The largest high mountain in the world. Where is the highest mountain peak in the world?

All the Highest Mountains of the World

The process of formation of mountains on Earth lasts millions of years. They arise from collisions 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 thousand meters”, whose height above sea level exceeds 8,000 meters.

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

Before we start talking about the tallest mountains on the 6 continents, let's take a look at the overall chart of the tallest peaks on Earth.

“Eight-thousanders” is the 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. Conquering all 14 “eight-thousanders” on the planet—conquering the “Crown of the Earth”—is a major achievement in high-altitude mountaineering. As of July 2012, only 30 climbers managed to do this.

North America - Mount McKinley, 6,194 m

This highest double-headed mountain 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

This is the highest point of the American continent, South America, as well as the western and southern hemispheres. Belong to the longest mountain range world - Andam.

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

In mountaineering, Aconcagua is considered a technically easy mountain if you climb along 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, Elbrus is often also called the highest European mountain peak.

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

In those days, the eruptions of Elbrus were probably reminiscent of 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 upward, covering the entire sky, turning day into night. The earth shook from powerful tremors.

Nowadays, 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 glacier movement 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 death toll during climbing on Elbrus is 15-30 people.

Asia - Mount Everest, 8,848 m

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

The mountain is located in the Himalayas in the Mahalangur Himal range, with the Southern peak (8760 m) lying on the border of Nepal, and the Northern (main) peak (8848 m) located in China.

Everest has the shape of a triangular pyramid. At the top of 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 top of Everest took place in 1953. From the first ascent to the summit until 2011, more than 200 people 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 alone, issued by the Nepalese government, costs 10 thousand dollars

Australia and Oceania - Mount Puncak Jaya, 4884 m

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

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

The first ascent of Puncak Jaya took place only in 1962. The name of the mountain roughly translates from Indonesian as “Victory Peak.”

Antarctica - Windson Massif, 4,892 m

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 subsequently named Vinson Massif, in honor of the famous American politician Carl Vinson.

View of Vinson Massif from space:

Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro, 5,895 m

It is the highest point in Africa, a huge dormant volcano with two well-defined peaks in northeastern Tanzania. The mountain has 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 rapidly melting. 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 snowfall.

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

All cat sleeping positions

Greetings to all readers of the site “I and the World”! Today we will look at which mountains are the highest on our planet and see which one is the highest peak on earth. Where it is located and in what country, what it is called and what is the height in meters, you will learn from this article.

Kosciuszko – 2228 m


This mountain is the largest on mainland Australia. It is located in one of the states on the continent among the Australian Alps. The peak was first climbed by a geographer from Poland in 1840. He named the mountain in honor of the national Polish politician Tadeusz Kosciuszko.

Western Alps – 4810 m


The most big mountain Europe - Mont Blanc, located between Italy and France among the European Alps. The highest point is covered by an ice massif, where there is constant snow, and which was first conquered by two Frenchmen at the end of the 18th century. A century later, the future American President Roosevelt traveled here with his young wife.

Antarctica – 4897 m


Vinson - the highest mountain range Antarctica, located 1200 km from the South Pole. It is 21 km long and 13 km wide. The object was discovered by American pilots in the mid-20th century, and Nicholas Clinch first conquered it 10 years later.

Mountain in Russia – 5642 m


Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe, which rises in the Russian Caucasus. This volcano mountain has two highest points: the western one - 5642 m, in the east - 5621 m. The volcano is dormant, waking up for the last time in the 50s AD. e. The top is almost completely covered with ice. It was first conquered by the military at the beginning of the 19th century under the leadership of General Emmanuel.

On the continent of Africa - 5891.8 m


Kilimanjaro is a volcano in one of the African countries. The peak is covered with a snow cap, which is actively melting every year and has decreased by almost 80% over the past 100 years. The volcano was first conquered at the end of the 19th century, although the ascent is not considered too difficult, but quite spectacular.

McKinley – 6168 m


The largest mountain in North America, located in Alaska. It was first explored by the Russian traveler Lavrenty Zagoskin, but the Reverend Hudson Stack conquered the peak at the beginning of the 20th century. When Alaska was Russian, the mountain was simply called Bolshaya, and after the transition to America, it was named in honor of the 25th president.

Aconcagua – 6962 m

The mountain rises in the center of the Argentine Andes or Cordillera. It is considered the largest in the western and southern hemispheres of the earth. The first conquest of Aconcagua was recorded at the end of the 19th century by a British citizen. It is not difficult to climb the peak if you do it on the north side.


Top of Asia – 8848 m


If Eurasia is conditionally divided in half, then the highest in Asia is Chomolungma or Everest: the height of 8848 m belongs to the Northern part, and the South is 8760 m high. The mountain is located in the Himalayas. For the first time, its height was determined by a mathematician from India using calculations, without climbing the mountain. And the ascent occurred for the first time in the middle of the 20th century. Nai highest point The mountain peak of the world has a pyramidal appearance, and the climate here is very harsh. The wind blows at a speed of 55 m/sec, and the temperature can drop to -60 degrees, so climbing the mountain is quite difficult. Almost 300 climbers have already died here.

Mauna Kea – 10203 m


If you do calculations at the beginning of the mountain from its base, then the greatest peak on planet earth will be Mauna Kea. The beginning is immersed deep under water, and this is most of the entire mountain range. The volcano is almost a million years old and is now inactive. At the very top there is an excellent area for astronomers, and in 2014 the construction of the largest telescope on Earth began here.


We determined which of the highest peaks on each continent, showed them a list, and they are precisely identified on the maps. When going on a trip to the mountains, you need to be extremely careful, because you don’t know what can happen every minute.

The relief of our planet is bizarre, deep depressions replaced by high mountains. There are 14 peaks on Earth that have “overcome” the 8000 m mark. But the highest of the “eight thousand meters”, which at first glance are inaccessible, are especially attractive to climbers.

Conquering the highest peak on the planet is the dream of all climbers. What are the highest mountains in the world?

Fifth place – Makalu (8485 meters, Himalayas)

Opens the ranking of the five highest mountains on Earth Makalu. Located almost in the center of the Himalayas, on the border of China and Nepal, the peak is part of the Mahalangur-Hemal mountain range. Extremely steep slopes and year-round glaciation make the mountain incredibly difficult to climb; less than a third of all expeditions are successful. The first successful attempt to conquer the peak was recorded in 1955. 26 climbers died during the ascents.

The mountain range consists of two peaks, its shape resembles a four-sided pyramid. The local population treats Makal with respect and some fear, respectfully calling her the “Black Giant”. The height of the peak of Makalu is 8485 meters.

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Fourth place – Lhotse (8516 meters, Himalayas)


The closest “neighbor” of Everest is only 3 km away, Lhotse is located on the border of China and Nepal and is part of the Nepalese Sagarmatha National Park. Known for quite a long time, the mountain was conquered only in 1956. Of all the eight-thousanders, the summit has the smallest number of routes, and successful ascents account for only 25%.

The mountain has an unusual shape of a triangular pyramid; it has three peaks, each above 8000 meters. Translated from Tibetan, the name Lhotse sounds like “southern peak”. The height of this mountain is 8516 meters.

Third place - Kanchenjunga (Himalayas)


Kanchenjunga is the third highest Mountain peak in the world, its height is 8586 meters. Until the middle of the last century, until Chogori and Everest were discovered, it was considered the highest in the world.. The first successful ascent of the mountain happened in 1954. 40 climbers died while conquering the peak. Moreover, contrary to the trend characteristic of other “eight-thousanders”, the mortality rate does not decrease over time, but rather increases. According to Nepalese legend, Kanchenjunga is a female mountain who, out of jealousy, kills women trying to conquer the peak.

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Roerich's painting “Kanchenjunga”

Located on the border of India and Nepal, the peak is extremely picturesque; translated its name sounds like “5 treasures of the great snows.” The extraordinary beauty of Kanchenjunga captivated the Russian philosopher and educator Nicholas Roerich. On canvas he captured the unique natural charm of a mountain peak.

Second place Chogori (Himalayas)


Chogori is the northernmost of the “eight-thousand-meter” peaks and is part of the Karakoram mountain range, located in two countries - China and Pakistan. Its height is 8611 meters. Discovered in 1856, the mountain received the “technical” name K2 - the second peak of the Karakorum. They began to call her Chogori after a while. Climbing to the top has been attempted since the beginning of the last century, but it was only possible to conquer it in 1954. It cost 60 climbers their lives to reach the summit.

When asked what the highest point in the world is, almost every high school student will confidently answer that it is. Other common names for the peak are Chomolungma and Sagarmatha. The peak lies at an altitude of 8848 meters above sea level. This indicator is recorded in numerous scientific papers and textbooks.

Location

The highest point in the world on the map is located on the border of countries such as Nepal and China. The peak belongs to the Greater Himalayas mountain range. At the same time, it should be noted that based on the data that is constantly provided by instruments at the peak, as well as with the help of satellites, researchers have proven that Everest, in the literal sense of the word, does not stand still. The fact is that the mountain changes its shape all the time, moving to the northeast from India towards China. According to scientists, the reason for this lies in the fact that they are constantly moving and crawling onto one another.

Opening

The highest point in the world was discovered in 1832. Then an expedition consisting of employees of the British Geodetic Service was engaged in the study of some peaks that were located on Indian territory in the Himalayas. While carrying out the work, English scientists noted that one of the peaks (which had previously been marked everywhere as “Peak 15”) was higher than the other mountains that make up the ridge. This observation was documented, after which the peak began to be called Everest - in honor of the head of the geodetic service.

Importance to local residents

That the world is Everest, local residents was assumed several centuries before its official discovery by European researchers. They respected the peak very much and named it Chomolungma, which literally translated from the local language means “goddess - mother of the Earth.” As for Nepal, here it is known as Sagarmatha (heavenly peak). Residents of areas located nearby the mountain say that on this peak, death and life are separated by half a step, and people from all directions of the world are equal before God, regardless of their religion. During the Middle Ages, a monastery called Ronkbuk was built at the foot of Everest. The structure has survived to this day and is still inhabited.

Other opinions about height

In 1954, a number of studies and measurements of the peak were carried out using various instruments and aerial photography. Based on their results, it was officially established that the highest point in the world has a height of 8848 meters. It should be noted that, compared to our time, the technology used then was not so accurate. This gave some scientists reason to claim that the real height of Chomolungma differs from the official value.

In particular, at the end of 1999 in Washington, as part of a meeting of the National Geographical Society, it has been proposed that Everest lies above sea level at an altitude of 8850 meters, in other words, two meters higher. Members of the organization supported this idea. This event was preceded by the research of several expeditions led by a famous American scientist named Branford Washburn. First, he and his people delivered high-precision electronic equipment to the summit. Subsequently, this allowed the researcher, using a satellite, to record the slightest deviations in the height of the mountain (compared to previous data). Thus, the scientist was able to clearly show the growth dynamics of Chomolungma. Moreover, Washbourne identified the periods when the height of the peak increased most significantly.

Everest's growth process

The Himalayas are considered one of the most recent geological belts that formed on our planet. In this regard, the process of their development is quite active (compared to others). It's no surprise that the world's highest point continues to rise. As studies show, growth becomes most intense during times of high seismic activity not only on the Eurasian continent itself, but throughout the entire planet. For example, during the first half of 1999 alone, the height of the mountain increased by three centimeters. Several years ago, a geologist from Italy A. Desio, using modern radio equipment, established that the peak of Chomolungma is now at 8872.5 meters above sea level, which is 25 meters higher than the officially recorded value.

The largest mountain on Earth

There is no doubt that the highest point in the world is Everest. At the same time, calling it the largest mountain on the planet would not be entirely correct. The fact is that if judged by such an indicator as the total height, then the largest should be called Mount Mauna Kea, located near Hawaii. The peak rises above sea level only 4206 meters. At the same time, its base lies at a depth of more than ten thousand meters under water. Thus, the total size of Mauna Kea is almost twice that of Everest.

Other highest points on the planet

Be that as it may, each of the continents has the most prominent peak. The names of the highest mountains in the world by continent are as follows. The highest peak in South America and the second highest on the planet after Everest is Aconcagua Peak (6959 meters), which is part of the Andes and is located in Argentina. Mount McKinley (6194 meters) is located in the American state of Alaska and closes the top three world leaders in this indicator. In Europe, Elbrus (5642 meters) is considered the highest, and in Africa - Kilimanjaro (5895 meters). Antarctica also has its own record holder. The most high mountain here it is Vinson (4892 meters).

No wonder the famous song says “ Better than the mountains there can only be mountains.” Snow-capped peaks attract people like a magnet, forcing them to climb upward, overcoming all difficulties and hardships. Climbers are especially attracted to the highest mountains in the world, which only the most prepared, brave, desperate and lucky can climb. Meet the ten highest mountain peaks in the world, whose height exceeds eight thousand meters. All of them are located in the Himalayas in a small area on the borders of China, Nepal, India and Pakistan.

10. Annapurna I, 8,091 meters

The Annapurna I peak, which in Russian from Sanskrit means “Goddess of Fertility,” rises up to 8,091 meters and is part of the Annapurna mountain range of the same name in the Himalayas. For the first time, two French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal were able to climb the mountain in 1950. Today this is one of the most dangerous mountain peaks in the world, where preparation and experience mean nothing, everything depends only on a lucky coincidence of circumstances. Travelers are faced with climbing difficulties even before approaching the base camp and most of the way they have to climb slopes with a slope of 40%, constantly risking being caught in an avalanche. To this day, only about 150 successful ascents of Annapurna have been made, and the mortality rate is about 40% of the total number of people who tried to climb to the top.

9. Nangaparbat, 8.126 meters

The ninth highest mountain peak on Earth, Nanga Parbat, also known as the “Mountain of the Gods,” in the western Himalayas, rises to a height of 8,126 meters. Travelers have tried to climb this peak many times since 1859, but they managed to conquer Nanga Parbat only in 1953. This feat was accomplished by the Austrian Hermann Buhl, who for the first time in history conquered an eight-thousander alone. Nanga Parbat is one of the three most dangerous mountain peaks for climbing, where the death rate of climbers is more than 22%.

8. Manaslu, 8.163 meters

Mount Manaslu, in the Himalayas, has a height of 8,163 meters. It was first climbed by the Japanese Toshio Imanishi and Sherpa Gyalzen Norbu in 1956. For a long time, the mountain and its surroundings were a closed area for foreigners due to its proximity to Tibet.

7. Dhaulagiri, 8.167 meters

Dhaulagiri is a multi-peaked mountain range in the Himalayas, the highest point of which rises above sea level to a height of 8,167 meters. The peak was first conquered in 1960 by a team of European climbers and Sherpa porters. This mountain is considered one of the most difficult to climb, and along its southern route, known as the Dhaulagiri Wall, no one has been able to climb it so far.

6. Cho Oyu, 8,188 meters

The peak of Cho Oyu is located in the Himalayas, on the border of China and Nepal and has a height of 8,188 meters. The mountain was first conquered in 1954 by an Austrian expedition consisting of Herbert Tichy, Joseph Joechler and Pasang Dawa Lama Sherpa. This is one of the easiest peaks over eight thousand to climb, which has turned into a real Mecca for amateur climbers.

5. Makalu, 8.485 meters

The fifth highest mountain peak in the world is Makalu, also known as the "Black Rider" located in the central Himalayas, rising to an altitude of 8,485 meters above sea level. For the first time, a French expedition was able to climb the mountain in 1955, in three groups of three people. This peak is considered one of the most difficult in the world to climb, with only about 30% of expeditions to the summit being successful.

4. Lhotse, 8.516 meters

By and large, the fourth highest mountain in the world, Lhotse in the Himalayas, has three peaks over eight thousand meters high, where the highest peak has a height of 8,516 meters. The first ascent of the mountain was made by a team of Swiss climbers Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger in 1956. Among other eight-thousanders, Lhotse has the fewest routes to the top, there are only three of them, where one at a time, climbers were able to reach the peak only once in the 90s

3. Kanchenjunga, 8.586 meters

Mount Kanchenjunga, 8,586 meters high, is located in the Himalayas on the border of India and Nepal. The peak was first climbed by a British expedition consisting of Joe Brown, George Bend, and Charles Evans (leader) in 1955. For some time Kanchenjunga was considered the highest peak in the world, but after precise measurements it ended up in third place.

2. Chogori, 8.611 meters

The second highest mountain in the world, Chogori in the Himalayas on the border of Pakistan and China has a height of 8,611 meters. The peak was first conquered by a team of Italian climbers Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni in 1954. Chogori is one of the most difficult peaks to climb in the world, where the death rate of people who dare to climb is 25%. It is much more honorable for climbers to climb Chogori Peak than to climb the most high peaks in the world of Chomolungma.

1. Chomolungma/Everest, 8.848 meters

The highest peak on earth, Chomolungma, 8,848 meters high, is located in the Himalayas, on the border of Nepal and China. The summit was conquered in 1953 by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary. Every year, more than 500 people attempt to conquer the peak and it takes approximately two months. At the beginning of the year, 4042 climbers climbed Chomolungma, of which 2829 people climbed the mountain twice.

 

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