Ecology
The highest peaks are at the peak of the highest mountains on the seven continents. They are known to climbers 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
The other day the program Google Maps' Street View invited everyone to enjoy the view of the highest peaks in the world, offering interactive galleries of the highest mountains on Earth.
Maps include panoramic view of 4 of 7 peaks: Everest in the Himalayas in Asia, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe and Aconcagua in South America.
You can climb these peaks virtually without jeopardizing the heights and natural hardships that climbers face.
1. The highest peak in the world and Asia - Mount Everest (Chomolungma)
Mount Everest height
8848 meters away
Mount Everest, coordinates:
27.9880 degrees North and 86.9252 degrees East (27 ° 59 "17" N, 86 ° 55 "31" E)
Where is Mount Everest located?
Mount Everest or Chomolungma is highest mountain on earthlocated in the area Mahalangur-Himal in the Himalayas. The international border between China and Nepal runs along its top. The Everest massif includes the neighboring peaks Lhotse (8516 m), Nuptse (7861 m) and Changse (7543 m).
The highest mountain in the world attracts many experienced climbers and amateurs from all over the world. While climbing the standard route is not technically a big problem, on Everest the biggest hazards are considered to be lack of oxygen, illness, 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 British, George Everest, who first measured 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.
- The first ascent of Everest committed by New Zealander Edmund Hillary (Edmund Hillary) and the Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay (Tenzing Norgay) as part of the British expedition on May 29, 1953.
The largest expedition ever 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. Most tragic year became 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 most climbed Everest. He set the record, climbing 21 times from 1990 to 2011.
2. The highest peak in South America - Mount Aconcagua
Aconcagua height
6,959 meters
Aconcagua Geographic coordinates
32.6556 degrees South and 70.0158 West (32 ° 39 "12.35" S 70 ° 00 "39.9" W)
Where is Mount Aconcagua
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the American continent, located in the Andes mountain range in the province 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:
- The name "Aconcagua" probably means from the Araucanian language "on the other side of the Aconcagua river" or from the Quechua language "Stone guard".
In terms of mountaineering, Aconcagua is easy mountain for climbingif heading along the northern route, which does not require ropes, pitons and other equipment.
- Conquered first Aconcagua British Edward Fitzgerald (Edward FitzGerald) in 1897.
10-year-old is the youngest climber to reach the summit of Aconcagua Matthew Monitz (Matthew Moniz) December 16, 2008. Oldest - 87 years old Scott Lewis (Scott Lewis) in 2007.
3. The highest mountain in North America - Mount McKinley
McKinley Height
6194 meters away
McKinley Geographic coordinates
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 Alaska in Denali National Park and is the highest peak in the United States and North America, and the third most outstanding peak in the world after Mount Everest and Aconcagua.
Other facts:
Mount McKinley used to be the highest peak in Russiauntil Alaska was sold to the United States.
Locals call it "Denali" (translated from the Athabaskan language "Great"), and the Russians who inhabited Alaska simply "Big Mountain". It was later renamed "McKinley" in honor of US President William McKinley.
- The first to conquer McKinley became American climbers led by Hudson Stuck (Hudson Stuck) and Harry Carstens (Harry Karstens) June 7, 1913.
Best climbing period - from May to July... Due to its far north latitude, it has lower atmospheric pressure and less oxygen at the summit than other high mountains in the world.
4. The highest peak in Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro height
5895 meters away
Geographic coordinates of Kilimanjaro
3.066 degrees South and 37.3591 degrees East (3 ° 4 "0" S, 37 ° 21 "33" E)
Where is Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and is 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 area.
Two peaks: Mawenzi and Shira are extinct volcanoes, while the highest - Kibo is sleeping volcanothat could erupt again. The last major eruption occurred 360,000 years ago, and activity was recorded just 200 years ago.
Other facts:
There are several versions explaining origin of "Kilimanjaro"... According to one theory, 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 over 85 percent of its snow. Scientists estimate in 20 years all the snow on Kilimanjaro will melt.
- First ascent was committed by a German explorer Hans Meyer (Hans Meyer) and an Austrian climber Ludwig Purtsheller (Ludwig Purtscheller) 3rd attempt October 6, 1889
- About 40,000 people try to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro every year.
7-year-old is the youngest climber to climb Kilimanjaro Keats Boyd (Keats Boyd) who climbed on January 21, 2008.
5. The highest peak in Europe (and Russia) - Mount Elbrus
Mount Elbrus height
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 summit of Elbrus is the highest in Russia, Europe and the western part of Asia... The western peak reaches 5642 m, and the eastern one is 5621 m.
Other facts:
- The 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 Oshkhamaho ("mountain of happiness")
Elbrus is covered with a permanent ice sheet, which supports 22 glaciers, which in turn feed the Baksan, Kuban and Malka rivers.
Elbrus located in a moving tectonic areaand molten magma lies deep beneath an extinct volcano.
- First ascent the eastern summit of Elbrus was completed on July 10, 1829 Hilar Kachirov, who was part of the expedition of the Russian general G.A. Emmanuel, and to the west (which is about 40 m higher) - in 1874 by an English expedition led by F. Crawford Grove (F. Crauford Grove).
From 1959 to 1976 it was built here cable car, which lifts 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 top
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 Massif Height
4892 meters
Geographic coordinates of Vinson Massif
78.5254 degrees South and 85.6171 degrees West (78 ° 31 "31.74" S, 85 ° 37 "1.73" W)
Vinson Massif on the map
Vinson Massif is the highest mountain in Antarctica and is located on the Sentinel Ridge 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 - a member of the United States Congress. The Vinson Massif was first discovered in 1958, and first ascent was committed in 1966.
In 2001, the first expedition ascended the summit via the Eastern Route and the height of the summit was measured using GPS.
More 1400 people tried to conquer Vinson Peak.
7. The highest peak in Australia and Oceania - Mount Punchak Jaya
Punchak-Jaya height
4884 meters
Geographic coordinates of Punchak Jaya
4.0833 degrees South 137.183 degrees East (4 ° 5 "0" S, 137 ° 11 "0" E)
Where is Punchak-Jaya
Punchak Jaya or Carstens pyramid is the highest peak of Mount Carstens in the western part of Papua province in 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.
The highest peak on the Australian continent is Mount Kostsyushko, the height of which is 2228 meters.
Other facts:
When Indonesia began to rule the province in 1963, the summit was renamed Summit Sukarno in honor of the President of Indonesia. Later it was renamed Punchak-Jaya. The word "Puncak" from Indonesian means "mountain or peak", and "Jaya" is translated as "victory".
Punchak-Jaya peak conquered for the first time in 1962, Austrian climbers led Heinrich Garrer (Heinrich Harrer) and three other members of the expedition.
Access to the top requires government approval. The mountain was closed to tourists and climbers from 1995 to 2005. Since 2006, access has been possible through various travel agencies.
Punchak Jaya is considered one of the hardest climbs... He has the highest technical rating, but not the greatest physical demands.
Everyone knows that the highest mountain is Everest. Can you name the second highest? Or at least three more from the TOP-10 list? And how many eight-thousanders are there in the world? By the way, the highest mountain is not even Everest ...
No. 10. Annapurna I (Himalayas) - 8091 meters
Annapurna I is the highest peak of the Annapurna mountain range. The height of the mountain is 8091 meters. Ranks tenth among all the peaks in the world. This peak is also considered the most dangerous - the mortality rate of climbers for all years of climbing is 32%, but in the period from 1990 to the present, the mortality rate has dropped to 17%.
The name Annapurna is translated from Sanskrit as "The Goddess of Fertility". The summit was conquered for the first time in 1950 by the French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal. Initially, they wanted to conquer Dhaulagiri, but found it unapproachable and went to Annapurna.
No. 4. Lhotse (Himalayas) - 8516 meters
Lhotse is the fourth highest peak in the world, 8516 meters high. Located on the territory of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The first successful ascent was made on May 18, 1956 by a Swiss expedition, which included Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger.
Of all attempts to climb Lhotse, only 25% were successful.
No. 3. Kanchenjunga (Himalayas) - 8586 meters.
Kanchenjunga is ranked third in the ranking of the highest peaks in the world. The height of the summit is 8586 meters. Until 1852, Kanchenjunga was considered the highest peak in the world, but after calculations based on the data of the 1849 expedition, it was proved that the highest mountain is Everest. Mount Kanchenjunga was first conquered on May 25, 1955 by George Band and Joe Brown.
At all the tops of the world, there is a tendency for mortality to decline over time, but Kanchenjunga is an exception. In recent years, the mortality rate during climbing to the top has reached 23% and is only growing. In Nepal, there is a legend that Kanchenjunga is a mountain-woman who kills all women who try to climb its summit.
No. 2. K2 or Chogori (Karakorum) - 8614 meters
K2 is the second of the highest peaks in the world. Chogori was first discovered by a European expedition in 1856 and was designated as Mount K2, that is, the second peak of the Karakorum. The first attempt at climbing was made in 1902 by Oscar Eckenstein and Aleister Crowley, but ended in failure.
The conquest of the peak took place in 1954 by an Italian expedition led by Ardito Desio. To date, 10 different routes have been laid to the top of K2.
Climbing K2 is technically much more difficult than climbing Mount Everest. In terms of danger, the mountain ranks second among the eight-thousanders after Annapurna, the death rate is 24%. None of the attempts to climb Chogori in winter were crowned with success.
No. 1. Chomolungma (Himalayas) - 8848 meters
Chomolungma (Everest) is the highest peak of the Earth. Translated from the Tibetan "Chomolungma" - "Divine (jomo) Mother (ma) vital energy (lung)". The mountain is named after the Bon goddess Sherab Chjamma.
The English name "Everest" was given in honor of Sir George Everest, the head of the Geodetic Survey of British India in 1830-1843. This name was suggested in 1856 by George Everest's successor, Andrew Waugh, after the publication of the results of his collaborator Radhanat Sikdar, who in 1852 first measured the height of "Peak XV" and showed that it is the highest in the region and probably in the whole world.
Until the first successful ascent to the summit, which took place in 1953, there were about 50 expeditions to the Himalayas and Karakorum (to Chomolungma, Chogori, Kanchenjunga, Nangaparbat and other peaks). On May 29, 1953 Everest was conquered by New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
In subsequent years, the highest peak in the world was conquered by climbers from different countries of the world - the USSR, China, USA, India, Japan, and other countries. For all the time, when trying to climb Everest, more than 260 people died on it. Nevertheless, more than 400 people try to conquer Chomolungma every year.
Mountains are great and mighty, they surround people all over the world. Some of them reach unprecedented heights, and some remain small protrusions on the ground. The largest mountains have always attracted people, but it is not so easy to conquer them. There are 14 mountains in the world exceeding 8000 m in height. About 150 years ago, such an altitude was considered fatal for humans. Now everyone knows that people were able to conquer even the highest and impregnable peaks, but along the way there were many victims. In this article, we will point out where the largest mountains are, as well as some interesting facts about them.
Everest is the tallest and largest mountain in the world. It is located in the Himalayan mountain system on the Mahalangur-Himal ridge. The northern peak of Everest is the highest point on the planet, it is located in China. Its height reaches 8848 m above sea level. The southern peak is slightly inferior and reaches a height of 8760 m above sea level, located on the border of the Republic of Nepal and Tibet.
Mount Everest has several names. In Tibetan language her name is "Chomolungma", which means "Mother Goddess of the World", and in ancient Indian language the mountain is called "Sagarmatha" - the ocean of mother. The official name of Mount Everest was given in honor of Ser George Everest, the head of the Geodetic Survey of India.
Everest has the shape of a three-sided pyramid, its southern slope is quite steep, and snow does not linger on it. The glaciers that cover the mountain begin at an altitude of 5000 km. The Arun River flows near Everest, its length is more than 6 km.
In 1852, the topographer and mathematician Radhanat Sikdar, having made trigonometric calculations, came to the conclusion that Everest is the largest mountain in the world.
Everest attracts many climbers with its inaccessibility, but not all dare to conquer it. To climb the mountain, you must have not only a great desire, but also excellent health and endurance, and at least $ 8,000. Climbing the mountain is dangerous, while trying to do so, about 260 people died. The reason for this is the harsh climate and difficult conditions. during the entire ascent, the air becomes more and more rarefied and less saturated with oxygen. The air temperature is not higher than -50-60 ° С, and the wind speed can reach 55 m / s. In such conditions, a person feels the temperature as -100-120 ° C. Solar radiation also poses a hazard to climbers. We must not forget about the standard risks when climbing to the peaks, this is an avalanche convergence, steep slopes and cliffs from them, relief crevices hidden under the snow.
The first to conquer Everest were the famous Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. In 1953, climbers developed a route through the South Col and were able to reach the highest point on the planet. Today, almost everyone can climb Everest (of course, if health permits and there is an opportunity to purchase expensive equipment). There are hiking trails on the largest mountain, and mountain climbing guides help to make the dream of many mountain lovers come true. Throughout the history of the ascent, several records have been recorded, for example, the smallest participant in the expedition is a girl from India, Purna Malavath. At the time of the ascent, she was only 13 years old and 11 months old, and the oldest participant in the expedition to Everest is Yuichiro Miura, who passed this difficult path at the age of 80.
Everest is considered the largest mountain located above sea level, but if you take into account the part of the Mauna Kea volcano, submerged in water, then it significantly exceeds the size of Everest. This mountain peak is located on the island of Hawaii and is currently considered a dormant volcano. Scientists believe that the last eruption took place at least 4500 years ago. The Mauna Kea volcano rises 4200 meters above sea level, and its total height is 10203 meters. The volcano, having a large mass, gradually slides and smoothes under its own weight, this happens at a speed of 0.02 mm per year. Based on these dimensions, we can say that Mauna Kea is the largest mountain in the world.
More than half of Mauna Kea is under the water of the Pacific Ocean
In addition to Mauna Kea, the Hawaiian Islands have a number of extinct volcanoes, but they are all much smaller. For the locals, they are sacred, and only the leaders have the right to climb to the top of the famous Mauna Kea. Ordinary residents of these lands are strictly prohibited from visiting these places.
Hawaiians have settled on the slopes of the volcano since ancient times, and the surrounding vast forests allowed them to survive. Here they found food, and starting from the 18th century, after the first arrival of Europeans to the islands, the local residents acquired cattle and sheep. The diet has improved markedly, but the breeding of these animals has a negative impact on the environmental situation in general.
At an altitude of 3975 meters above sea level, you can visit Lake Waiau
Mauna Kea can surprise you not only with its size, but also with a variety of ecological zones. Alpine forests grow at its very top, thickets of golden sophora and sandalwood are located a little lower. And complete the local forest flora of Acacia koa and Metrosideros polymorpha. Unfortunately, the latter are practically destroyed by humans due to the development of the sugar industry, but the authorities of the Hawaiian Islands decided to revive the old vegetation. For this, whenever possible, the species of plants and animals brought into the protected area are eradicated.
The highest point of the Hawaiian Islands turned out to be the best place for astronomical observations. Since 1964, in agreement with the local authorities, 13 telescopes have been installed at the very top.
Eleven countries are observing and studying space objects
Mount Chogori or K2 is located on the Kashmir border of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China on the Baltoro Ridge. It is the second highest peak, but much more dangerous than Everest.
Climbing Chogori is possible only in the summer months, during the winter it is fraught with death or serious injury. Of the many winter expeditions, none have been successful.
Chogori is 8611 meters high, its slopes are steep and dangerous. There are not even 300 climbers in the whole world who have managed to conquer this peak. The mortality rate when climbing K2 is 25%. With numerous attempts to climb the dangerous mountain, 66 people died.
Those who decided to try their luck and climb this height on the way will face avalanches and falls of stones and seracs, cracks on the approaches and one-time descent of huge masses of snow are also dangerous. And all this besides thin air and low temperatures.
Chogori has the unofficial name "Mountain of Death"
In 1902, there was the first attempt to conquer Chogori, but it, like all subsequent ones, was not crowned with success for 50 years. Only in 1954, A. Compagnoni from Valfurno and L. Lacedelli from Cortina d'Ampezzo were able to conquer the summit of K2. In 1996, the Russian team led by I. Dusharin chose the route for the ascent of the North ridge of Chogori. Experienced climbers conquered the summit and hoisted the Russian flag on it. And in 2007, a team of 11 climbers led by V. Kozlov laid a route along the previously inaccessible Western side of K2. At the same time, they did not use oxygen equipment, which could greatly facilitate this difficult path.
Mount Olympus on the planet Mars
If we consider all the mountains known to mankind, not only on planet Earth, but also on other planets, then Mount Olympus, located on Mars, will rightfully take the leading place. Its dimensions are simply amazing, its height reaches 26,200 meters, and its width is about 540,000 meters. The gigantic hill was once a volcano and that is why it has grown to this size. And due to the fact that there are no tectonic plates on Mars, there is no movement of the planet's crust. It is for this reason that Olympus still rises, and it can be seen in full only from a great distance - from the orbit of the planet or from the Earth. For scientists, Olympus is a mystery, as its slopes are steep. There is an assumption that earlier it was surrounded by the ocean and the water washed the shores of the mountain.
The eruption of the Olympus volcano on Mars was more than 2,000,000 years ago
Mountain ranges surround us, they conceal many dangers and at the same time beckon. Anyone who at least once dared to climb a mountainous elevation receives mesmerizing views as a reward, nature thus rewards daredevils. And each time, climbing higher and higher, a person wants to conquer the next mountain peak and see with his own eyes the largest mountains. But this is not so easy to do. Indeed, there are 14 mountain peaks in the world that exceed an altitude of 8000 m, and there are only 30 people who have visited each of them.
Mountains are magnificent creations of wildlife. Sometimes they are so beautiful that it is impossible to take your eyes off them. Mountain ranges and snow-capped peaks make up beautiful landscapes. Many tourists strive to visit the mountainous regions, as these places give an unforgettable experience. Extremals from all over the world annually conquer one peak after another, trying to ascend to the most unattainable heights. In total, there are a huge number of mountains on the globe, very different in size from each other. A mountain is an elevation on land with a height of more than 500 meters. Distinguish between low, medium, high mountains. The latter include all elevations, more than 2000 meters in length from base to top. At the same time, their relative height is indicated - the size from the foot to the top. The absolute height is measured from sea level, as a rule, this is a larger parameter. Scientists have compiled a table of all the largest mountains on the planet. The list of the highest peaks in the world includes 117 hills. They are over 7200 meters above sea level. All of them are located in Central and South Asia. The top 10 tallest mountains in the world include peaks that mainly belong to the Himalayas (except for one). The Himalayas are the highest mountain system on the planet. It is located between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Top 10 tallest mountains in the world
- Chomolungma: 8848 m.
- Chogori: 8611 m.
- Kanchenjunga: 8586.
- Lhotse: 8516 m.
- Makalu: 8485 m.
- Cho-Oyu: 8188 m.
- Dhaulagiri: 8167 m.
- Manaslu: 8163 m.
- Nangaparbat: 8126 m.
- Annapurna 1: 8091 m.
Chomolungma is the highest mountain on the planet
Chomolungma tops the list of the highest mountains, formed in descending order. She is the highest peak in the world. It is located in the Mahalangur-Himal mountain range. The southern end of the mountain is located near the border with Nepal, its northern point (the highest) belongs to China. Other names for the highest peak on the planet:
- Everest;
- Sagarmatha;
- Shengmufeng.
Chomolungma has the shape of an irregular tetrahedron, in which two edges are flatter than the third. It is in contact with other mountain peaks, which are also ranked among the highest. These are the South Col (7906 meters), Lhotse (8516 meters), North Col (7020 meters), Changse (7553 meters). At the top of Everest there are accumulations of ice, from which water flows down on all faces of the tetrahedron. The hill attracts a lot of extreme people who want to put it on the list of peaks they have conquered. With the development of tourism, this has become much easier. Travelers are required to complete the necessary training, equip themselves in accordance with all the rules, pay fees for transport services, communications, security.
The cost of lifting and traveling along the route is several tens of thousands of dollars. In this case, you need to obtain an expedition permit, which is paid separately. The entire path can be covered in a period of 3 to 4 weeks. The expedition includes accommodation in camps, acclimatization. Difficulties lie not only in the development of the steepness itself, which requires enormous physical resources, but also in the fact that the summit of the highest point in the world has abnormally low temperature regimes. They reach -60 degrees, which can pose a threat to human life. Plus, strong winds are present there, and solar radiation affects. The last section, leading directly to the top, is called the longest mile, as it is the most dangerous. This is a very steep path that is not easy to overcome.
Chogori is the second largest mountain in the world
Chogori ranks second in the top 10 largest mountains in the world. Also, this peak is the northernmost of the list of all eight-thousanders in the world. This is the only peak from the top 10, which does not belong to the Himalayas, but to the Karakorum mountain system. It is located within the Baltoro-Muztag mountain range, which runs from Kashmir to China. She is also known under the names K2, Dapsang, Godwin-Austen.
In the late 80s, its height was contested as the highest in the world. A team of scientists from the United States said that measurements taken with the help of a satellite show a magnitude of about 8,900 meters, which puts Chogori in first place in the top 10 highest mountains in the world. However, Chinese researchers soon refuted this opinion, setting the height of the mountain at 8611 meters. Conquering Chogori is even more difficult than the object described above. The passage of the path is fraught with even greater difficulties. The figures showing the number of fatal accidents are 23-26%. For comparison: by the end of the 2000s, more than 3,500 travelers had visited Chomolungma, and only 284 had visited Chogori, and for 66 people the ascent ended in death. Chogori is the second most dangerous mountain in the world after Annapurna. In winter, not a single extreme has been able to visit the top of Chogori.
Kanchenjunga - the third eight-thousander in the world
Kanchenjunga is located in the Himalayas, like the other 8 mountains on their list of the highest. She closes the top 3 highest peaks of the planet. Its height is 8586 meters. Kanchenjunga separates India and Nepal along their border. The mountain includes five peaks, 4 of which are above 8000 meters. Its name is translated into Russian as “five treasures of the great snows”.
Until the middle of the 19th century, this mountain was considered the highest of all the peaks in the world, but then the calculations made lowered it to the third position of the top 10. Kanchenjunga, like Chogori, has a fairly high mortality rate when climbing it. The number of deaths is defined as 22%. This indicator does not decrease, even despite the higher level of technical equipment. Nepalese say that the spirit of the mountain, which took the form of a woman, is to blame for everything, so it takes the lives of girls trying to climb it. For 10 years, the only woman to climb Kanchenjunga was Briton Jeanette Harrison. Then three female climbers visited the summit: from Austria, Spain, Poland.
Lhotse - the most difficult routes
Lhotse is a mountain in the Mahalangur-Himal mountain system, in the Himalayas. It is 3 km away from Everest, the mountains are separated by the South Col pass. Lhotse, with an absolute height of 8516 meters, ranks 4th in the top 10 tallest mountains in the world. From the side, Lhotse looks like a tetrahedron with 3 vertices. In addition to the main one, climbers climb the Middle Summit and Shar, which are 8414 and 8383 meters long, respectively.
These two peaks are more challenging climbing routes. The average peak remained impregnable until 2001. One of the most difficult in the world is the route along the South Face on Lhotse Shar. According to the Italian extreme climber Messner, who was the first in the world to visit all 14 highest mountains from the list of eight-thousanders, there is no equal in complexity to the route of the South Face. There are also very high mortality statistics here.
Makalu is the fifth mountain from the top 10
Makalu is on the 5th position in the list of the highest peaks in the world. Its name translates as "Black Giant". It is 22 km away from Everst. Makalu consists of two peaks: Glavny and Southeast. This mountain has long been known to world-renowned climbers, but the first climbs on it began only after the 50s of the 20th century.
This fact can be explained by the fact that at first people strive to conquer the highest mountains in the world, and only then pay attention to the remaining peaks. Unlike Lhotse, which has only a few routes, Makalu has much larger tourist routes. There are 17 routes along which you can climb the peak. The first to climb Makalu was the French group. In the late 90s, Russian climbers reached the peak by climbing the mountain along the Western Face. Technical is one of the most difficult paths. The ascent was recognized as the best of the year, the participants received the prestigious Golden Ice Ax award.
Cho-Oyu is the easiest way
Cho-Oyu, or Chovuyag, is the sixth highest eight-thousander from the top 10. Its height above sea level is 8,201 meters. Chovuyag belongs to the same system of mountain ranges as the higher mountains from the list of the highest peaks in the world. This is the Everest mountain range. Unlike the previous mountains, famous for their most difficult trails, Chovuyag is considered the easiest to climb.
The way to the top runs through the Nangpa-La pass. It is located between Nepal and China, 30 km from Everest. It is the main trade route between Tibetans and the Sherpa people of Nepal. Alpinists also climb along it. Despite the easier route, not all climbers manage to successfully reach Chovuyaga Peak. There were cases of death of travelers from exhaustion or as a result of an avalanche. In 2014, an American teenager, who was 16 years old, was able to conquer this mountain. He became the first climber of this age in the world to climb Cho-Oyu.
Dhaulagiri - a large number of peaks
Dhaulagiri closes the list of the seven highest mountains in the world. Another name for the peak is White Mountain. This massif is located in the center of Nepal, in the south of the Main Himalayan Range. Its peculiarity is that it has as many as 11 peaks.
The height of the main one is 8167 meters, the rest are from 7193 to 7751 meters. Like other eight-thousanders of the world, which are smaller than Everest, Dhaulagiri was conquered only in the middle of the last century. Although previously the mountain was known as competing with Everest in height. Swiss climbers, who climbed in 1960, used a light aircraft for the first time to transport equipment. The team paved the way to the top, which is now considered a classic.
Manaslu - Mountain of Spirits
Manaslu is part of the Manmiri-Himal mountain range, located in the central part of Nepal. Its name translates as Mountain of Spirits.
It is located in the national park of the same name. There is a hiking trail inside the park that takes two weeks. Its highest point is the Larkya-La pass with an altitude of 5200 meters.
Nangaparbat - hard ascent
Nangaparbat is in 9th place in the list of the world's eight-thousanders. This mountain is located in the northwestern part of the Himalayan mountain range. It represents their end. Nangaparbat is located in Pakistan. The name translates as Naked Mountain, and also - Mountain of the Gods.
Climbing routes to the top of Mount of the Gods are among the most difficult. Nangaparbat is one of the 3 most difficult peaks to climb. The array consists of 4 vertices. The height of the main one is 8125 meters, the rest have dimensions from 6820 to 7070 m.
Annapurna is the most dangerous mountain in the world
Annapurna closes the list of eight-thousanders included in the top 10. But she is famous not only for this. The trek to its top is the most difficult, which is why it is at the top of the list in terms of mortality.
This figure reaches 32%. With the development of technology and the improvement of equipment for climbers, it decreased slightly, but still remained the highest in comparison with other mountains. Another feature of the mountain is that it has the largest number of peaks - 13.
Among climbers, the highest mountains in the world are called the "Seven Summits". This list includes:
- Everest - 8848 m.
- Aconcagua - 6959 m.
- McKinley - 6194 m.
- Kilimanjaro - 5895 m.
- Elbrus - 5642 m.
- Vinson - 4892 m.
- Punchak-Jaya - 4884 m.
Major mountain peaks
Very often you can hear the question: which mountains are the highest? This is Everest. The mountain is considered the highest on the entire planet. Thousands of climbers strive to get here. Basically, if you climb along the worked out route, there are never any technical difficulties. But these beautiful mountains are not conquered by everyone. Climbers face different challenges:
- strong winds;
- lack of oxygen;
- unpredictable weather;
- various diseases.
By the way, Lhotse - this mountain, exceeding 8000 m, ranks fourth among the highest peaks in the world. It is she who is located closest to Everest. However, climbers are in no hurry to conquer its peak, there were very few ascents.
The highest mountains in the world are mainly found in the Andes. Among them, Aconcagua is considered the highest. This mountain is known for several glaciers, the most famous being the Polish Glacier. The mountains in the Andes are perhaps the most beautiful in the world.
The highest mountains are found in Alaska. Mount McKinley, reaching 6194 m, became a striking representative. What are the highest mountains? It can be considered that this mountain, having such a height, is one of the highest points on the whole Earth.
Features of highly elevated areas
The highest mountains in Africa are represented by Kilimanjaro. It is located in Tanzania and has a volcanic origin.
It includes several volcanic formations:
- Kiba;
- Mavenzi;
- Shira.
The mountain is over a million years old. It is the oldest mountain on the planet. Its formation is associated with a volcanic eruption and the ingress of lava into a beautiful rift valley. Mountain climbers have always been interested in beautiful mountains. Tens of thousands of people try to conquer this height every year.
Elbrus is considered the highest mountain in Europe and Russia. It is a long extinct volcano, but molten magma is raging under it at great depths.
The most beautiful hills are the Caucasus Mountains, among which Elbrus stands out. If you translate the word "Elbrus" into Russian, you get "high mountain". Elbrus glaciers feed several rivers:
- Kuban;
- Malka;
- Baksan.
Antarctica is considered another beautiful place. It is here that the Visson massif is located, reaching a height of 4892 m.
You can meet Punchak Jaya mountain if you visit Australia. For the first time, two Austrian climbers were able to conquer this height. This happened in the early 60s of the last century. Today, in order to conquer the rock, it is necessary to obtain government permission. Only specialized travel agencies can obtain such permission.
Annapurna - this mountain in Tibet, which is considered the most difficult on Earth to climb... In the middle of the 20th century, French climbers managed to climb its peak. This ascent is considered the most outstanding in the world for the entire existence of mountaineering.
Oxygen was not used during the ascent. This can be called a feat, because at an altitude of more than 8000 m, the air contains only 30% oxygen. A person can be in such conditions only for a short period of time. Exactly two weeks climbers descended from this mountain. The mountain in Tibet is one of the most dangerous peaks in the world, more than 40% of climbers die while climbing.
The second highest peak (Chogori) is located in the Karakorum. The peak is located at an altitude of more than 8611 m. This is the most difficult mountain to climb. Moving along the easiest route, climbers have to pass through difficult glaciers. On their way, there are rocks with steep sections. We have to overcome the often encountered seracs, which are icy boulders that can hardly hold on, which can suddenly collapse. Since it is very difficult to climb this mountain, it is considered the most dangerous on the planet. Almost 24% of people who risked conquering it die during the ascent.
Kanchenjunga is also a very dangerous peak, which reaches 8586 m and is located in the Himalayas. This mountain has also received a different name in the world, namely "The Peak of Five Treasures". Climbing Kanchenjungu is associated with the deaths of many climbers.
In recent years, the percentage of accidents has increased significantly and amounted to 22%. The main reasons were various difficulties (avalanches, atmospheric conditions and technical difficulties).
Other mountain peaks
The most famous on Earth are the following elevated areas:
- Nanga Parbat.
The height of the mountain reaches 8126 m. The rock is located in the north of the Himalayas and is considered their northern end.
To get to such a height, you need to go through a narrow mountain rise. The southern part of this ridge, exceeding 4600 m, is considered to be the largest mountain slope on the planet. Since the difficulty of climbing the mountain is characterized by a very high coefficient, this mountain received the second name "The Mountain-Killer".
In the west of Europe, right in the Alps, this high peak is located, reaching 4810 m. This name is also given to a mountain range stretching for 50 km.
A huge area is hidden under the ice. Almost 200 km² is covered with a thick ice crust. The name means "white mountain".
Famous ski resorts are located near the top:
- Chamonix - France;
- Courmayeur - Italy.
Mont Blanc was first conquered in 1786 by two French climbers Balma and Paccard. Locals call this massif the "cursed mountains" because of the high mortality rate.
Basically, for modern mountaineering, climbing this rock is not considered particularly difficult. However, accidents are recorded here almost every year. Poor preparedness, poor organization, climatic conditions and avalanches are considered the main reasons.
This most beautiful mountain on Earth is located in the Alps. She shares Italy with Switzerland. Its peak reaches 4478 m. The mountain is unique in its shape, which looks like a horn that begins to grow directly from the numerous valleys surrounding the massif. The highest mortality rate is recorded among climbers trying to conquer this mountain.