The process of mountain formation on Earth lasts for millions of years. They arise from the collisions of the 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 background of the highest mountain peaks in the world - "eight-thousanders", whose height above sea level exceeds 8,000 meters.
How many continents are there on Earth? Sometimes it is believed that Europe and Asia are 2 different continents, although they are one continent:
Before we begin our story about the tallest mountains on 6 continents, let's take a look at a general diagram of the highest peaks on Earth.
"Eight-thousanders" is the common name for the 14 highest mountain peaks in the world, whose altitude 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 managed to do this.
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.
The 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 to the main peak 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 Americaas well as the western and southern hemispheres. Belong to the longest mountain range in the world - the Andes.
The mountain is located in Argentina and in the Quechua language means "Stone Guard". Aconcagua is the largest extinct volcano on our planet.
In mountaineering, Aconcagua is considered a technically 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, Elbrus is often 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 - 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 they were more powerful. At the beginning of the eruption, powerful clouds of vapors and gases, saturated with black ash, rose from the craters of the volcano at the beginning of the eruption, 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 movement 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 death toll during the ascent of Elbrus is 15-30 people.
Asia - Mount Everest, 8 848 m
Everest (Chomolungma) is the top of our world! It is the first eight-thousander in height and the highest mountain on Earth.
The mountain is located in the Himalayas in the Mahalangur-Himal ridge, with the South peak (8760 m) lying on the border of Nepal, and the North (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 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 ascent to the top takes about 2 months - with acclimatization and setting up camps.
View from space:
Climbing Mount Everest is not only extremely dangerous, but also expensive: the cost of climbing as part of specialized groups is up to 65 thousand US dollars, and the only one permission to climb, issued by the government of Nepal, 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 New Guinea... She is on the Australian plate and is the most high mountain in the world, located on an island.
The mountain was discovered in 1623 by the Dutch explorer Jan Carstens, who saw from afar into the glacier at the top. Therefore, the mountain is sometimes called the Pyramid of Carstens.
The first ascent of Punchak-Jaya took place only in 1962. The name of the mountain from the Indonesian language translates roughly as "Pobeda Peak".
Antarctica - Windson Massif, 4 892 m
These are the most high mountains Antarctica. The existence of the mountain range became known only in 1957. Since the mountains were discovered by American planes, they were later named Vinson Massif, after the famous American politician Carl Vinson.
View of Vinson Massif from space:
Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro, 5895 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 Kibo Peak, an almost regular cone with powerful glaciation.
The name comes from the Swahili language and supposedly means "the mountain that sparkles."
The snow cap that has covered the mountain top 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%. This is believed to be caused not by a change in temperature, but by a reduction in snowfall.
The highest peak in Africa was first conquered by the German explorer Hans Meyer in 1889.
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How many highest mountains do you know? And when and by whom were they subdued? And how safe are they to try to climb on? In this article, we cover the topic of the highest points in the world, which amaze with their spectacular appearance and no less spectacular numbers. Let's get to know them better
8091 meters away
The Annapurna mountain range is famous for its highest point - Annapurna I. The height of the latter is 8091 m. This is one of the most dangerous peaks for climbers, the mortality rate when trying to conquer is 33%, but since the nineties this figure has dropped to 17%. Annapurna if translated from ancient Indian means "Goddess of Fertility". The first to set foot on the top were the French, the famous climbers Lou Chanel and Maurice Herzog, they did it in 1950. At first, their goal was Dhaulagiri, but after inspection it was decided to change the mountain, since that mountain seemed inaccessible to them.
8125 meters away
The first who conquered Nangaparbat was Hermann Buhl, who, as part of K. Herligkoffer's expedition in 1953, set foot on its top. Before that, there were many attempts to climb this mountain, they date back to 1932, 1934, 1937, 1939. During the war, attempts were suspended, and only an attempt by the Austro-German expedition Herligkoffer was successful. In general, the first data on the mountain appeared back in the 19th century, when Adolf Schlagintweit traveled to Asia and made detailed drawings of the massif. Nangaparbat is popular among climbers and has a high death rate of 21%.
8156 meters away
The Mansiri-Himal mountain range, which is located in Nepal, is famous for its Manaslu mountain. This mountain bears another name - Kutang. After conducting a reconnaissance of Mount Manaslu, researcher Tilman came to the conclusion that it was possible to climb it only from the northeast. And only in 1984, namely in January of that year, the Poles Maciej Berbeka and Ryszard Gajewski conquered the summit of Kutanga. The death threshold on this mountain is not too high - only 16%.
8167 meters away
The highest mountain in the Himalayan mountain range is Dhaulagiri. For almost 24 years, since 1808, this mountain was considered the highest mountain in the world. The world community of climbers began to conquer it back in the 50s of the twentieth century, and only on the eighth attempt they managed to win. The national team of European climbers, led by Max Aizelin, set foot on the summit on May 13, 1960, having conquered this height. Translated from the ancient Indian Dhaulagiri - "White Mountain".
8201 meters away
Cho Oyu was conquered in 1954 by the Austrian expedition, which included: Joseph Yehler, Pazang Dawa Lama and Herbert Tihi. This was the first official conquest without the use of oxygen cylinders and oxygen masks. This resounding success opened new horizons for world mountaineering. Today, to conquer this peak, you can choose any of 15 routes and just enjoy the ascent.
8485 meters
Makalu is one of the most difficult and dangerous mountains for climbers. Only a third of all expeditions end successfully. The first ascents date back to the mid-fifties of the twentieth century. Perhaps this mountain would have been conquered earlier, but a huge number of climbers set themselves the goal of conquering Lhotse and Everest, and did not pay attention to this peak. The first to conquer Makalu was a French expedition led by Jean Cozy and Lionel Terray in 1955. To conquer Makalu now, you can choose different ascent paths in their complexity, there are more than 17 of them.
8516 meters away
Only a quarter of the attempts to climb Lhotse come to the end with success. Geographically, this mountain is located on the territory of the Tibet Autonomous Region, which makes it the object of cult of many researchers and lovers of mysticism. The first to set foot on this mountain was a Swiss expedition, which included two famous climbers: Fritz Luchsinger and Ernst Reiss. It happened on May 18, 1956. Until now, the East Face of Lhotse, as well as the traverses of all its peaks, remain unexploited.
8586 meters away
Kanchenjunga takes the bronze of our top. This mountain was considered the highest mountain in the world, until 1852. It is interesting that for three whole years calculations of the height (which were carried out in 1849) were not published. But, now by right, Everest is considered the highest mountain, and Kanchenjunga is included in the list famous mountains eight-thousanders. She was first conquered on May 25, 1955, by two mountaineer friends: Joe Brown and George Bend. Over time, the death rate on all mountains decreases, but, only in Kanchenjung, this figure increases from year to year. Now it is 23% and is constantly growing. There is a Nepalese legend according to which Kanchenjunga is a mountain woman who kills all the fairer sex who try to climb it.
8614 meters away
Karakorum is the second highest mountain in the world, after Everest. It was discovered back in 1856 by an expedition of European climbers. They named it K2, which means the second peak of the Karakorum. The first to try to conquer her were Aleister Crowley and Oscar Eckenstein, but their attempt in 1902 did not end in success. The first to really set foot on the top of Chogori were Italians led by Ardito Desio. Now you can climb the Karakorum by ten different routes. In terms of death threshold, this is the second most dangerous mountain, after Annapurna, the death threshold is 24%. Until now, no one has been able to conquer Chogori in winter.
8848 meters away
So, the first place that everyone has always heard is Chomolungma. Sherab Chamm - Bonn goddess, after whom the mountain was named, Chomolungma - "Divine vital energy", if translated from Tibetan. The name Everest was given in honor of George Everest, who was in charge of the survey of British India. This name was proposed by Andrew Waugh, a follower of George, in 1856. The first to conquer Everest was a mountaineer from New Zealand, Hillary Edmund. It happened on May 29, 1953. More than 280 deaths have already been recorded while trying to climb Everest. But this does not stop the daredevils, annually more than 400 people try to climb the highest peak in the world.
The vast majority of the peaks included in the list of the highest mountains in Russia on the map belong to the same mountain system - the Greater Caucasus. This huge mountain range is located between the Black and Caspian Seas. Barely, the southerners catch up with three Kamchatka hills - Klyuchevskaya, Kamen and Ploskaya Blizhnyaya (13th, 18th and 70th places) and two peaks Altai mountains - Belukha and Tavan-Bogdo-Uul (19th and 67th place).
So that Russian climbers do not get bored of the monotony, the Mountaineering Federation decided to include in the conditions for obtaining the most honorary mountaineering title the conquest of not only the eight highest mountains on the list, but also the assault on Belukha and Klyuchevskaya Sopka.
10. Shota Rustaveli, height - 4860 m
Shota Rustaveli Peak is one of the peaks that make up the so-called Bezengi Wall - a giant mountain range stretching for 13 km. In addition to Shota Rustaveli peak, the wall is formed by Dzhangitau (fifth place in the rating), Katyntau (ninth) and Shkhara (sixth).
9. Katyn-Tau - 4970 m
The name of this mountain is associated with a sad legend among the Kabardino-Balkarians. Mountain peak Tetnuld ("white"), one of the most beautiful, invariably admiring tourists for its whiteness, decided to leave his old wife, Katyn ("wife"), for the sake of the young, Dzhanga ("new", "young"). Perhaps Tetnuld was a climber - the Katyn height does not reach 5 km, but Dzhangy, or Dzhangitau, occupies the fifth line in the list of the highest mountains in Russia.
8. Mizhirgi - 5025 m
With Mizhirga begins the list of Russian "five-thousanders" - the highest and most dangerous mountains in Russia, which every climber dreams of climbing. Mizhirgi, despite the modest eighth place in height, the mountain is very capricious and bypasses higher peaks in terms of difficulty.
7. Kazbek - 5034 m
This is one of the most beautiful peaks The Greater Caucasus Range. Her image flaunts on many travel magazine covers, photographs, postcards and stamps. Lonely white top the correct conical shape (Kazbek was once a volcano) stands out sharply against the background of green foothills. Unfortunately, due to the difficult geopolitical situation, ascents to Kazbek are no longer as frequent as they once were.
6. Shkhara - 5068 m
One of the most beloved peaks by climbers, and the highest mountain in the central part of the Caucasus Range. You can climb it by a wide variety of routes, and several peaks will allow you to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding places from new points of view.
According to the results of recent measurements, Shkhara can move from sixth place to third - according to the latest data, its height is 5193.2 m.However, there is no doubt about which mountain is the highest in Russia - the first place is ahead of all the others with a margin of almost half a kilometer.
5. Jangitau - 5085 m
Like Mizhirgi, Dzhangitau is considered one of the most difficult and dangerous peaks. Just three years ago, an experienced climber fell from its slopes (fatally), and a couple of years before he had to rescue a climbing group by helicopters.
4. Pushkin Peak - 5100 m
Most often, they prefer to climb Pushkin Peak from the southern side. However, seasoned climbers prefer the north side - except for a little more difficult route you can admire the enchanting beauty of the surrounding nature.
3. Koshtantau - 5152 m
Koshtantau opens the top three among the highest mountains in Russia. Sometimes she is kind to climbers and gives them beautiful weather, making the ascent easy and enjoyable. However, this rarely happens; more often than not, the capricious beauty prefers to dress in an ice robe, which makes the ascent much more difficult.
The conquest of Koshtantau began with a tragedy - when trying to climb it, two English climbers and their Swiss guides were killed. Since then, several routes have been laid up the mountain, but all of them have increased difficulty - from 4B to 6A (for comparison: the lowest category is 1B, the highest is 6B, and category 6A is in second place, up to 6B).
2. Dykhtau - 5204 m
The poetic genius of the Balkar people on the name Dykhtau decided to rest. Translated from this language, the name simply means “ steep mountain". It's almost like a nickname.
The mountain looks harsh - granite-gneiss rocks, of which Dykhtau is composed, are dark in color. And in contrast to white snow and clouds (which lie at a lower height than the top), they look especially gloomy.
The difficulty of climbing the mountain corresponds to its serious appearance - more than ten routes have been laid to the double peaks of Dykhtau, but even the simplest of them belongs to category 4A, above average.
1. The highest mountain in Russia - Elbrus, 5642 m
On the border between the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, there is the Lateral ridge of the Caucasian mountain range, where Elbrus, the highest mountain in Russia, is located. Elbrus has two peaks - western and eastern; the difference between them is 21 m.
This mountain is not easy; she is a legacy of the times when young Caucasus mountains were still fire-breathing. Elbrus is a huge volcano, fortunately, long extinct. Over the past tens of millennia, Elbrus has been covered with a shell of ice of enormous thickness - in some places it reaches 250 m, which is equal to the height of an eighty-story building.
Despite the frightening height (Elbrus is considered the highest mountain not only in Russia, but also in Europe, and is also in the top ten), the mountain's temper is not evil and the path to the top has long been found. The first ascent to Elbrus took place in the first third of the 19th century. Since then, whoever has not been there! People climbed not only on foot, but also on horses, motorcycles and cars. They carried ATVs and even 75 kg barbells. And since the early 1990s, there have been regular competitions in high-speed ascent to the snow giant. From the foot to the top of Elbrus, the journey takes exactly 3 hours 28 minutes 41 seconds.
List of 80 highest mountain peaks of Russia
The table presents mountain peaks at least 4000 meters high and located on the territory of the Russian Federation.
| A place | Vertex | Height, m | The subject of the Russian Federation | Mountain system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5642 | Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia | Greater Caucasus | |
| 2 | 5204 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus | |
| 3 | 5152 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus | |
| 4 | 5100 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus | |
| 5 | 5085 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus | |
| 6 | 5068 | Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia), Svaneti (Georgia) | Greater Caucasus | |
| 7 | 5034 | North Ossetia, Georgia | Greater Caucasus | |
| 8 | 5025 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus | |
| 9 | 4970 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus | |
| 10 | 4860 | Kabardino-Balkaria, Georgia | Greater Caucasus | |
| 11 | Gestola | 4860 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus |
| 12 | Jimara | 4780 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 13 | Klyuchevskaya Sopka | 4750 | Kamchatka Krai | Eastern ridge |
| 14 | Wilpath | 4646 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 15 | Sauhokh | 4636 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 16 | Kukurtli-Sausages | 4624 | Karachay-Cherkessia | Greater Caucasus |
| 17 | Mailihokh | 4598 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 18 | A rock | 4575 | Kamchatka Krai | Eastern ridge |
| 19 | Belukha | 4509 | Altai | Altai mountains |
| 20 | Sallyningantau | 4507 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus |
| 21 | Tebulosmta | 4492 | Chechnya, Georgia | Greater Caucasus |
| 22 | Sugan | 4489 | North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus |
| 23 | Bazarduzu | 4466 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 24 | Chanchakhi | 4461 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 25 | Donguzorun-Cheget-Karabashi | 4454 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus |
| 26 | Shang | 4452 | Ingushetia, Georgia | Greater Caucasus |
| 27 | Heat | 4431 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 28 | Chatyntau | 4411 | Karachay-Cherkessia, Georgia | Greater Caucasus |
| 29 | Adai-Hoh | 4408 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 30 | Songuchi | 4405 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 31 | Tyutyubashi | 4404 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus |
| 32 | Vologata | 4396 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 33 | Karaug | 4364 | North Ossetia, Georgia | Greater Caucasus |
| 34 | Adyrsubashi | 4349 | ||
| 35 | Laboda | 4313 | North Ossetia, Georgia | Greater Caucasus |
| 36 | Bachakhi | 4291 | ||
| 37 | Diklosmta | 4285 | Greater Caucasus | |
| 38 | Peak Caucasus | 4280 | Greater Caucasus | |
| 39 | Jorashty | 4278 | ||
| 40 | Bzhedukh | 4271 | ||
| 41 | Komito | 4261 | Chechnya | Greater Caucasus |
| 42 | Sullukolbashi | 4251 | ||
| 43 | Kayaartybashi | 4250 | ||
| 44 | Bashiltau | 4248 | ||
| 45 | Zeigalanhokh | 4244 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 46 | Zaromag | 4203 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 47 | Donchentikhokh | 4192 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 48 | Kalotha | 4182 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 49 | Donosmta | 4179 | Chechnya, Georgia | Greater Caucasus |
| 50 | Addala-Schuchgelmeer | 4151 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 51 | Chkalov peak (Anchobala-anda) | 4150 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 52 | Puhgarty Kom | 4149 | ||
| 53 | Syrhibarzond | 4148 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 54 | Shalbuzdag | 4142 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 55 | Tseyahokh | 4140 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 56 | Fytnargin | 4134 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus |
| 57 | Dyultydag | 4127 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 58 | Tsmiakomkhokh | 4117 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 59 | Barrels | 4116 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 60 | Musostau | 4110 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus |
| 61 | Baidukov Peak (Kasaraku Meer) | 4104 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 62 | Bishney-Jenolshob | 4104 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 63 | Belyakov Peak (Belengi) | 4100 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 64 | Chimismeer | 4099 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 65 | Chachhoh | 4098 | North Ossetia, Georgia | Greater Caucasus |
| 66 | Cunklata | 4084 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 67 | Tavan-Bogdo-Ula | 4082 | Altai | Altai mountains |
| 68 | Maistismta | 4081 | Chechnya, Georgia | Greater Caucasus |
| 69 | Charundag | 4080 | Dagestan, Azerbaijan | Greater Caucasus |
| 70 | Flat middle | 4057 | Kamchatka Krai | Eastern ridge |
| 71 | Taklik | 4049 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 72 | Dombay-Ulgen | 4046 | Karachay-Cherkessia, Republic of Abkhazia | Greater Caucasus |
| 73 | Gockley | 4046 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 74 | Kurmutau | 4045 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus |
| 75 | Archon | 4040 | North Ossetia | Greater Caucasus |
| 76 | Izhenameer | 4025 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 77 | Dougie | 4020 | Dagestan, Azerbaijan | Greater Caucasus |
| 78 | Deavgay | 4016 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
| 79 | Kezgenbashi | 4013 | Kabardino-Balkaria | Greater Caucasus |
| 80 | Balial | 4007 | Dagestan | Greater Caucasus |
Not everyone can travel 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 much distance a person will have to cover to get to the highest point of our planet? Which 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.A country: PRC / Nepal
Mountain system: Himalayas
Our rating is opened by the Tibetan "Black Giant" Makalu - one of the five highest "eight-thousanders". Europeans learned about this snowy beauty back in the middle of the 19th century, but the first expedition to its top 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 Makalu peak 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.A country: PRC / Nepal
Mountain system: Himalayas
There are not so many points on the map of our planet that have passed the 8 km mark. Mount Lhotse is one of them. Its last peak (Lhotse Average) 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 the neighboring Everest. But the eastern wall of Lhotse remains unconquered to this day.
Kanchenjunga
Height: 8568 m.A 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 Himalayan system. Kanchenjunga has five peaks, hence the name, which in Tibetan means "Five Treasures of the Great Snows". The highest is Main Kanchenjunga (8568 m.). However, three more of them rightfully bear the proud title of an eight-thousander: Yalun-Kang (8505), South (8491) and Central (8478).
The first attempt to conquer the wayward peak was made in 1905, but it was not crowned with success. After three-quarters of the way, the group led by Aleister Crowley turned back. Only in 1955 the British Joe Brown and George Bend were able to reach the main peak.
A legend is spread among the local population that Mount Kanchenjunga is a woman, and therefore hates in advance all the girls who set foot on its slope. It was visited by only one woman, the Englishwoman Jeanette Harrison, who climbed in 1998.
Chogori
Height: 8611 m.A country: PRC / Pakistan
Mountain system: Karakorum
The second highest mountain in the world after Everest also belongs to the Himalayan mountain range. Chogori, codenamed K-2 among climbers, is located on the northern border of Pakistan and China. The letter "K" means "Karakorum", 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 dares to conquer the Chogori peak is doomed to death. Therefore, this peak has another name - the killer mountain. The legendary Russian climber Pyotr Kuznetsov found his last refuge on its slopes.
Highest mountain - Everest
Height: 8848 m.A 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 up their belongings and set off on a long journey upward full of deadly dangers.
Everest, one of the most beautiful places in the world, is part of the Himalayan mountain range. The mountain is located between Nepal and China, but its peak is still located in China, in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. According to various sources, the height of Everest ranges from 8844 to 8852 meters.
This data is constantly changing. In the spring of 2010, Chinese residents officially recorded the highest mountain at 8,848 meters. And in 2016, scientists "proved" that the summit of Everest is actually 4 meters lower than the declared 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 "Mother of the gods of the earth" ("Divine (qomo) mother (ma) of life (lung)" - Chomolungma). But the Nepalese call her 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 headed the Geodetic Survey of British India. A few years after the death of the scientist, in 1856, his successor, Andrew Waugh, proposed to name the mountain Everest. By the way, it was he who presented the research data on the heights of "Peak XV" and confirmed that this is the highest peak, probably in the whole world.
Everest climbing history
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, following the path that the Swiss had recently explored. The conquerors took oxygen devices with them. The team itself consisted of 30 people. In May 1982, 11 climbers from the Soviet Union climbed onto this "roof of the world". They climbed the southwestern slope, which was previously considered impassable. During the expedition, Ukrainians Mikhail Turkevich and Sergey Bershov were especially distinguished - they were the first in history to climb Everest at night. 
Well, in 2001, an amazing feat was accomplished - a blind American named Eric Weichenmeier climbed the mountain. Before this ascent, he had already visited all highest peaks all seven continents, he also visited the highest mountains of Russia. Thus, the man wanted to prove that all tasks that seem unattainable to people are in fact achievable. Another Everest record was set on May 14, 2005. Eurocopter's test pilot Didier Delsalle was the first in the world to successfully land a helicopter on a mountain peak.
Three years later, the highest climbed to the top of Chomolungma old man... It was the 76-year-old Nepalese Bahadur Sherkhan.
Two years later, the youngest man appeared at the peak of Everest, 13-year-old American citizen Jordan Romero, who conquered the summit with his father. Prior to that, 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.
The dangers of Everest
About 500 people try to reach the summit of Everest every year. They are not afraid of the fact that at night the air temperature there can drop to -600 C, and the wind literally knocks them off their 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 also laid. By the way, during such a trip, travelers lose weight by an average of 10-15 kilograms. 
And one more difficulty, though insignificant in comparison with the previous ones. The states, on the territory of which 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 set the order of departure of the mountaineering companies. Least of all will have to pay for climbing Chomolungma from Tibet. Well, it is better to try to conquer the summit in spring and autumn, since monsoons are not so active at this time.
Travel companies call different prices for a hike up the mountain from Nepal: on average, from 20 to 60 thousand dollars. From the Chinese side, it can be done cheaper: you will have to spend about 4.6 thousand dollars per person. It should be added 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, it is imperative to undergo acclimatization. Experienced people say the most difficult thing 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 walk a very smooth and steep rocky slope covered with snow. But the main obstacle is not a slippery surface, but thin air, literally overshadowing the consciousness of the climber.
Paying for a dream
Thousands of climbers have tried to climb Everest. Some paid for it with their lives. From the time the peak was discovered to the present day, more than two hundred people have died during the expeditions. According to some reports, most often this happened due to a lack of oxygen. Sometimes people died in avalanches, on descents or ascents, due to heart failure or frostbite.Found dead climbers are buried by residents of Nepal. They sincerely follow age-old traditions and do everything to make the souls of climbers find peace. According to legends, if you do not make a special solemn ceremony of "saving the souls of the dead", then dead climbers will not find peace and will wander on the "roof of the world". And local rock climbers set off 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 Buddhist and professional Nepalese guide Pemba Dorja, in May 2004 he took with him a medallion with the image of the Dalai Lama and an amulet from a Buddhist monastery on his way to the top of Everest. 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 stretched out their hands and asked for food. The Nepalese is sure that if he did not have amulets, he would not return alive.
Alternative record holders
In 2016, scientists stunned the public with the message that Everest is no longer the most high point planets. The earth, they said, has the shape of a geoid - a figure flattened at the poles and convex at the equator. This means that if you measure the height of the mountain from the center of the earth, then located along the equator mountain ranges will have an a priori height advantage. Of course, such messages only caused the surveyors to laugh loudly. But - for the sake of interest - we give below the data on the "new record holders".Chimborazo
Height: 6384 m.A country: Ecuador
Mountain system: Andes
By measuring the height of Everest from the center of the Earth and comparing the obtained data with the height extinct volcano Chimborazo, scientists have found that the latter by 4 meters "bypasses" the Tibetan giant. However, the fact that the top of Chimborazo is the most distant point from the center of the Earth was discovered back in 1998.
Mauna Kea
Height: 4205/10203 m.A country: USA
Mountain system: –
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 be safely considered the highest mountain in the world.
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This ranking will feature mountain peaks that are over 8 kilometers high. 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 the tallest mountain system the world - the Himalayas, it contains 10 eight-thousanders. To understand why this area of \u200b\u200bthe Earth became the way it is now, you need to look back 120 million years ago, when the Indian subcontinent split from the supercontinent Gondwana and began to move northward at a speed of 5 centimeters per year. For 80 million years, Hindustan has 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 travel to one of the following countries: India, Nepal, China (Tibet), Pakistan or Bhutan.
The second highest mountain system, the Karakorum, 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).
Further - the rating, which presents the highest mountains in the world, their location and years 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 Willenepart, Sepp Larch (Austria) in 1956.
12th place. Broad Peak (Karakorum). 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 Dimberger and Hermann Buhl.
11th place. Gasherbrum I (Karakorum). Height 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 summit is located in Nepal. Annapurna became the first eight-thousanders 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 northern territories controlled by Pakistan. The first successful ascent of the mountain was made in 1953 by the Austrian Hermann Buhl. It was an unparalleled episode in the history of the conquest of the eight-thousanders before that time: Buhl reached the summit alone. It is also worth noting that Herman Buhl conquered Nangaparbat without the use of oxygen.
8th place. Manaslu (Himalayas). Height 8156 m. The summit is located in Nepal. The first ascent of the mountain took place in 1956 by the Japanese Toshio Imanishi and the Sherpa (Sherpas - a people living in Eastern Nepal, as well as India) Gyalzen Norbu.
7th place. Dhaulagiri I (Himalayas). Height 8167 m. The summit is located in Nepal. In 1960, the Swiss-Austrian expedition Dimberger, Diner, Shelbert, Forer and the Sherpas Navang and Nyima 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 Tychy, Josef Jöhler 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 in climbing the mountain along the northern route. On May 15-17, in three groups, a total of 9 people ascend to Makalu in three groups - all members of the expedition and sirdar (the leader of the 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 to the Lhotse Glavnaya peak was made in 1956 by the Swiss Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger.
Lhotse (right) and Everest
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3rd place. Kanchenjunga (Himalayas). Height 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 state). The first successful ascent of the mountain was made on May 25, 1955 by members of the British expedition, George Band and Joe Brown. Kanchenjunga was one of the favorite themes in Nicholas Roerich's painting.
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 in the Karakorum. Located on the border of Kashmir (Pakistan-controlled Northern Territories) and China (Xinjiang). The first to reach the top of K2 was an Italian expedition of 1954 led by Ardito Desio.
1 place. Chomolungma (Himalayas), also known as Everest... Chomolungma in Tibetan means "lord of the winds", as for the English name Everest, it is assigned in honor of Sir George Everest, the head of the geodetic service of British India 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 on the basis of 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 Chomolungma there are strong winds blowing at a speed of up to 55 m / s. Average monthly temperature air in January is -36 ° C (on some nights it can drop to -50 ... - 60 ° C), in July about zero ° C. The first ascent of Everest was made 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.
