What are the highest mountains on earth. What is the highest and lowest point in the world

21.10.2019

The power of nature frightens and delights at the same time. Evidence of her strength is deep crevices and the highest peaks of the planet. Everest is called the top of the world, and it really is. However, not everyone knows which is the highest mountain in the world. Yes, there are giants that exceed the size of the famous Chomolungma. But what are they and where are they - read on.

The largest and highest mountain on the planet is the shield volcano Mauna Kea. It is located on an island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Its size is shocking. If you put this natural colossus next to Everest, then the latter will seem like a small hill.

For comparison: the height of Mauna Kea from the foot to the top is 10,203 m, and Everest - 3550 m. Feel the difference?! So why is the palm given to the Himalayan peak?

The thing is that Mauna Kea originates under water, where most of the volcano is hidden. The top of the mountain above sea level is at an altitude of 4205 m, while Chomolungma rises to 8848 m.

The age of the Hawaiian giant is about a million years. An active “youth” helped the volcano to grow to such dimensions. Since the birth of Mauna Kea, it erupted regularly for 500 thousand years, then the activity began to decline. Now the volcano is considered extinct. According to rough estimates, the last eruption occurred 4-6 thousand years ago.

Such an amount of volcanic rock, concentrated in one point, exerts tremendous pressure on the earth's crust. Its total volume is about 3200 km3. It is difficult to imagine how much it weighs, but this mass is enough to push through the Pacific plate for six kilometers.

"Mauna Kea" translates as ' white mountain'. The indigenous people could not call it otherwise, because this is the only place in the Hawaiian Islands where snow falls in winter. Local tribes consider the mountain sacred, only leaders have the right to climb it. Unfortunately, and perhaps, and fortunately, this does not stop the Europeans.

On the one hand, on the lower part of the volcano, for the sake of the development of the sugar industry, wild forests were practically destroyed; on the other hand, the top of Mauna Kea is a great place to explore space. Since 1964, 13 observatories have been built here. The question - was it worth it, given the holiness of the mountain - is still a hot debate.

The highest mountains in the world: list

The dream of any climber is to conquer the main peaks of the world. In total, there are seven of them on the list, one for each continent and region of the Earth. Let's talk briefly about each of them:

His Majesty is Everest.

Has several other names. In Tibet, the mountain is called Chomolungma (Divine Mother) or Jomo Gang Kar (Holy Mother, white as snow). Nepalese name the highest peak - Sagarmatha.

This is one of the most violent places on the planet. Not everyone will be able to get at least to the base camp, which is located at an altitude of about 5,000 m. What can we say about the top.

The air temperature on the mountain in the warm season does not rise above zero degrees, and in winter it varies from -36 during the day to -60 degrees at night. Add to this the violent winds, the speed of which sometimes reaches 200 km / h, and you will understand that the smallest problem here can turn into a disaster.

In the off season, few will challenge grief, because it is akin to suicide. Since the first ascent in 1953, Everest has taken the lives of more than 250 people, their bodies are still there. To pick them up, you need to equip an expedition, and this is very expensive. Up to 25,000 dollars in fees alone for the rise. No matter how cynical it may sound, but many corpses serve as landmarks for climbers.

The second height of the world - Aconcagua.

Located in Argentina and is part of the Andes - the longest mountain system in the world, stretching for 11,000 km. In Quechua, "Aconcagua" means "Stone Guardian". Looking at the mountain, you understand that such a name was given to it not in vain.

Massive and majestic Aconcagua really resembles a stone giant. The height of the mountain above sea level reaches 6961 m. Technically, it is not considered too difficult to conquer. The ascent and descent record belongs to Karl Egloff: his time is 11 hours 52 minutes. Even children came up here. The youngest climber was only nine years old.

The weather is comparatively mild. The average temperature at the top is 20 degrees below zero, it is much colder at night. The humidity here is low, but strong winds will not let a person forget where he is.

Presidential Mount McKinley.

Located in Alaska, 210 km north of Anchorage. It occupies the third position in height above sea level - 6190 m. In fact, this is a huge granite block that crawled out of the ground as a result of tectonic activity. It happened about 60 million years ago.

The mountain was often renamed. It was originally called Denali, which means ‘great’ in the Athabaskan language. When the Russians came to Alaska, the granite giant was simply called Big Mountain. In 1896, when Alaska was ceded to the United States, the mountain was named after President William McKinley. However, in 2015, the first name was returned to her.

Based on climbing statistics, this peak is not for everyone. Only 58% of attempts are successful. Since 1913, the mountain has taken the lives of more than 100 people. Weather conditions and lack of oxygen do not stop people, even if they have to go alone in winter. So did Loni Dupre, who successfully climbed Denali and descended unscathed on January 11, 2015.

Kilimanjaro.

The highest point in Africa - 5892 m. Located in Tanzania and is a potentially active volcano. Presumably the last eruption took place 200 thousand years ago, but the lava has not gone anywhere. It is located under the crater at a depth of 400 m.

Kilimanjaro has three peaks that are separate volcanoes:

Shira - 3962 m;
Mawenzi - 5149 m;
Kobo - 5892 m.

A distinctive feature of the mountain is the ice cap, which has not left the top for 11 thousand years, since the last ice age. However, over the past hundred years, due to deforestation and reduced rainfall, the glacier has shrunk by 80%.

One of the easiest peaks to climb. The first documented assault took place in 1889. It was made by a group of climbers led by Hans Meyer. Trained climbers can climb to the top and come back down in 10 hours. For beginners, due to the need for acclimatization, it takes 5 days.

The highest mountain in Europe - Elbrus.

It belongs to the same type of mountains as Kilimanjaro - a stratovolcano. The last eruption occurred around 50 AD. e. It has a saddle shape with two peaks: the eastern one - 5621 m; western - 5642 m.

The mountain is shrouded in many glaciers with a total area of 134.5 km2. Melt water flowing down the slopes of Elbrus feeds several large rivers: Kuban, Baksan and Malka. The weather here changes from bad to good every 5-7 days. In summer it is hot - 25-35 degrees, in winter at an altitude of 3,000 m the temperature drops to -12-20 degrees.

From the point of view of mountaineering, Elbrus is not particularly difficult to climb, but there are several extreme routes. The peak was stormed even on a motorcycle in 1963 and a car in 1997.

Vinson Peak is the highest point on the sixth continent.

The mountain is part of the massif of the same name, which is located 1200 km from the South Pole and extends 21 km in length and 13 km in width. The highest point is at around 4897 m above sea level.

American pilots discovered Vinson Peak in 1957, and after 9 years its summit was conquered by climber Nicholas Clinch. Despite the aggressive conditions of the Antarctic, it is relatively comfortable here in summer. In the tents of the assault camp, the temperature is kept in the range of 0-10 degrees Celsius. During the ascent, the thermometer often drops below thirty-five degrees.

Pyramid of Carstens, or Puncak Jaya.

Located on the island of New Guinea. Its peak is considered the highest point of Oceania and Australia - 4884 m, and according to some sources - 5030 meters. Jaya Peak was discovered by European explorer Jan Carstens in 1623.

Arriving in Holland, he spoke about the glacier he saw, for which he was ridiculed. Like, where is the glacier in the tropics from ?! However, they laughed at him in vain. What he saw was one of the highest mountains in the world.

Despite such an early discovery, the first ascent took place only after 339 years. A group of climbers led by Heinrich Harrer stormed the mountain in 1962.

The highest mountain in Kazakhstan

On the border with Kyrgyzstan and China, on the Tien Shan ridge, the majestic and cold Khan Tengri rises. This is the highest point in Kazakhstan - 7010 m above sea level. The name of the mountain is Turkic and translates as ‘Lord of Heaven’.

Externally, Khan-Tengri is a natural pyramid with regular edges. The top of the mountain is covered with a layer of ice 15 meters thick. In pagan times, people believed that the supreme God lives there, who rules the whole world from there.

The first mention of the mountain is found in the writings of ancient explorers and adventurers. As for modern research, it began in the middle of the 19th century, when the geographer P. Semenov made a detailed description of the mountain.

The first successful assault on Khan Tengri took place on September 11, 1931. The climbers from the Ukrainian expedition became heroes. It was headed by Mikhail Pogrebetsky, Boris Tyurin and Franz Sauber. Athletes long and scrupulously thought out and worked out the route of ascent. As a result, it was decided to go along the southern and southwestern side of the mountain.

Khan Tengri is famous not only for its beauty, but also for regular accidents. The mountain takes several people every season. 2004 was especially dark. Then, during the ascent, a Polish climber died, and a month later, due to an avalanche at an altitude of 5,000 m, a group of 50 people was trapped. While the rescue operation was underway, 11 climbers from Russia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic died.

The highest mountains in the world annually attract hundreds of daredevils who risk their lives for the indescribable feeling of unity with nature. They can be understood, because the one who once ascended to the top wants to repeat it again and again. Vysotsky also wrote: “The whole world is in the palm of your hand - you are happy and dumb and only a little jealous of those others whose peak is yet to come.”

This rating will present mountain peaks that have a height of more than 8 kilometers. Such mountains are called eight-thousanders", there are 14 of them in the world, all of them are located in Asia, namely in two neighboring mountain systems: the Himalayas and the Karakorum.
The most famous and highest mountain system in the world is the Himalayas, there are 10 eight-thousanders in it. To understand why this area of the Earth became what it is today, one has to look back 120 million years ago, when the Indian subcontinent separated from the Gondwana supercontinent and began to move north at a rate of 5 centimeters per year. 80 million years Hindustan accelerated three times, up to 15 centimeters per year. It moved until it collided with Eurasia, and the Himalayas formed at the meeting point of two tectonic plates. To visit the Himalayas, you need to go to one of the following countries: India, Nepal, China (Tibet), Pakistan or Bhutan.
The second highest mountain system Karakoram, where 4 eight-thousanders are located, is located in the northwest of the western chain of the Himalayas and covers three countries: India, Pakistan, China (Tibet and Xinjiang).
Next is the rating, which presents the highest mountains in the world, their location and the year when they were first conquered.

14th place. Shishabangma(Himalayas). Height 8027 m. The mountain is located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. For the first time this mountain peak was conquered by a Chinese expedition in 1964 led by Xu Jing.

13th place. Gasherbrum II(Karakorum). Height 8035 m. The summit is located in Kashmir, in the Pakistan-controlled Northern Territories on the border with China (Tibet Autonomous Region). The first ascent of the mountain was made by climbers Fritz Moravek, Hans Willenpart, Sepp Larch (Austria) in 1956.

12th place. Broad Peak(Karakoram). Height 8051 m. Located in Kashmir, in the Pakistan-controlled Northern Territories on the border with China (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region). The first ascent of the mountain was in 1957 by an Austrian expedition consisting of Fritz Wintersteller, Markus Schmuck, Kurt Diemberger and Hermann Buhl.

11th place. Gasherbrum I(Karakorum). Altitude 8080 m. The summit is located in Kashmir, in the Pakistan-controlled Northern Territories on the border with China (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region). In 1958, members of the American expedition Peter Schoening and Andrew Kaufman make the first ever ascent of the mountain along the southeast ridge.

10th place. Annapurna I(Himalayas). Height 8091 m. The peak is located in Nepal. Annapurna became the first eight-thousander conquered by man. French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal climbed it in 1950.

9th place. Nangaparbat(Himalayas). Height 8125 m. The summit is located in the northwestern tip of the Western Himalayas between the Indus and Astor rivers, in Kashmir, in the Pakistan-controlled Northern Territories. The first successful ascent of the mountain was made in 1953 by the Austrian Hermann Buhl. It was an episode that had no analogues in the history of conquering eight-thousanders until that time: Buhl reached the summit alone. It is also worth noting that Hermann Buhl conquered Nanga Parbat without the use of oxygen.

8th place. Manaslu(Himalayas). Height 8156 m. The peak is located in Nepal. The first ascent of the mountain took place in 1956 by the Japanese Toshio Imanishi and Sherpas (Sherpas are a people living in Eastern Nepal, as well as in India) Gyalzen Norbu.

7th place. Dhaulagiri I(Himalayas). Height 8167 m. The peak is located in Nepal. In 1960, the Swiss-Austrian expedition Dimberger, Diener, Shelbert, Forer and the Navang and Nyima Sherpas conquered the mountain for the first time.

6th place. Cho Oyu(Himalayas). Height 8201 m. Located on the border of Nepal with China (Tibet Autonomous Region). In 1954, the first ascent was made by members of the Austrian expedition Herbert Tichy, Josef Johler and Sherpa Pazang Dawa Lama.

5th place. Makalu(Himalayas). Height 8485 m. The mountain peak is located on the border of Nepal with China (Tibet Autonomous Region). In 1955, a French expedition led by Jean Franco succeeds by climbing the mountain along the northern route. On May 15-17, three groups climb Makalu in total 9 people - all members of the expedition and a sirdar (leader of a group of Sherpas).

4th place. Lhotse(Himalayas). Height 8516 m. It is located on the border of Nepal with China (Tibet Autonomous Region), 3 km south of Everest and is separated from it by the South Col Pass. The first ascent of Lhotse Main was made in 1956 by the Swiss Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luhsinger.

Lhotse (right) and Everest

3rd place. Kanchenjunga(Himalayas). The height is 8586 m. Until 1852, Kanchenjunga was considered the highest mountain in the world, but then calculations showed that Everest is higher, and Kanchenjunga is the third highest peak. Located on the border of Nepal and India (Sikkim). The first successful ascent of the mountain was made on May 25, 1955 by British expedition members George Band and Joe Brown. Kanchenjunga was one of the favorite themes in the painting of Nicholas Roerich.

2nd place. Chogori(Karakorum), also known as K2 (this site runs on a component for Joomla, named after the mountain). Height 8611 m. This is the highest mountain peak of the Karakorum. It is located on the border of Kashmir (Northern Territories controlled by Pakistan) and China (Xinjiang). The first to reach the summit of K2 was an Italian expedition in 1954 led by Ardito Desio.

1st place. Chomolungma(Himalayas), also known as Everest. Chomolungma in Tibetan means "mistress of the winds", as for English name Everest, then it was awarded in honor of Sir George Everest, head of the British India Survey in 1830-1843. The first to determine that Chomolungma is the highest mountain peak on Earth was the Indian mathematician and topographer Radhanat Sikdar in 1852, based on trigonometric calculations, when he was in India, 240 km from Chomolungma. The height of this greatest mountain peak in the world is 8848 meters. Chomolungma is located in China, namely in Tibet, on the border with Nepal. At the top of the Chomolungma there are strong winds blowing at speeds up to 55 m/s. The average monthly air temperature in January is -36 °C (on some nights it can drop to -50...−60 °C), in July it is around zero °C. Everest was first climbed on May 29, 1953 by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary. The climbers used oxygen devices. More than 30 Sherpas took part in the work of the expedition.

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." Such beautiful name the largest mountain received 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.

Not everyone can go around the world in search of the highest mountain in the world, but it is quite possible to make a virtual trip.

The highest mountains in the world

How far will a person have to travel to reach the highest point on our planet? What mountains are recognized as the highest on Earth? Who conquered them first and what difficulties await them on the way to the top? You may also be interested in learning about the longest mountains in the world.

Makalu

Height: 8485 m.
The country: PRC/Nepal
mountain system: Himalayas

The Tibetan "Black Giant" Makalu opens our rating - one of the five highest "eight-thousanders". Europeans learned about this snowy beauty in the middle of the 19th century, but the first expedition to its summit was equipped only a hundred years later. This is because in those years the hearts of brave climbers were captivated by its closest neighbor, Everest, and the peak of Makalu remained “in the shadow” of this giant and was “defeated” only in 1955. The legendary ascent was made by the French under the leadership of Jean Franco.

Lhotse

Height: 8516 m.
The country: PRC/Nepal
mountain system: Himalayas

There are not so many points on the map of our planet that have overcome the mark of 8 kilometers in height. Mount Lhotse is one of them. Its last peak (Lhotse Middle) was conquered by climbers only in 2001. Members of the Russian expedition led by V. Kozlov and N. Cherny were the first to set foot on this pointed rocky peak. The main peak was conquered in 1956 by a group of Swiss climbers while climbing neighboring Everest. But the eastern wall of Lhotse remains unconquered to this day.

Kanchenjunga

Height: 8568 m.
The country: India/Nepal
mountain system: Himalayas

The third highest point on our planet is located on the Kanchenjunga mountain range, which, in turn, belongs to the Himalaya system. There are five peaks at Kanchenjunga, hence the name, which in Tibetan means "Five treasures of the great snows." The highest is the Main Kanchenjunga (8568 m.). However, three more of them rightfully bear the proud title of eight-thousanders: Yalun-Kang (8505), South (8491) and Central (8478).

The first attempt to conquer the wayward peak was made in 1905, but was not crowned with success. After three-quarters of the way, the group led by Aleister Crowley turned back. Only in 1955, the Englishmen Joe Brown and George Bend were able to reach the main peak.

There is a legend among the local population that Mount Kanchenjunga is a woman, and therefore hates in advance all the girls who set foot on its slope. Only one woman, Ginette Harrison, an Englishwoman, climbed the summit in 1998.

Chogori

Height: 8611 m.
The country: PRC/Pakistan
mountain system: Karakoram

The second highest mountain in the world after Everest also belongs to the Himalayas. Chogori, codenamed K-2 among climbers, is located on the aligned border of Pakistan and China. The letter "K" means "Karakoram", and "2" is the serial number of the peak, which in 1856 was awarded to it by the traveler Colonel Montgomery.

According to statistics, every fourth person who dared to conquer the top of Chogori is doomed to death. Therefore, this peak has another name - the killer mountain. On its slopes, the legendary Russian climber Pyotr Kuznetsov found his last refuge.

The highest mountain is Everest

Height: 8848 m.
The country: Nepal/PRC
mountain system: Himalayas

The highest mountain peak in the world is Chomolungma, better known to us as Everest. It is located almost in the most "philosophical" part of the earth - in Tibet. This majestic snow-covered pyramid has amazed many generations of travelers, and even now, when the summit of Everest has been repeatedly conquered, it inspires thousands of brave climbers to pack their bags and set off on a long journey full of deadly dangers.

Everest, one of the most beautiful places in the world, is part of the Himalayas. The mountain is located between Nepal and China, but its peak is still located in China, in the Tibet Autonomous Region. According to different sources, the height of Everest ranges from 8844 to 8852 meters.

This data is constantly changing. In the spring of 2010, the people of China officially recorded the highest mountain at 8848 meters. And in 2016, scientists “proved” that the summit of Everest is actually 4 meters lower than the claimed height. By the way, it has already been proven that Chomolungma grows annually by about five millimeters due to the movement of lithospheric plates, at the junction of which Everest is located.

The highest mountain on the planet has quite a few names. The inhabitants of Tibet call Everest the "Mother of the gods of the earth" ("Divine (qomo) mother (ma) of life (lung)" - Chomolungma). But the Nepalese call it Sagarmatha. It means "Forehead of Heaven" or "Mother of the Gods". Well, the name "Everest" was given to the mountain by the British in honor of George Everest, who in 1830-1843 led the geodetic service of British India. A few years after the scientist's death, in 1856, his successor Andrew Waugh proposed that the mountain should be named Everest. By the way, it was he who presented the data on the study of the heights of "Peak XV" and confirmed that this is the highest peak, probably in the whole world.

The history of climbing Everest

The first time a man climbed the highest mountain on May 29, 1953. The pioneers of Everest were New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpas (Sherpas are one of the peoples of Nepal) Tenzing Norgay. They passed through the South Col along the path that the Swiss had explored shortly before. The conquerors took oxygen devices with them. The team itself consisted of 30 people. In May 1982, 11 climbers from Soviet Union. They climbed the southwestern slope, which until then was considered impassable. Ukrainians Mikhail Turkevich and Sergey Bershov especially distinguished themselves in the expedition - they were the first in history to climb Everest at night.

Well, in 2001, an amazing feat was accomplished - a blind American named Eric Weihenmeier climbed the mountain. Before this ascent, he had already visited all the highest peaks of all seven continents, he also visited the highest mountains of Russia. Thus, the man wanted to prove that all the tasks that people seem unattainable are actually achievable. Another Everest record was set on May 14, 2005. Test pilot Didier Delsalle of Eurocopter was the first in the world to successfully land a helicopter on the peak of the mountain.

Three years later, the most old man. They became 76-year-old Nepalese Bahadur Sherkhan.

Two years later, the youngest person appeared on the peak of Everest, 13-year-old American citizen Jordan Romero, who conquered the summit with his father. Prior to this, this record was assigned to a 15-year-old boy.

Another unusual ascent was made by a group of Nepalese. 20 people went on a risky expedition to collect waste that climbers leave on the slopes. They collected about 1800 kilograms of garbage.

Everest dangers

Every year about 500 people try to reach the summit of Everest. They are not afraid that at night the air temperature there can drop to -600 C, and the wind literally knocks you off your feet - the speed of its gusts reaches 200 meters per second. Nevertheless, according to some estimates, about 5 thousand climbers have already climbed the highest mountain. Each climb takes approximately 2 months. At this time, the period of acclimatization and the installation of camps is laid. By the way, during such a trip, travelers lose weight by an average of 10-15 kilograms.

And one more difficulty, however, insignificant in comparison with the previous ones. The states on whose territory the approaches to the mountain are located ask for a large amount of money for the right to climb the summit of Everest. The authorities also establish the order of departures of climbing companies. You will have to pay the least for climbing Chomolungma from Tibet. Well, try to conquer the top better in spring and in autumn, as the monsoons are not so active at this time.

Travel companies call different prices for hiking up the mountain from Nepal: on average, from 20 to 60 thousand dollars. From the Chinese side, this can be done cheaper: about 4.6 thousand dollars will have to be spent per person. It is worth adding that these funds are used to purchase an attempt to climb, but do not guarantee a successful result.

How much does it cost to conquer Everest?

Experts say that the success of the expedition depends on the weather and the equipment of the team. Before climbing Everest, you must definitely go through acclimatization. The most difficult, experienced people say, is the last three hundred meters of the way to the top. Climbers call them the "dead zone" or "the longest mile on Earth." In this area you need to go through a very smooth and steep stone slope, which is covered with snow. But the main obstacle is not a slippery surface, but rarefied air, literally overshadowing the climber's mind.

Pay for a dream

Thousands of climbers have tried to climb Mount Everest. Some paid for it with their lives. Since the discovery of the peak until today, more than two hundred people have died during the expeditions. According to some reports, most often this happened due to lack of oxygen. Sometimes people died in avalanches, on descents or ascents, due to heart failure or frostbite.

Found dead climbers bury the people of Nepal. They sincerely follow centuries-old traditions and do everything so that the souls of climbers find peace. According to beliefs, if you do not make a special solemn ceremony "saving the souls of the dead", then the dead climbers will not find peace and will wander on the "roof of the world". And local climbers set off on their way to the top of the highest mountain only with talismans and rituals, so as not to meet the spirits of Chomolungma.

The dark side of Everest

According to the Buddhist and professional Nepalese guide Pemba Dorj, in May 2004, on his way to the top of Everest, he took with him a medallion with the image of the Dalai Lama and an amulet from a Buddhist monastery. The man climbed the peak in a record 8 hours and 10 minutes. And in the "dead zone", which is located at an altitude of 8 kilometers above sea level, he met the shadows of people who held out their hands and asked for food. The Nepalese is sure that if he did not have amulets, he would not have returned alive.

Alternative record holders

In 2016, scientists stunned the public with the message that Everest is no longer the highest point on the planet. The earth, they say, has the shape of a geoid - a figure flattened at the poles and convex at the equator. And this means that if you measure the height of a mountain from the center of the earth, then mountain ranges located along the equator will have an a priori advantage in height. Of course, such reports caused only loud laughter among the surveyors. But - for the sake of interest - we will give below the data on the "new champions".

Chimborazo

The Mauna Kea volcano protrudes 4.2 kilometers above the surface of the Pacific Ocean - an impressive figure. But this, as they say, is only a small part of the iceberg. Most of its base is hidden under water, and the total height of the mountain is 10203 meters. Therefore, if we take into account only the distance from the foot to the top, and not the height of the mountain above sea level, then Mauna Kea can safely be considered the highest mountain in the world.
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The process of formation of mountains on Earth takes millions of years. They arise from the collision of huge tectonic plates that make up the earth's crust.

Today we will get acquainted with the highest mountains on 6 continents and see how they look against the backdrop of the highest mountain peaks in the world - the "eight-thousanders", whose height above sea level exceeds 8,000 meters.

How many continents are on Earth? It is sometimes believed that Europe and Asia are 2 different continents, although they are one mainland:

Before we start talking about the highest mountains on 6 continents, let's take a look at the general diagram of the highest peaks on Earth.

"Eight-thousanders"- this is a common name for the 14 highest mountain peaks in the world, whose height above sea level exceeds 8,000 meters. They are all in Asia. The conquest of all 14 "eight-thousanders" of the planet - the conquest of the "Crown of the Earth" - is a great achievement in high-altitude mountaineering. As of July 2012, only 30 climbers have managed to do this. (Clickable, 2010×810 px):

North America - Mount McKinley, 6,194 m

This is the highest two-headed mountain in North America, named after the 25th President of the United States. Located in Alaska.

Indigenous peoples called this peak "Denali", which means "great", and during the period of Russian colonization of Alaska, it was simply called Big Mountain.

Mount McKinley, view from national park Denali:

The first ascent of the main summit of McKinley took place on June 7, 1913. There are 5 large glaciers on the slopes of the mountain.

South America - Mount Aconcagua, 6,962 m

It is the highest point in the Americas South America as well as the western and southern hemispheres. They belong to the longest mountain range in the world - the Andes.

The mountain is located in Argentina and in the Quechua language means "Stone Guardian". Aconcagua is the largest extinct volcano on our planet.

In mountaineering, Aconcagua is considered technically an easy mountain if you climb the northern slope.

The first recorded ascent of the mountain was in 1897.

Europe - Mount Elbrus, 5,642 m

This stratovolcano in the Caucasus is the highest peak in Russia. Considering that the border between Europe and Asia is ambiguous, often Elbrus is also called the highest European mountain peak. (Clickable, 2500×663 px):

Elbrus is a two-headed volcano with a saddle. The western peak has a height of 5,642 m, the Eastern one - 5,621 m. The last eruption dates back to 50 AD ...

In those days, the eruptions of Elbrus probably resembled the eruptions of modern Vesuvius, but were more powerful. From the craters of the volcano at the beginning of the eruption, powerful clouds of vapors and gases, saturated with black ash, rose many kilometers up, covering the entire sky, turning day into night. The earth shook from powerful tremors.

Today, both peaks of Elbrus are covered with eternal snow and ice. On the slopes of Elbrus, 23 glaciers diverge in different directions. The average speed of glaciers is about 0.5 meters per day.

The first successful ascent to one of the peaks of Elbrus was made in 1829. The average annual number of deaths while climbing Elbrus is 15-30 people. (Clickable, 1650×630 px):

Everest (Chomolungma) is the top of our world! The first eight-thousander in height and the highest mountain on Earth.

The mountain is located in the Himalayas in the Mahalangur-Himal range, and the southern peak (8760 m) lies on the border of Nepal, and the northern (main) peak (8848 m) is located in China.

Everest has the shape of a trihedral pyramid. At the top of the Chomolungma, there are strong winds blowing at speeds of up to 200 km / h, and the air temperature at night drops to -60 Celsius.

The first ascent to the summit of Everest took place in 1953. Since the first ascent to the summit until 2011, more than 200 people have died on the slopes of Everest. Now the climb to the top takes about 2 months - with acclimatization and setting up camps.

View from space:

Climbing Everest is not only extremely dangerous, but also expensive: the cost of climbing in specialized groups is up to 65 thousand US dollars, and the climbing permit issued by the government of Nepal alone costs 10 thousand dollars

Australia and Oceania - Mount Punchak Jaya, 4884 m

The highest peak in Australia and Oceania, which is located on the island of New Guinea. It is located on the Australian Plate and is the highest mountain in the world located on an island.

The mountain was discovered in 1623 by the Dutch explorer Jan Carstens, who saw a glacier at the top from afar. Therefore, sometimes the mountain is called the Pyramid of Carstens.

The first ascent of Puncak Jaya took place only in 1962. The name of the mountain from the Indonesian language is translated approximately as "Victory Peak".

These are the highest mountains in Antarctica. The existence of the mountain range became known only in 1957. Since the mountains were discovered by American aircraft, they were later named the Vinson Massif, after the famous American politician Carl Vinson.

View of the Vinson Massif from space:

This is the highest point in Africa, a huge dormant volcano with two well-defined peaks in the northeast of Tanzania. The mountain has had no documented eruptions, but local legends speak of volcanic activity 150-200 years ago.

The higher one is the peak of Kibo, an almost regular cone with powerful glaciation.

The name comes from the Swahili language and supposedly means "mountain that sparkles".

The snow cap that has covered the mountaintop for 11,000 years since the last Ice Age is melting fast. Over the past 100 years, the volume of snow and ice has decreased by more than 80%. It is believed that this is not caused by a change in temperature, but by a reduction in the amount of snowfall.

The highest peak in Africa was first conquered by the German traveler Hans Meyer in 1889.