbrum ridge. This peak has graceful outlines and steep slopes. It is covered with eternal snow. |
| 13 | Shishabangma | 8027 | Langtang mountain range, Central Himalayas, Tibet. | This is the smallest eight-kilometer peak in the world. It consists of three peaks. |
Useful video: top 10 highest mountains in the world
Output
Summing up, we can say that the highest point and one of the most impregnable peaks in the world is Everest in the Great Himalayas. This majestic peak is located at the intersection of two Asian states - Nepal and Tibet. It has long attracted climbers, explorers, creative people and true romantics.
In contact with
The greatness of the mountains
A person who has not seen the mountains cannot understand their proud greatness. And even more so, he will not understand why risk his life for the sake of conquering some peak. The problem here is that although there are many mountains, their number is still limited.
For this reason, the highest point in the world is already known to everyone and conquered a long time ago. But still, many are still interested in the question of where the highest points of the world are located.
Everest - the roof of the world
Everest - the roof of the world
Everest is the highest point on the planet Earth. Located in Asia. Divides China and Nepal. Tibetans call it - Chomolungma, Nepalese - Sagarmatha. It is 8848 meters high and is located in the Himalayas. She constantly attracts experienced climbers. There are no problems with lifting. But there are other difficulties - strong winds, bad weather conditions and altitude sickness. The first time it was conquered in 1953. And before that, fifty expeditions failed. But after, already more than two and a half thousand people climbed to the top of this peak.
Now, in order to climb this mountain, you need to purchase special ammunition, negotiate with an instructor guide, and also obtain permission from the country (buy). All this will cost thousands of US dollars. And not everyone can afford it. This can only be done by wealthy travelers who do not even have experience. Many travel agencies offer this service.
Many people died without reaching their cherished goal (about 200 people). Many of them could not be returned to be buried. Therefore, along the trail to Everest lie the bodies of dead climbers. Some even work as landmarks. For example, Green Shoes serve as a mark for eight thousand meters. Perhaps it is inhuman: to leave the bodies without burial, but, on the other hand, for many it serves as a kind of warning. This suggests that the mountains do not forgive mistakes, they are very dangerous. But corpses are not the mountain's only problem. It has even been nicknamed "the highest garbage dump". Recently, many tons of debris have been lowered, which have accumulated there due to inexperienced climbers.
Many parts of the world have their own high points.
Mount McKinley (Denali) is located in Alaska. This is the highest mountain in the USA. Her height is 6194 meters. She is in third place in the world list (on the first - Everest, on the second - Aconcagua). It is the center of the Denali National Park.
Aconcagua is the highest point in South and North America. Her height is 6.9 meters. It is located in the Andes of the province of Mendoza, in Argentina.
Elbrus is an active volcano in the past. His height is 5642 meters. It is located in the Caucasus Mountains, in Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria. Divides Russia and Georgia. This is the highest point in Europe.
Kilimanjaro is a three-cone volcano, formerly active. His cones are Mawenzi, Shira (extinct) and Kibo (dormant, but may wake up again). Altitude 5895 meters. Located in the National Park in Tanzania. This is the highest point in Africa.
Punchak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) is located in Papua in Indonesia. Its height is 4.4 meters. This is the highest point in Oceania, Australia, Indonesia.
Mount Vinson is 4.2 meters high and is located in Antarctica. Was conquered in 1958. This is the highest point in Antarctica.
World eight-thousanders
World eight-thousanders
There are fourteen peaks on Earth, more than eight thousand meters high. All of them are located in two mountain ranges: the Karakum and the Himalayas. Because these mountain systems are the youngest, and the highest points on the earth's surface can still grow from them. The list is presented below:
Chogori height 8611 meters.
Kangchenjunga height 8586 meters.
Lhotse height 8516 meters.
Makalu height 8485 meters.
Cho Oyu height 8188 meters.
Dzhulagiri height 8167 meters.
Manslau height 8163 meters.
Nanga Parbat height 8126 meters.
Annapurna alone, height 8091 meters.
Gasherbrum alone, height 8080 meters.
Broad Peak height 8051 meters.
Gasherbrum two, height 8034 meters.
Shisha Pangma height 8027 meters.
Which of these peaks you want to climb depends only on your skills and abilities. But these highest points on Earth are interesting in their own way and at the same time carry a thousand dangers. This is what most climbers are looking for.
What do nature lovers, hikers and adventurers have in common? They all know how to appreciate the natural beauty of the world, and for good reason. You do not need to be an ardent naturalist to appreciate all the riches of the nature of our planet. In the end, the only way we can thank her for an interesting and mysterious world. We offer you a list of the ten most outstanding geographical objects of our planet.
As you might guess, now we will talk about Everest - the highest point on the globe. Everest is 8844 meters above sea level. This peak is on every decent adventurer's list of places to conquer. First discovered in the 1850s, the mountain was named after Inspector General George Everest, who ironically never saw the peak. Despite all the romanticism of the idea of conquering this peak, climbing Everest is a rather dangerous activity that has already claimed the lives of several people.
9. The lowest point on the globe
The lowest point in the world is the Dead Sea, which is 434 meters below sea level. Moreover, over the past 40 years it has dropped even lower (almost 25 meters). One of the most interesting phenomena of the Dead Sea is the bloom of red algae, due to which it changes color in one moment. This happened in 1980 and 1992.
8. The most northern point of the planet
No, this is not the North Pole. From the point of view of the entire globe, this would be the North Pole, but not from the point of view of the land - it is the island of Kaffeklubben (Greenland), located in the Arctic Ocean. This island is located 443.3 kilometers from the North Pole and was first discovered by Robert Peary (explorer of the American part of the Arctic) in 1900. The Danish researcher Lauge Koch came up with the name for it in 1921. No matter how strange it may sound, but Kaffeklubben in Danish means “Coffee Club”, today few people can explain what exactly Lauge was guided by when coming up with such a name.
7. The southernmost point of the planet
This time it's really the South Pole, located in Antarctica. This place rises only 100 meters above sea level, although the ice cover here reaches a thickness of 2700 meters. An interesting fact: at the South Pole, you can witness the sunrise and sunset only once a year, in September and March, respectively.
6. The most remote island on the planet
Bouvet Island is one of the loneliest islands in the world. It is located in the South Atlantic Ocean and is a territory of Norway. This is a completely volcanic island, and its central part is covered with an ice crust. In fact, this is a huge extinct volcano. was first discovered by Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier on January 1, 1739, and a little later was named after its discoverer. The island is uninhabited, its area is 59 square kilometers, and the height above sea level is 935 meters.
5. The largest island
The largest island in the world is Greenland. Its surface area is 2,166,086 square kilometers. Initially, the island was under the control of Denmark, but from 1979 to the present day it has been a separate state with its own government and parliament. Due to unfavorable living conditions, the population of Greenland has only 57,000 people. Most of the island is covered with ice, which in some places reaches a thickness of 4 kilometers. And although the fish resources here are already quite depleted, melting glaciers have come to the aid of local residents, exposing easily accessible mineral resources and providing them with a new source of livelihood.
4. The most full-flowing river
The deepest river in the world is the Congo, located in the west-central part of Africa and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its depth in some places reaches 220 meters. It is the second longest river in the world, following the Amazon. It was previously known as Zaire. The total length of the river is 4700 kilometers, which makes it the 9th longest river in the world.
3. The youngest island
Niijima Island is a small volcanic island located in the Philippine Sea. It was created by a volcanic eruption at the end of November 2013, 163 miles south of Tokyo. This once again proves that the surface of the Earth is constantly changing, but despite the fact that everyone expected that Niijima would soon disappear, he, contrary to public opinion, remained in his place.
2. The longest network of caves
The Mammoth Cave System - Flint Ridge is located in the US state of Kentucky. It is the longest network of caves in the world, with an area of approximately 52,830 hectares, which is twice the size of the second largest network of underwater
A person who has never seen mountains simply cannot understand their calm grandeur. And even more so, he does not understand people who, risking their lives, are trying to find and conquer higher and higher peaks. The problem is that there are, of course, a large number of mountains on Earth, but still a limited number.
Therefore, the highest point in the world has long been known and even conquered. But that doesn't make getting to know her any less exciting and interesting. And if a personal acquaintance is not yet in your plans, then you can at least learn more about it from this article.
Roof of the World - Everest
Chomolungma, Everest, Sagarmatha are all different names for the same peak, which is comfortably located in the Himalayas. Its height is 8848 meters above sea level, which makes it the highest mountain on the planet.
People got acquainted with it many centuries ago, but for many years they could only look at the top from below, being afraid to approach it (and not seeing the point in it). So the first successful ascent was made in 1953, but before that, more than 50 expeditions could not put their flag on its top.
But what one person did will definitely happen again. And over the years, more than 2,500 people have been able to visit the top of the world and leave their mark there. Here are some interesting ones:
- The youngest climber was 13 years old.
- The oldest is 80.
- One of the climbers spent 32 hours on the summit.
- The fastest climb record is 8 hours 10 minutes.
- In 2001, the blind Eric Weihenmeier was able to climb to its summit.
Now, in order to try to climb to the top of the world, it is necessary not only to buy equipment and agree with the instructor, but also to buy official permission from the country. It will cost several thousand dollars, which is not affordable for everyone. Therefore, now most applicants for climbing are rich tourists who do not even have suitable experience. Numerous travel companies offer this opportunity. Therefore, the number of successful ascents during this time has greatly increased.
Unfortunately, the number of unsuccessful ones also increased significantly. For all the time of attempts to conquer Everest on it, about 200 people died from frostbite, injuries, suffocation or other causes. It sounds creepy, but not all of them were able to get down to be buried in the usual way. And now on the trails of Everest lie the bodies of some of the climbers who died there. Some of them have even become reference points for others. For example, Green Shoes mark the border of 8000 meters above sea level.
On the one hand, it is inhumane to leave the bodies of the dead on the trails, but on the other hand, this is a good reminder to the living: the mountains are cruel, they do not forgive mistakes or negligence. But on the other hand, those who can understand and accept their character will be able to enjoy a landscape that not many people have seen.
By the way, the corpses of dead climbers are not the only problem of Everest. Due to the large number of semi-professional climbers, it has accumulated so much garbage that it is called the highest dump in the world. Recently, an action was held there, in which several tons of garbage were lowered down.
Eight-thousanders
In total, there are 14 eight-thousander peaks, including Everest. And, despite the large number of mountain ranges, they are all located in two: either the Himalayas or the Karakum. The fact is that these systems are young enough for the highest point of the planet and its brothers and sisters to come out of them. Here is their list:
- Chogori, 8611 m.
- Kanchenjunga, 8586 m.
- Lhotse, 8516 m.
- Makalu, 8485 m.
- Cho Oyu, 8188 m.
- Dzhulagiri, 8167 m.
- Manslau, 8163 m.
- Nangaparbat, 8126 m.
- Annapurna 1, 8091 m.
- Gasherbrum 1, 8080 m.
- Broad Peak, 8051 m.
- Gasherbrum 2, 8034 m.
- Shisha-Pangma, 8027 m.
Which one you choose to climb depends on your desire and ability, but these highest points on the continent and the planet as a whole are interesting and dangerous in their own way. After all, that is what climbers are looking for.
Elbrus or Mont Blanc?
There are still disputes about what can be considered the highest point in Europe: Elbrus or Mont Blanc. On the one hand, Elbrus is clearly higher than Mont Blanc: 5642 compared to 4810 meters. But the problem is that Elbrus is located in the mountains of the Caucasus, which with a certain degree of certainty can be attributed to Asia. Thus, this is clearly the highest point in Russia, but one can argue about its inclusion among the European peaks, which is what many researchers do. Mont Blanc is located in the Western Alps, which makes it an indigenous, albeit undersized (relatively) inhabitant of Europe.
In the meantime, researchers are trying to come to a consensus, climbers, just in case, are trying to conquer both. In the end, both mountains are interesting in their own way.
