Scientists are now able to pinpoint exactly how tall every mountain on Earth is, thanks to NASA's use of the Earth Observing System series of satellites. There are at least 100 mountains with heights of over 7,200 metres above sea level, all of which are located in central and southern Asia. The world’s tallest mountains are some of the most majestic and beautiful. Here are the ten highest of these fourteen mountains.
Mount Everest. Standing at about 29,035 feet, Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. It is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and Tibet, China and is part of the Himalayan Mountain Range. Although it is the tallest mountain and attracts many climbers of both advanced and limited climbing skill, it is one of the easier mountains to climb. Everest is still the danger posed by weather changes, winds, storm, temperature and altitude sickness that can make such a long climb difficult.
K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest. K2 is located on the border between Baltistan, in the Gilgit–Baltistan region of northern Pakistan, and the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Xinjiang, China. It is the second highest mountain in the world and is a far more treacherous climb than Everest. In fact, one of every four people that attempts to reach the summit at about 28,251 feet (8,611 meters), dos not live to see the bottom again. K2 has the third highest mortality rate. K2 is the dangerous mountain.
Kangchenjunga, once thought to be the tallest mountain in the world, rises with an elevation of 8,586 m (28,169 ft) in a section of the Himalayas called Kangchenjunga Himal that is limited in the west by the Tamur River and in the east by the Teesta River. Its name translates to “The Five Treasures of the Snow” and each of these peaks is said to represent the five repositories of God: gold, silver, gems, grain and holy books. This mountain is sacred to Kirant religion and because of this when the first expedition to the summit occurred in 1955. Kangchenjunga was first climbed on 25 May 1955 by Joe Brown and George Band, who were part of a British expedition
Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain on Earth and is connected to Everest at the South Col. In addition to the main summit at 8,516 metres (27,940 ft) above sea level, Lhotse Middle (East) is 8,414 m (27,605 ft) and Lhotse Shar is 8,383 m . This mountain is best known for its close proximity to Everest but is special in own right because it is the home of the steepest face of a mountain that is approximately 1.98×1.4 miles in size. In 1990,Tomo Cesan claimed to have reached Lhotse's summit alone, but after a Russian expedition climbed the summit and declared that it would be impossible for anyone to reach it alone.
Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world and is located about 14 miles east of Everest. It is the fifth highest mountain in the world at 8,481 metres (27,825 ft) and is located 19 km (12 mi) southeast of Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and China. It is an isolated peak that has the unique shape of a four-sided pyramid. Makalu's name is believed to be taken from the Sanskrit word Maha-Kala, which translates to Big Black and is also a by-name of Shiva, a Hindu god.
Cho Oyu is the sixth highest mountain in the world and stands at about 26,906 feet (8,201meters) high. Just a few kilometres west of Cho Oyu is Nangpa La (5,716m/18,753 ft), a glaciated pass that serves as the main trading route between the Tibetans and the Khumbu's Sherpas. Its name in Tibetan means “Turquoise Goddess”. It was used as a warm up for climbing Mount Everest when people were first exploring the Himalayan Mountains. The mountain's friendly terrain and snow conditions have made it an increasingly popular destination for ski mountaineers and snowboarders.
Dhaulagiri I at 8,167 metres (26,795 ft) ranks seventh among Earth's fourteen peaks over eight thousand metres. Its name means “White Mountain”. Dhaulagiri I is located just north of central Nepal. The South and West faces of Dhaulagiri both feature massive drops; each rises over 4000 meters from its base. This mountain, along with Annapurna, is home to a more dramatic scene than most of the other mountains, for they face each other while separated by a valley. White Mountain boasts technically challenging routes and massive drops and is therefore mostly attempted only by seasoned mountaineers.
Manaslu is the eighth highest mountain in the world. Manaslu is a part of the Nepalese Himalayans and stands at about 26,759 feet (8,156 meters) high. Its name means “Mountain of the Spirit”. Prone to avalanches, glacier falls, monsoon rainfall and landslides, Manaslu's various scenic trekking routes are also treacherous.
Nanga Parbat is the world’s ninth tallest mountain and stands at about 26,660 feet (8,126 meters) in height. Nanga Parbat is the western anchor of the Himalayas around which the Indus river skirts before it debouches into the plains of Pakistan. It is located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Although the name is Urdu for “Naked Mountain”, for first half of the twentieth century it was known as “Killer Mountain” beacause used to be an incredibly dangerous climb to the top. Now however, it is less dangerous to climb, but still very difficult. Climbing Nanga Parbat is in fact so dangerous that while over 1,800 people have reached Everest's summit, only about 216 people have successfully gotten to the top of Nanga Parbat. This mountain is an immense and dramatic peak that rises above its surrounding area in Pakistan
Annapurna is the tenth highest mountain in the world. Annapurna is a section of the Himalayas in north-central Nepal that includes 8,091 m (26,545 ft) Annapurna I, thirteen additional peaks over 7,000 m (22,970 ft) and 16 more over 6,000 m (19,690 ft). The name Annapurna translates to Goddess of the Harvests in Sanskrit, and is the name of a goddess of fertility and agriculture in Hinduism. Its peaks are some of the world’s most dangerous to climb. This fatality-to-summit ratio (38%) is the highest of any of the eight-thousanders. In particular, the ascent via the south face is considered, by some, the most difficult of all climbs.
Mount Everest. Standing at about 29,035 feet, Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. It is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and Tibet, China and is part of the Himalayan Mountain Range. Although it is the tallest mountain and attracts many climbers of both advanced and limited climbing skill, it is one of the easier mountains to climb. Everest is still the danger posed by weather changes, winds, storm, temperature and altitude sickness that can make such a long climb difficult.
K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest. K2 is located on the border between Baltistan, in the Gilgit–Baltistan region of northern Pakistan, and the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Xinjiang, China. It is the second highest mountain in the world and is a far more treacherous climb than Everest. In fact, one of every four people that attempts to reach the summit at about 28,251 feet (8,611 meters), dos not live to see the bottom again. K2 has the third highest mortality rate. K2 is the dangerous mountain.
Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain on Earth and is connected to Everest at the South Col. In addition to the main summit at 8,516 metres (27,940 ft) above sea level, Lhotse Middle (East) is 8,414 m (27,605 ft) and Lhotse Shar is 8,383 m . This mountain is best known for its close proximity to Everest but is special in own right because it is the home of the steepest face of a mountain that is approximately 1.98×1.4 miles in size. In 1990,Tomo Cesan claimed to have reached Lhotse's summit alone, but after a Russian expedition climbed the summit and declared that it would be impossible for anyone to reach it alone.
Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world and is located about 14 miles east of Everest. It is the fifth highest mountain in the world at 8,481 metres (27,825 ft) and is located 19 km (12 mi) southeast of Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and China. It is an isolated peak that has the unique shape of a four-sided pyramid. Makalu's name is believed to be taken from the Sanskrit word Maha-Kala, which translates to Big Black and is also a by-name of Shiva, a Hindu god.
Cho Oyu is the sixth highest mountain in the world and stands at about 26,906 feet (8,201meters) high. Just a few kilometres west of Cho Oyu is Nangpa La (5,716m/18,753 ft), a glaciated pass that serves as the main trading route between the Tibetans and the Khumbu's Sherpas. Its name in Tibetan means “Turquoise Goddess”. It was used as a warm up for climbing Mount Everest when people were first exploring the Himalayan Mountains. The mountain's friendly terrain and snow conditions have made it an increasingly popular destination for ski mountaineers and snowboarders.
Dhaulagiri I at 8,167 metres (26,795 ft) ranks seventh among Earth's fourteen peaks over eight thousand metres. Its name means “White Mountain”. Dhaulagiri I is located just north of central Nepal. The South and West faces of Dhaulagiri both feature massive drops; each rises over 4000 meters from its base. This mountain, along with Annapurna, is home to a more dramatic scene than most of the other mountains, for they face each other while separated by a valley. White Mountain boasts technically challenging routes and massive drops and is therefore mostly attempted only by seasoned mountaineers.
Manaslu is the eighth highest mountain in the world. Manaslu is a part of the Nepalese Himalayans and stands at about 26,759 feet (8,156 meters) high. Its name means “Mountain of the Spirit”. Prone to avalanches, glacier falls, monsoon rainfall and landslides, Manaslu's various scenic trekking routes are also treacherous.
Nanga Parbat is the world’s ninth tallest mountain and stands at about 26,660 feet (8,126 meters) in height. Nanga Parbat is the western anchor of the Himalayas around which the Indus river skirts before it debouches into the plains of Pakistan. It is located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Although the name is Urdu for “Naked Mountain”, for first half of the twentieth century it was known as “Killer Mountain” beacause used to be an incredibly dangerous climb to the top. Now however, it is less dangerous to climb, but still very difficult. Climbing Nanga Parbat is in fact so dangerous that while over 1,800 people have reached Everest's summit, only about 216 people have successfully gotten to the top of Nanga Parbat. This mountain is an immense and dramatic peak that rises above its surrounding area in Pakistan
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| Tallest Mountains in the World |
Annapurna is the tenth highest mountain in the world. Annapurna is a section of the Himalayas in north-central Nepal that includes 8,091 m (26,545 ft) Annapurna I, thirteen additional peaks over 7,000 m (22,970 ft) and 16 more over 6,000 m (19,690 ft). The name Annapurna translates to Goddess of the Harvests in Sanskrit, and is the name of a goddess of fertility and agriculture in Hinduism. Its peaks are some of the world’s most dangerous to climb. This fatality-to-summit ratio (38%) is the highest of any of the eight-thousanders. In particular, the ascent via the south face is considered, by some, the most difficult of all climbs.
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