Photos: The World's Tallest Mountains Photos: The World's Tallest Mountains By Remy Melina | August 9, 2010 01:49pm ET MORE Credit: NASA Intro 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. Measuring each mountain's summit, or tallest point, by their height above sea level, the 10 tallest mountains in the world all turn out be located in the Himalayas . Each of these mountains belongs to the "eight-thousanders" club, a list that consists of the 14 mountains on Earth that are 8,000 meters (about 26,250 feet) tall or more. Meet the "eight-thousanders" and the brutal challenges they pose to the people who try to climb them. 2 of 12 Annapurna I Nepal 26,545 feet (8,091 meters) The tenth highest mountain in the world, Annapurna I is located in western Nepal, while its smaller sister mountain Annapurna II is in the east.

The name Annapurna translates to Goddess of the Harvests in Sanskrit, and is the name of a goddess of fertility and agriculture in Hinduism. French mountaineers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal were the first to reach Annapurna's summit in 1950, in the process becoming the first people in the world to climb a peak over 26,247 feet (8,000) meters. During the perilous journey, frostbite and gangrene forced the expedition doctor to perform emergency amputations, removing both of the explorers' toes and most of Herzog's fingers without anesthetic. 3 of 12 Nanga Parbat Pakistan 26,657 feet (8,125 meters) Nanga Parbat means "Naked Mountain" in Urdu and is also known by the name Diamir, or the "Dwelling Place of the Fairies." Its dangerous ice-covered terrain has also earned it the nickname "deadly mountain," as more than 60 mountain climbers have lost their lives attempting to scale the mountain, according to NASA.

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. 4 of 12 Manaslu Nepal 26,781 feet (8,163 meters) Located in the Mansiri Himal part of the Nepalese Himalayas, Manaslu translates to "Mountain of the Spirit" and is known for its beautiful valley glaciers and steep, snowy peaks. Prone to avalanches, glacier falls, monsoon rainfall and landslides, Manaslu's various scenic trekking routes are also treacherous. Reaching the mountain's summit was not even attempted until the early 1950s, and the first climbers to successfully do so were the Japanese explorers Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu, who mounted the summit in 1956.

5 of 12 Dhaulagiri Nepal 26,795 feet (8,167 meters) Dhaulagiri means "White Mountain" in Sanskrit and was named by Max Eiselin, who led a Swiss expedition to its summit in 1960. This was the first Himalayan climb supported by an aircraft, but after the plane crashed, it was abandoned and left in a valley north of the mountain and the mountaineers continued their trek. Dhaulagiri, located in north central Nepal, has a topography consisting of ridges, glaciers and ice falls. It boasts technically challenging routes and massive drops and is therefore mostly attempted only by seasoned mountaineers. 6 of 12 Cho Oyu Nepal/China 26,864 feet (8,188 meters) Compared to Dhaulagiri, Cho Oyu is easier to climb and its summit can be reached in roughly three weeks. The mountain was first climbed in 1954 by Herbert Tichy, Joseph Jöchler and Sherpa Pasang Dawa Lama during an Austrian expedition.

The mountain's friendly terrain and snow conditions have made it an increasingly popular destination for ski mountaineers and snowboarders. 7 of 12 Makalu Nepal/China 27,838 feet (8,485 meters) The only eight-thousander to possess an isolated peak shaped like an icy four-sided pyramid, Makalu was first climbed in 1955 by a French expedition led by Jean Franco. Located just 14 miles (22 kilometers) east of Mount Everest, the mountain is exceptionally hard to climb and only five of its initial 16 summit attempts were successful. 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. 8 of 12 Lhotse Nepal/China 27,940 feet (8,516 meters) The most rarely climbed 8,000-meter peak in Nepal, Lhotse adjoins Mount Everest and it is impossible to climb its peak solo.

In 1990, a mountaineer named 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, Cesan recanted and said that he had actually only reached the summit's ridge. 9 of 12 Kanchenjunga Nepal/India 28,169 feet (8,586 meters) Kanchenjunga translates to "The Five Treasures of Snows" and was given this name because it has five peaks, four of which are more than 27,700 feet (8,450 meters) tall. Resting on the India-Nepal border, Kanchenjunga has varied ecological zones which range from subtropical forests to glacial wilderness . Kanchenjunga is called Sewalungma in the local Limbu language; the name means "Mountain That We Offer Greetings To," and is considered sacred in the Kirant religion. Its five peaks represent the sacred spaces where God stores his treasures, which are gold, silver, gems, grain and holy books.

The religious beliefs of the locals are so respected that when British mountaineer Charles Evans climbed the mountain in 1955, the expedition stopped a few yards short of the summit and did not touch its peak. 10 of 12 K2 (Chogori) Pakistan/China 28,251 feet (8,611 meters) Known as the "Savage Mountain," K2 has the second highest fatality rate of all the eight-thousanders, according to the eight-thousanders' official Web site, 8000ers.com. For every four people that successfully reach its summit, one has died trying. Located on the border of Pakistan and China, K2 has severe weather conditions and a high risk of avalanches . The mountain is so perilous that is has never been climbed during the winter, with expeditions typically attempted in June, July or August. The mountain was given the name K2 by British surveyor Thomas George Montgomerie in 1852 while he was conducting the Great Trigonometric Survey. While the survey made it a point to use the local names for mountains wherever possible, K2 did not appear to have a local name at that point.

11 of 12 Everest Nepal/China 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) The tallest mountain above sea level is located on the border of Nepal and Tibet in the Himalayan mountain range. Everest was given its official English name in 1865 by Andrew Waugh, a British Surveyor General for the Royal Geographical Society. In 1953, mountaineers Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay of a British expedition became the first people to ever set foot on Everest. Compared to K2, Everest's standard route does not pose substantial technical difficulty for mountain climbers. Everest is a popular tourist spot, despite the Nepalese government's requirement that all prospective climbers obtain a permit, which can cost each person upwards of $25,000. 12 of 12 Tallest Mountains in the World South America Tallest Mountains in the World The world’s tallest mountains are some of the most majestic and beautiful things that one can be blessed enough to witness in their lifetime. They are all located in Asia and each reach an altitude of over eight thousand meters in height. There are only fourteen mountains in the world that can boast such a height.

Below are the ten highest of these fourteen mountains. Mount Everest. Standing at about 29,029 feet (8,848 meters), Everest boasts the top spot for 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. Don’t be mistaken by what we mean by easier, there is still the danger posed by weather changes, winds, temperature and altitude sickness that can make such a long climb difficult, but the terrain is a lot more simple to take than some of the other tallest mountains like K2 or Nanga Parbat. K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) is located on the border between Pakistan and China and is part of the Himalayan Mountain Range. 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.

Of all of the highest mountains, above eight thousand meters, K2 has the third highest mortality rate. Kangchenjunga, once thought to be the tallest mountain in the world, was stated as the third highest mountain at 28,169 feet (8,586 meters) in 1848. 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; the British exploration team stopped a few feet away from the actual summit out of respect. A tradition which most teams that have successfully reached the summit have honorably followed. Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain on Earth and is connected to Everest at the South Col. It is located on the boarder between Nepal and China and at it highest peak is about 27,940 feet (8,516 meters) high.

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. This southern face has been the setting for any failed attempts, some notable fatalities and very few successful summit reaches. Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world and is located about 14 miles east of Everest. It is located on the boarder of Nepal and China. It is an isolated peak that has the unique shape of a four-sided pyramid. There is another subsidiary peak that doesn’t quite meet up to the “eight-thousander” reputation called Kangchungtse, or Makalu II. It lies northeast of the main summit and is connected to it by a arrow saddle called Chomo Lonzo. Cho Oyu is the sixth highest mountain in the world and stands at about 26,906 feet (8,201meters) high. Like most of the other Himalayan Mountains, it lies between Nepal and China (Tibet). 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 and today it is considered the easiest of al of the “eight-thousander” mountains to climb. Dhaulagiri is the seventh highest mountain in the world and is about 26,795 feet (8,167 meters) tall. It is located just north of central Nepal. Its name means “White Mountain”. The South and West faces of Dhaulagiri both feature massive drops; each rises over 4000 meters from its base, and each has been the site of epic climbs. 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. This is an amazing sight to see, and one of the main reasons why, for thirty years, it was thought to be the highest mountain in the world. Manaslu, when translated means “Mountain of the Spirit” and is the eighth highest mountain in the world. It is a part of the Nepalese Himalayans and stands at about 26,759 feet (8,156 meters) high.

The mountain’s long ridges and valley glaciers offer feasible approaches from all directions, and culminate in a peak that towers steeply above its surrounding landscape. This is the most dominant feature when viewed from far way. Nanga Parbat is the world’s ninth tallest mountain and stands at about 26,660 feet (8,126 meters) in height. Although the name is Urdu for “Naked Mountain”, for first half of the twentieth century it was known as “Killer Mountain”. It was called this because it used to be an incredibly dangerous climb to the top. Now however, it is less dangerous to climb, but still very difficult. This mountain is an immense and dramatic peak that rises above its surrounding area in Pakistan. Annapurna is a series of peaks, the highest of which is called Annapurna I, which is the tenth highest mountain in the world. It is located in central Nepal and is approximately 26,545 feet (8,091 meters) tall. Its peaks are some of the world’s most dangerous to climb. In fact, they have a fatality rate of about forty percent.

33 responses to “Tallest Mountains in the World” K2: Second Highest Mountain in the World K2: Second Highest Mountain in the World K2: Second Highest Mountain in the World Fast Facts About K2 Elevation: 28,253 feet (8,612 meters) Prominence: 13,179 feet (4,017 meters) Location: Karakoram Range, Pakistan/China, Asia Coordinates: 35°52′57″ N / 76°30′48″ E﻿ First Ascent: Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli (Italy), July 31, 1954 K2: 2nd Highest Mountain in the World K2 , located on the Pakistan-Chinese border, is the 2nd highest mountain in the world; Pakistan's highest mountain; and the world's 22nd most prominent mountain. Name Given by British Surveyor The name K2 was given in 1852 by British surveyor T.G. Montgomerie with "K" designating the Karakoram Range and "2" since it was the 2nd peak listed.

During his survey, Montgomerie, standing on Mt. Haramukh 125 miles to the south, noted two prominent peaks to the north, calling them K1 and K2. While he kept native names, he found that K2 did not have a known name. Also Named Mount Godwin-Austen Later K2 was named Mount Godwin-Austen for Haversham Godwin-Austen (1834-1923), an early British surveyor and explorer. continue reading below our video LeBron vs. Michael: Who's Better? Godwin-Austen climbed 1,000 meters up a spur of Masherbrum above Urdukas and fixed the approximate height and position of K2 from there, according to Catherine Moorehead, the author of The K2 Man (And His Molluscs) , a biography of Godwin-Austen. This alternate name was never recognized. Balit Name for K2 A name for K2 is Chogori, derived from Balti words chhogo ri, meaning "large mountain." The Chinese call the mountain Qogir meaning "Great Mountain," while Balti locals call it Kechu.

Nickname is "The Savage Mountain" K2 is nicknamed the "Savage Mountain" for its severe weather. It is typically climbed in June, July, or August. K2 has never been climbed in winter. 1902: First Attempt to Climb K2 British climbers Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), an occultist and hedonist, and Oscar Eckenstein (1859-1921) led an expedition of six climbers that made the first attempt to climb K2 , from March to June, 1902. The party spent 68 days on the mountain, with only 8 clear days, attempting the northeast ridge. Spending two months at high altitude, the party made 5 summit attempts. The last one began on June 8 but 8 days of bad weather defeated them and they retreated after a high point of 21,407 feet (6,525 meters). Scraps of expedition clothing were later found below K2 and are displayed at Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado.

1909: First Attempt on Abruzzi Spur Italian climber Prince Luigi Amedeo (1873-1933), the Duke of Abruzzi, led an expedition to K2 in 1909. His party attempted the southeast ridge, the Abruzzi Spur , reaching an elevation of 20,505 feet (6,250 meters) before deciding that the climb was too difficult. The ridge is now the usual way that most climbers ascend K2. Before departing, the Duke said that the mountain would never be climbed. 1939: First American Attempt on K2 Fritz Wiessner, a great German climber transplanted to the US, led a 1939 American expedition that set a new world altitude record by reaching 27,500 feet on the Abruzzi Spur. The party was 656 feet from the summit before turning around. Four team members were killed. 1953: Famous Ice Axe Arrest Saves 5 One of the most famous events in American climbing history occurred during a 1953 expedition led by Charles Houston.

A 10-day storm trapped the team at 25,592 feet. Abandoning a summit attempt, the climbers attempted to save 27-year-old Art Gilkey, who had developed altitude sickness, by descending to a lower altitude. At one point during their desperate descent, Pete Schoening saved five falling climbers by arresting their fall with the rope and his ice axe plunged behind a boulder. The ice axe is displayed at the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum in Golden, Colorado. 1977: Second Ascent by Japanese The peak's 2nd ascent came on August 9, 1977, 23 years after K2's first ascent, by a Japanese team led by Ichiro Yoshizawa. The team also included Ashraf Aman, the first Pakistani climber to summit K2. 1978: First American Ascent The first American ascent was in 1978. A strong team led by James Whittaker ascended a new route up the peak's Northeast Ridge.

Most Difficult 8,000-Meter Peak K2 is one of the most difficult of the fourteen 8,000-meter peaks, offering technical climbing, severe weather conditions, and high avalanche danger. As of 2014, over 335 climbers have reached K2's summit, while at least 82 have died. 1986: 13 Climbers Die on K2 1986 was a tragic year on K2 with 13 climbers dying. Five climbers died in a severe storm between August 6 and August 10. Eight other climbers died in the preceding 6 weeks. Deaths were by avalanche, falling, and rockfall. The climbers killed by the storm were part of a group cobbled together from several failed expeditions. Three of the climbers reached the top on August 4. During the descent they met up with 4 other climbers and stayed at 26,000 feet where they were trapped in a storm. Five climbers died while only two survived. Kaltenbrunner Climbs K2 without Extra Oxygen As of 2013, 12 women have summitted K2, but four died on the descent.

On August 23, 2011, Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner reached the summit of K2, becoming the first woman to climb all 14 of the 8,000-meter mountains without using supplemental oxygen. Kaltenbrunner also became the second woman to climb the 8,000ers. 2008: 11 Climbers Die on K2 In August 2008, 11 climbers died on the upper slopes of K2 after an avalanche caused by a fallen ice serac either killed them outright or isolated them above The Bottleneck, a steep ice couloir. K2 has High Fatality Rate The fatality rate on K2 is 27%. If you attempt K2 you have a 1 in 4 chance of dying. Prior to the 2008 tragedy, of the 198 climbers who summitted the peak, 53 died on K2. That is three times the 9% fatality rate on Mount Everest . K2 is, next to Annapurna , the second most dangerous 8,000-meter peak.

Books About K2 K2, having its share of epic ascents, is also a mountain of literature. Some of the best writing about the trials of mountaineering have come from gripping adventures on the Savage Mountain. Here are some books that I recommend if you want to read more about K2. K2: Triumph and Tragedy by Jim Curran. The summer of 1986, nine expeditions attempt K2. 27 climbers reach the summit, but 13 die on the savage mountain. Jim Curran writes a gripping account of that bittersweet summer of success and death. by Andrew J. Kaufman and William L. Putnam. An account of the controversial 1939 American expedition that put two climbers within 800 feet of the summit and the subsequent deaths of 4 climbers. The Last Step: The American Ascent of K2 by Rick Ridgeway. A riveting account by expedition member Rick Ridgeway about the successful 1978 American ascent of K2. The book details the personal dramas, including a love triangle, as well as the epic conclusion of a new route.

K2: The Price of Conquest by Lino Lacedelli and Giovanni Cenacchi. The true story about the 1st ascent of K2 by its Italian victor, who tells about the lies and deception that allowed him to reach the summit without Walter Bonatti. A controversial revealing story about pride, ambition, and guilt. What are the World's Tallest Mountains? (with pictures) What are the World's Tallest Mountains? Written By: L. S. Wynn Edited By: L. S. Wynn Last Modified Date: 21 December 2016 Copyright Protected: Top 10 facts about the world Determining the world's tallest mountains seems simple, but the answer can vary, depending on how the mountains are measured. Traditionally, the world's tallest mountains were determined as measured from sea level. By this definition, there are about 450 mountain peaks over 7,000 meters, and (430 peaks over 23,000 feet) tall. Most of these are located in the following mountain ranges: Himalaya, Karakoram, Kunlun, Hindu Kush, Hengduan, Pamir, Tanggula, Nyain'a.

All of these ranges are in Asia, specifically in Nepal , China , India , Pakistan , Bhutan , Afghanistan , Tajikistan , Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan . In fact, when measured by sea level, the tallest mountain peak outside of Asia is Aconcagua in Argentina that is 6,959 meters (22,831 feet). That puts it at about 485th of the world's tallest mountains. There are other ways of measuring mountains, however. Many islands are in fact undersea mountains, with just their tops poking out of the water. By this measure, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is tallest, at over 10,000 meters (32,808 feet). Measuring from the center of the planet gives yet a different result, with Ecuador's Chimborazo the tallest. This mountain is 6,384 kilometers (3,967 miles) from the Earth's core. Ad Here is a list of the ten highest peaks in the world, as measured from sea level.

As you can see, eight of them are in or partially in Nepal : Name 8,201 26,906 To put some of the giants listed above into perspective with the tallest mountains on each continent the world, take a look at the following chart: Peak Here is a chart comparing the height of Mount Everest with other well-known mountains in the world: Peak anon331917 Post 64 Mount Maranui Estate in the Western region of Waihi Beach on the east coast of New Zealand has a peak of roughly 43.6m. If you can remain on your feet while courageously longboarding down the mind altering 43.6m from the peak roundabout at the campsite, you're doing something well. yelsmlaugh Post 63 I have read most of the posts here (up to post 62) and have seen no reference to the mean sea level, which is by no means the same as the actual sea levels at the latitudes of all the mountains measured from the sea's surface.

Isaac Asimov pointed out that Everest is the highest from mean sea level, Mauna Loa from its base, and an unremembered name of an Andean peak from the actual average of high and low tides at its own latitude. Mean sea level refers to the differences caused by the spin of the earth which, like a middle aged man, has a pot belly and is a bit thin on top. And suffers from peripheral neuropathy in the other direction. Does anyone know the name of the third 'highest mountain'? anon329288 Post 62 Mount Gonga in China is 7556m above sea level (41st highest in world) and the base 1 plateau is only about 2000mm so you are viewing 5500m of mountain at a distance of just 20km. That angle is even more impressive than Everest, according to the climbing group's website I just looked at. It sounds like it would be on par with Mckinley, the difference being that Gonga's top 2km are snow covered.

anon264782 Post 58 Rakaposhi has a larger vertical relief from its base to summit, and in a much shorter distance, than Denali or St. Elias. Nanga Parbat drops 23,000 feet in about the same distance Denali drops 18000 feet. Still, all amazing mountains to see. anon206687 Post 54 O.K. Here's the real fact: Measuring a mountain is the same as you measure a person. When you measure yourself, do you start from your feet or your knees? That's what I thought. Now, if you're six feet tall and stand in water that's four feet deep, and on shore you have a five foot person standing on land, yes, the five foot person looks taller, but lift the person in the water and he becomes taller. When you measure a mountain, you measure from the bottom (ocean floor) like a human, from the feet. If you were to lift Mauna Loa, not Mauna Kea from the ocean floor and place it next to Everest, then Mount Everest would complain of a stiff neck the next morning.

Hawaii has the top three tallest mountains in the world: And we are measuring from the ocean floor, the same way you measure yourself, from the floor. Mauna Loa: 56,000 feet; Mauna Kea: 32,808 feet; Haleakala: 29,703 feet; Everest, from the plateau which it sits on is 29,035 feet. This is the real fact. Need proof? Check out the U.S. Geological Survey. anon170884 Post 53 For those of you who keep posting about this mountain near Guam being 37,000 ft because it sits next to the Marianas Trench you don't know what you're talking about. The trench only runs along one side. That is not the base. And for the same people who say that mountains should be measured only above water, that is your opinion. And you're wrong. A mountain is any natural elevation of the earth surface rising more or less abruptly from the surrounding level and attaining an altitude which, relatively to the adjacent elevation, is impressive or notable.

Just because you can't climb it because it's mostly underwater doesn't mean it shouldn't count. By the definition of a mountain, the "Tallest Mountain" is Mauna Kea. Everest is the highest land mass on the planet. This is not opinion. This is fact. Live with it. anon145047 Post 52 The way I see it, a mountain's real height is the height you have to hike in a normal distance. Usually 5-20 miles. Annapurna is close with 6000 meters (19800 feet) in 15 miles. Nanga Parbat takes it with a rise of 7000 meters(23000 feet) in 16 miles from the Indus river. Nothing comes close. That's almost a mile higher than St. Elias in the same distance. anon129981 Post 50 Chimborazo isn't the closest to space but the furthest from the earths core due to the bulge at the equator caused by the earth's rotation.

I'd guess that if anything, it's further from space than other mountains of similar height due to the atmosphere building nearer the equator as well. anon129688 The mountain that is "closest to space" is Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador. anon125852 Why hasn't Mt. Everest eroded down to sea-level? anon125634 Post 46 It depends greatly on your definition of a mountain. If, for example, you include the Hawaiian islands, then why not entire continents? Everest all the way to the Indian Ocean? kamkatcha in Russia has volcanoes over 4500 meters high a couple of hundred miles away from an ocean trench over 7000 meters deep. As far as clear mountain faces (steep landscape with no other hills, mountains or areas of flat land in the way) above above sea level go, Mckinley and St Elias are mentioned because they have a greater rise than Everest but there are actually several mountains in Asia with clearly larger rises. Rakaposhi in Pakistan clearly rises 5800 meters from the Hunza Valley.

Dhaulagiri in Nepal rises 5600 meters from the Kali Gandaki Valley. Annapurna South in Nepal clearly rises 5400 meters from the Modi Khola valley. Namcha Barwa in Tibet rises 5300 meters from the Tsangpo gorge. anon119265 Post 44 The site gives ample information about the geographical statistics of various peaks. Quite useful for research students. anon114380 Post 43 Mt St. Elias has the largest vertical relief (drop) in the world, as it drops over 18,000 feet straight down to the ocean. Denali, while higher, too sits on a plateau like Everest. If you ever get the chance to see this mountain take the opportunity, but be prepared. Because of its close location to the Pacific, the weather is vicious. It is also the second highest mountain in the US and Canada because it encompasses both borders. Two pioneers unfortunately died not too long ago trying to ski the largest vertical relief on earth. anon110197 Post 42 It is interesting that Everest keeps showing up on lists of the tallest mountains in the world, when it is the highest.

It is like saying a toddler standing on a ladder is the tallest person in the room, simply because their head is above everyone else's. With regard to height, Everest is the winner. With regard to being tall (which is a measure of vertical length), Mauna Kea has no real competition. anon106289 Mt Everest is the tallest peak (highest) as measured from sea level. Mt Kea in Hawaii, if measured from it's base. Mt St. Elias in Alaska has the world's highest vertical relief (as measured above sea level) of any mountain. I am a climber, so sorry guys, yeah, you can measure mountain high from its base at 20,000' below sea level, but let's get real. The barometric pressure at 8850m above sea level is far more uncomfortable than the barometric pressure at the top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Let's talk about oxygen levels. Is there less oxygen at 8850m or at the top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii? I don't think so. I rest my case.

anon98809 Post 39 "Tallest" is measured from base to summit, making mona loa and mona kea the two tallest mountains in the world. Everest, K-2 and the rest are the highest above sea level, 'highest' in no way being the 'tallest'. anon82455 Post 35 As far I knew, the tallest mountains are situated all in Asia. Mt Everest is no. 1. Virgie J. anon71279 Post 31 Mount Lam Lam in Guam is the tallest. It rises from the base of the Marianas Trench, seven miles deep, to aprox. 1000 feet above sea level. anon69751 Post 30 The highest mountain in the world is Mt. Everest, at nearly 30,000 ft. above sea level. However,it isn't the tallest mountain on earth. Mt. Everest sits on a plateau which is roughly 15,000 ft. above sea level which means it's only roughly 15,000 ft. tall. Mt.

Mckinley in Alaska is the tallest mountain in the world above sea level, from its base where it sits in foothills to its very top is 20,320. I thank God for all the mountains. They're all really awesome. anon69549 Post 29 Actually, standing on Everest does not make you the tallest person on earth (disregarding aircraft), some mountains on the equator are much higher due to the bulge of the earth at the equator. Everest might be the highest in terms of sea level but from the center of the earth I think that Mauna Kea makes you highest. anon64371 Post 28 the 17th comment gives the best answer. there is a difference between tallest and highest. and although Mauna Kea is the tallest. if you would like to view the tallest mountain by eye check out McKinley anon62474 Post 27 Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa (100' shorter) are the tallest by far. Sure water covers over half of these mountains, but they are the tallest.

If the tallest tree was growing out of a lake 50 feet deep, it would still be the tallest tree and I'd measure it from its bottom/base. P.S. Mauna Loa is the most massive mountain too, it has 10,000 cubic miles of mass. Think about it. anon62269 Post 26 Everest isn't even the second tallest. As far as I know, above sea level {for climbers, flyers, and anything other then fish}, Mckinley {Denali} of Alaska is the tallest mountain in the world. If you were to stand at it's base, or anywhere around it for that matter, it would tower over all other mountains. Everest is actually only 12,000 feet tall. Mckinley is 18,000 feet tall. Climb that sucker. "Alaska; we do everything big." anon58199 Post 25 I tend to agree with anon29822 and Fact. Mauna Kea and Chimborazo are irrelevant to me, as you don't start an expedition either from the base of the ocean or from Earth's core.

Also, while Everest may be the "highest" mountain on Earth as measured from sea level, it is by no means the "tallest" mountain on Earth. I will say that height above sea level is a measurement which should never be disregarded, as the greatest dangers of the eight-thousanders are fierce weather and oxygen levels too low to support life (even with acclimatization, one cannot remain in the death zone for more than a day). Still, most interesting to me is the climb itself; specifically, the vertical relief of a mountain above surrounding terrain, and particularly the point from which the expedition begins. The first time I looked at the mountains on a globe as a kid, I thought for sure that Denali (McKinley) was the tallest of all. It rises some 18,000-19,000 feet above its base, which is only about 1,000 feet above sea level. Also, because of its latitude and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, Denali almost has a death zone of its own, and is also the site of some of the coldest and altogether worst weather on Earth.

Note that Nanga Parbat's northern Rakhiot Flank rises almost 23,000 feet above the Indus River valley. However, I've never heard of an ascent via this route. Of course, I wouldn't say that Denali is among the most dangerous; I think that title goes to Annapurna (frequent avalanches) and K2 (technical difficulty). Before a standard route was established on Nanga Parbat, about 3 out of 4 people who attempted the mountain died on it. anon57888 Post 24 Who says the Mauna kea is the highest mountain in the world he/she is wrong!! according to the list of heights above rest is the Everest is the highest! Duh! anon57650 Post 23 If i might add, some people are mistaking 'highest' and 'tallest.' If one would argue highest, Everest would be what one would be looking for at 8850m above sea level. The tallest however can be measure from sea level or below.

Tallest period would be Mauna Kea measuring over 30,000ft from its base below sea level, and tallest from sea level would be Kilimanjaro, followed closely by Denali, i believe. anon56287 Post 21 anon18804- If you stand on the top of Mt. Everest you will not be the highest object on planet Earth. For one thing if there is someone with you who is taller, they would be higher up and also airplanes can fly higher than 29,035 feet, and so can space shuttles. anon46032 Post 20 Carstensz Pyramid(4884 meters) is now considered the summit of Australasia. Australasia is sometimes called Oceana. If every land mass is to be assigned to some continent, then Indonesia should be part of Oceania (Australasia). It is true that it is an island but so is New Zealand.

anon42739 Post 19 If you want to consider the base of the mountain as the standard to measure, then Sagarmatha (mt_everest) base can be still considered to be same as base of Mauna Kea with all other "peaks" from that base as intermediate points towards Sagarmatha! anon32741 Post 17 If a man, measuring 4 feet in height stands on a 4 foot tall stool, is he taller than a man measuring 6 feet? No, he simply is higher than him. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain, and Everest is the highest. anon30095 Post 16 Seriously guys. It all depends on which measure we are based upon. If we do measure mountains the way we measure humans, then no doubt, Mauna Kea is the tallest and Everest would be out of the league. anon29822 Post 15 Unless climbers start at the seafloor, I don't see how Mauna Kea's 20,000 feet are relevant. :P Does anyone know what the longest 'climb' is?

In other words, what mountain provides the longest distance between the "trail-head" (i.e. point at which you get out of the car/truck/helicopter/plane/dog-sled) and the summit? Both as-the-bird-flies and "trail"-length would be interesting to know. Thanks, CL Fact Post 14 Let’s keep to the facts. The term tall stands for the vertical size of something. Everest has a base of around 15,000 feet above sea level, so it cannot be considered even close to being the tallest mountain in the world. It is clearly the highest peak or point on Earth. Denali (McKinley) in Alaska only reaches 6194 meters above sea level, but the base is about 1000 feet above sea level and is considered taller than Everest. There may be other mountains above sea level that are taller than Everest. Mauna Kea of Hawaii still has the record using below and above sea level measurement for a single mountain. Above sea level it is Denali (McKinley) of Alaska. nepal123 Now everybody knows Everest is tallest mountain!

anon21449 Post 10 Mauna Kea is not the tallest mountain. Mountains should be measured from height above sea level. Therefore Everest is the tallest mountain. If you really want to get technical and say that Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain, you are still wrong. There is a mountain in Guam that is more than 37,000 feet to its base. That is because its base is in the Marianas Trench. So Mauna Kea is not the tallest Mountain, deal with it. anon19544 Post 9 Anon7004 - perhaps according to your definition, Mauna Kea is not a mountain but according to record books, geology.com and most geologists, it is a mountain. Perhaps you are more of an expert than they are.... anon18804 Post 8 We regard Everest as the tallest because when you stand on the top of it, no object on Earth is higher than you. I don't care that Mauna Kea is taller if you measure from the base. If you stand on top of it you are quite simply not very high up at all.

anon12615 Post 6 There are many ways to measure mountains. Base to summit is the best in my opinion. Everest has the highest elevation, but many mountains have greater vertical relief (elevation gain from base to summit) and would appear taller to the naked eye. mountnmn Post 5

Question: What's the world's second-tallest mountain?
Answer: K2