Mountains, Mountain Range Information, Facts, News, Photos -- National Geographic Space Photograph by George Mobley Mountains are the wrinkles of age and pimples of youth on Earth's crusty outer skin. They rise up as the crust collides, cracks, crumbles, folds, and spews. By definition, they dominate their surroundings with towering height. The mighty chunks rise all over the world, including the oceans. They usually have steep, sloping sides and sharp or rounded ridges. The highest point is called the peak or summit. Most geologists classify a mountain as a landform that rises at least 1,000 feet (300 meters) or more above its surrounding area. A mountain range is a series or chain of mountains that are close together. The world's tallest mountain ranges form when pieces of Earth's crust—called plates—smash against each other, in a process called plate tectonics, and buckle up like the hood of a car in a head-on collision. The Himalaya in Asia formed from one such massive wreck that started about 55 million years ago. Thirty of the world’s highest mountains are in the Himalaya.

The summit of Mount Everest, at 29,035 feet (8,850 meters), is the highest point on Earth. The tallest mountain measured from top to bottom is Mauna Kea, an inactive volcano on the island of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. Measured from the base, Mauna Kea stands 33,474 feet (10,203 meters) tall, though it only rises 13,796 feet (4,205 meters) above the sea. Types of Mountains Volcanic mountains form when molten rock from deep inside the Earth erupts through the crust and piles up on itself. The island chain of Hawaii is actually the tops of volcanoes. Well-known volcanoes on land include Mount St. Helens in Washington State and Mount Fuji in Japan. Sometimes volcanic eruptions break down mountains instead of building them up, like the 1980 eruption that blew the top off Mount St. Helens. When magma pushes the crust up but hardens before erupting onto the surface, it forms so-called dome mountains. Wind and rain pummel the domes, sculpting peaks and valleys.

Examples include the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Plateau mountains are similar to dome mountains, but form as colliding tectonic plates push up the land without folding or faulting. They are then shaped by weathering and erosion. Other types of mountains form when stresses within and between the tectonic plates lead to cracking and faulting of the Earth's surface, which forces blocks of rock up and down. Examples of fault-block mountains include the Sierra Nevada in California and Nevada, the Tetons in Wyoming, and the Harz Mountains in Germany. Mountains often serve as geographic features that define natural borders of countries. Their height can influence weather patterns, stalling storms that roll off the oceans and squeezing water from the clouds. The other side is often much drier. The rugged landscapes even provide refuge—and protection—for fleeing and invading armies.

7 Things You Should Know About Mount Everest - History in the Headlines 7 Things You Should Know About Mount Everest May 29, 2013 By Jesse Greenspan Share this: 7 Things You Should Know About Mount Everest Author 7 Things You Should Know About Mount Everest URL Google On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay completed the first confirmed ascent of Mount Everest, which stands 29,035 feet above sea level. Though the two mountaineers spent only about 15 minutes on the snow-covered summit, they managed to snap a few photos, share a celebratory hug and eat a bar of mint cake—an early version of today’s energy bars. Tenzing, a Nepalese Sherpa, also left some of the sweets as a Buddhist offering, and Hillary, a beekeeper from New Zealand, placed a cross nearby. On the 60th anniversary of their widely celebrated feat, which Hillary described as knocking “the bastard off,” here are seven things you may not know about Earth’s highest mountain. 1. No one knew of Everest as the roof of the world until the 19th century.

In 1802, the British launched what became known as the Great Trigonometrical Survey in order to map the Indian subcontinent. Heavy equipment, rugged terrain, monsoons, malaria and scorpions made the work exceedingly difficult. Nonetheless, the surveyors were able to take astonishingly accurate measurements. They soon proved that the Himalayas—and not the Andes, as previously believed—were the world’s highest mountain range. By 1852, they had fingered Everest, then called Peak XV, as the king of them all, and by 1856 they had calculated its height as 29,002 feet above sea level. A 1999 survey using state-of-the-art GPS technology found them off by only 33 feet. 2. Hillary and Tenzing might have been beat to the summit. George Mallory, a British schoolteacher, participated in the first three documented attempts to scale Mount Everest from 1921 to 1924.

Before the last of those expeditions, he wrote, “It is almost unthinkable…that I shan’t get to the top; I can’t see myself coming down defeated.” On June 4, 1924, a teammate made it within about 900 vertical feet of the summit before turning back. Mallory and climbing partner Andrew Irvine then made their own attempt for glory. They departed the 26,800-foot Camp VI on June 8 and were last seen that afternoon trudging upwards in their tweed coats, hobnailed boots and other primitive apparel. Some people believe that Mallory and Irvine reached the summit before dying on the way down. A camera they supposedly carried could perhaps solve the mystery, but it was not among the items in Mallory’s pockets when his corpse finally was discovered in 1999. Irvine’s body remains unfound. 3. Tenzing had almost reached the top once before. After Mallory’s death, the next 10 or so expeditions to Mount Everest also failed. Tenzing gained valuable experience participating in six of them, starting off as a porter and later progressing into a full team member.

In 1952 he and a Swiss climber came within about 800 vertical feet of the top—likely higher than anyone had ever gone. He broke his own record the next year by reaching the summit with Hillary. Since then, around 4,000 other mountaineers have likewise climbed Everest, including Hillary’s son and one of Tenzing’s sons. 4. Corpses are often left behind when a climber dies en route. About 240 people have died attempting to climb Mount Everest. Avalanches, rockslides, blizzards, falls, altitude sickness, freezing temperatures, exhaustion and combinations thereof have all proven fatal, particularly in the so-called “death zone” above 26,000 feet. Since getting them down is grueling and dangerous, most of the corpses remain up there. They are well preserved in the snow and apparently serve as trail markers for climbers who pass by. Everest’s deadliest day occurred in May 1996, when eight people perished in a storm.

Yet that incident, made famous by Jon Krakauer’s book “Into Thin Air,” did nothing to stem the tide of people willing to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for a chance to tame Earth’s highest mountain. Traffic jams have even been reported near the top, and a fistfight broke out this April between three European climbers and more than 100 Sherpas, over what the guides deemed to be rude and dangerous behavior during an attempted ascent. Meanwhile, the deaths keep coming, including at least 10 last year and around eight this year. 5. Everest’s litter problem goes well beyond cadavers. As early as 1963, a climber wrote in National Geographic that parts of Mount Everest had become “the highest junkyard on the face of the Earth.” Empty oxygen bottles, human excrement, food packaging, broken climbing gear and torn tents continue to spoil the environment there. A single cleanup in spring 2011 removed over 8 tons of trash from Everest, and many more tons remain uncollected. In order to counteract the problem, Nepal’s government now requires climbers to bring back all of their equipment or risk losing a $4,000 deposit.

New trash bins and a waste incinerator have also recently been installed near the mountain. 6. Few animals venture into Everest’s upper reaches. Sagarmatha National Park, which includes Mount Everest and surrounding peaks, supports a variety of mammals at its lower elevations, from snow leopards and musk deer to red pandas and Himalayan tahr. About 150 bird species also reside within the park. Almost no wildlife, however, is found above 20,000 feet, the point at which permanent snow prevents even the hardiest lichens and mosses from growing. Among the exceptions are Himalayan jumping spiders, which have been observed as high as 22,000 feet, where they eat insects blown up by the wind; yellow-billed choughs, a crow-like bird, which have followed mountaineers up to about 26,500 feet; and bar-headed geese, which migrate over Mount Everest on their way from the Tibetan Plateau to India’s marshes. 7. Everest is the highest point from sea level, but other mountains are taller.

Mauna Kea, a volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island, tops out at 13,796 feet above sea level. But because it rises from the ocean floor, its base-to-summit height is actually more than 33,000 feet, making it, by that measurement at least, the tallest mountain in the world. Nor is Everest the closest to outer space. Because Earth isn’t a perfect sphere—it bulges at the middle—that honor belongs to 20,561-foot Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador. Tags Mount Everest: Facts & Location of World's Highest Mountain Mount Everest: World's Highest Mountain By Kim Ann Zimmermann, Live Science Contributor | September 20, 2012 05:30pm ET MORE Reaching 29,029 feet (8,848 meters) above sea level, Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth. Located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas, the mountain's summit straddles the border separating China and Nepal. The mountain's height was first determined in 1856.

The Great Trigonometric Survey of British India pegged the mountain, known to them as Peak XV, at 29,002 feet (8,840 meters). But those surveyors were at a disadvantage because Nepal would not grant them entry due to concerns that the country would be invaded or annexed. The current accepted elevation was determined by an Indian survey in 1955 and backed up by a 1975 Chinese measurement. Lit by the sun, Everest's northeast ridge, the place George Mallory and Andrew Irvine were last seen alive. Credit: John L. Semple. In 1865, Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India, suggested that the mountain be named after his predecessor in the job, Sir George Everest. The Tibetans had referred to the mountain as "Chomolungma," or Holy Mother, for centuries, but Waugh did not know this because Nepal and Tibet were closed to outsiders. Climbing Mount Everest Mount Everest attracts experienced mountaineers as well as less-seasoned climbers who typically enlist guides known as sherpas. Climbing more than 8,000 feet is no easy feat.

Altitude sickness, weather and wind are the major roadblocks to making the summit for most climbers. More than 5,000 people have climbed Everest and 219 have died trying. About 77 percent of those ascents have been accomplished since 2000. In 2007, a record number of 633 ascents were recorded. Mount Everest has two main climbing routes, the southeast ridge from Nepal and the north ridge from Tibet. Today, the southeast ridge route, which is technically easier, is more frequently used. The northern approach was discovered in 1921 by George Mallory during the British Reconnaissance Expedition, which was an exploratory expedition, not intended to attempt the summit. Mallory was famously, perhaps apocryphally, quoted as answering the question "Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?" with the reply "Because it's there." In 1922, Brit George Finch attempted an ascent using oxygen for the first time, but the expedition was thwarted by an avalanche. In June 1924, Mallory and Andrew Irvine did not survive their attempt to reach to the summit.

A 1999 expedition found Mallory's body. Early expeditions in the 1920s and 1930s attempted to make the ascent from the Tibetan side but access was closed after Tibet came under Chinese control in 1950. This spurred Bill Tilman and a small party that included Charles Houston, Oscar Houston and Betsy Cowles, to approach Everest through Nepal along the route that has developed into the standard approach to Everest from the south. In 1952, members of a Swiss expedition led by Edouard Wyss-Dunant, were able to reach a height of about 28,199 feet (8,595 meters) on the southeast ridge, setting a new climbing altitude record. Tenzing Norgay, a member of this expedition and a Nepali sherpa, took part in the British expedition the following year. In 1953, a British expedition led by John Hunt, returned to Nepal. Hunt selected two climbing pairs to attempt to reach the summit.

The first pair (Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans) came within 300 feet (100 meters) of the summit but were turned back due to oxygen problems. Two days later, the second pair, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, reached the summit, took some pictures and left some sweets and a cross. Life on Everest Mount Everest is surrounded by a number of substantial peaks, including Lhotse, (27,940 feet/8,516 meters); Nuptse, (25,771 feet/7,855 meters); and Changtobse, (24,870 feet/7,580 meters). Those higher altitudes cannot support animal life or vegetation; however, birch, juniper, blue pines, firs, bamboo and rhododendron grow in the lower areas. There are no plants above 18,690 feet (5,750 meters). Musk deer, wild yak, red panda, snow leopard and Himalayan black bears inhabit lower altitudes.

There are also small numbers of Himalayan thars, deer, langur monkeys, hares, mountain foxes, martens, and Himalayan wolves. Mountain milestones Other milestones among Mount Everest expeditions include: May 20, 1965: Sherpa Nawang Gombu becomes the first person to reach the summit twice. May 16, 1975: Junko Tabei of Japan becomes the first woman to summit Everest. May 3, 1980: Japanese climber Yasuo Kato is the first non-Sherpa to reach the summit a second time, following his original 1973 summit. Aug. 20, 1980: Reinhold Messner is the first person to reach the summit solo. 1996 climbing season: 16 people die while climbing on Mount Everest, the highest number of fatalities in a single year. Eight climbers die on May 10 during a storm. One of the survivors, Jon Krakauer, a journalist on assignment for "Outside" magazine, wrote the bestseller "Into Thin Air" about his experience.

May 22, 2010: Apa Sherpa, who first summitted on May 10, 1990, reaches the summit a 20th time. — Kim Ann Zimmermann, LiveScience Contributor Author Bio Kim Ann Zimmermann, Live Science Contributor Kim Ann Zimmermann is a contributor to Live Science. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Glassboro State College. Latest on Mount Everest: Facts & Location of World's Highest Mountain The Himalayas | Himalayas Facts | Nature | PBS Himalayas Facts View The Himalayas in a larger map Name: Himalayas, Sanskrit for ‘abode of snow’ Geography: The Himalayas stretch across the northeastern portion of India. They cover approximately 1,500 mi (2,400 km) and pass through the nations of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan and Nepal. The Himalayan range is made up of three parallel ranges often referred to as the Greater Himalayas, the Lesser Himalayas, and the Outer Himalayas. Ecology: While intimidating mountains like Everest and 2K tend to dominate our perceptions of the region, the Himalayas are rich in biodiversity.

Climates range from tropical at the base of the mountains to perennial snow and ice at the highest elevations. These complex and diverse eco-regions are interconnected: an ecological threat to one is ultimately a threat to many. Here are just a few examples of Himalayan ecology: Montane Grasslands and Shrublands: Western alpine shrubs and meadows can be found between 9,850 and 16,400 ft. These areas tend to have cold winters and mild summers that allow for plant growth. Rhododendron plants cover the lower shrublands, while the alpine meadows, directly above, host a range of flora in the warmer months. Animals found in this region include the snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, musk deer, and pikas.Temperate Coniferous Forest: In the northeast, temperate sub-alpine conifer forests are found at elevations of 8,200 to 13,800 ft. Located in the inner valley area, these forests are protected from harsh monsoon conditions by surrounding mountain ranges. The dominant tree types are pine, hemlock, spruce, and fir.

Animals found in this region include red pandas, takins, and musk deer. Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests: Found in middle elevations of 6,600 to 9,800 ft. in the eastern region are broadleaf and coniferous forests. These forests receive almost 80 inches of annual rainfall, mostly during the monsoon season. In addition to indigenous oaks and maples, plants like orchids, lichen, and ferns also grow in the area. A huge range of wildlife, including over 500 species of birds, are found here during the cooler seasons before they migrate to higher elevations to escape the hot summers. This is also the primary home for golden langur monkeys. Tropical and Sub-tropical Broadleaf Forests: Located at 1,650 to 3,300 ft. along a narrow strip of the outer Himalayan range are the Himalayan sub-tropical broadleaf forests. Here there is a wide range of plant life thanks to the areas varied topography, soil types, and rainfall levels.

Forest types include subtropical dry evergreen, northern dry mixed deciduous forests, moist mixed deciduous forests, subtropical broadleaf forests, northern tropical semi-evergreen forests, and northern tropical wet evergreen forests. Wildlife includes many threatened species including tigers and Asian elephants. More than 340 different species of birds can be found in this region. Highest peak: Mount Everest at 29,029 ft (8,848 m) is not only the highest peak in the Himalayas, but the highest peak on the entire planet. Other famous peaks include Karakora (K2), Kailash, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat, Annapurna, and Manasklu. Rivers: The Himalayas are the source for the Indus, the Yangtze and the Ganga-Brahmaputra. All three are major river systems for the continent of Asia. The main rivers sourced in Himalayas are the Ganges, Indus, Yarlung, Yangtze, Yellow, Mekong, and Nujiang. Glaciers: The Himalayas are the third largest deposit of ice and snow in the world, after Antarctica and the Arctic.

There are approximately 15,000 glaciers located throughout the range. At 48 miles (72 km) in length, the Himalayan Siachen glacier is the largest glacier outside the poles. Other notable glaciers located in the Himalayas include the Baltoro, Biafo, Nubra, and Hispur. Additional Facts: Mountains in Nepal | By Nepal Channel City finder Mountain Ranges of Nepal A country of great beauty, Nepal is home to eight of the 14 highest mountains in the world. The Himalayan mountain range extends across the country from the eastern edge to the western edge. This conglomeration of beautiful and rugged mountain peaks has drawn mountain trekkers and climbers from all over the world. Many come here to test their skills, their mental and physical strength and their endurance. Others are drawn to the mountains of Nepal for more spiritual reasons. Whatever the case, you can be sure that you will enjoy Nepal's mountains – even if you only see them from a distance. Most people traveling to Nepal come here to enjoy the striking backdrop of the Himalayas. This striking mountain range is home to the world-famous Mount Everest and many people come here just to try and climb the biggest mountain in the world.

Still many others who visit enjoy trekking through the Himalayas, climbing smaller mountains and taking photographs. There is a lot to be seen and done in the Himalayas of Nepal and you do not always have to be an experienced and very fit climber to travel up some of the mountain peaks. There are several noteworthy mountains in Nepal worth visiting if you are able. The first, of course, is Mount Everest though only a few ever brave the incredible and painstaking journey to the summit. The average visitor may spend some time at the Everest base camp or they may choose to view the biggest mountain in the world from another mountain peak such as Kala Patthar which offers better views than those enjoyed at the Everest base camp . Some of the mountains are extremely steep and icy while others are not quite so steep. Some noteworthy mountains in Nepal include Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Dhaulagiri, Anna Purna, Imja Tse, Ama Dablam and Mansalu. If you are planning to spend time among some of these legendary mountains when you next visit Nepal, keep in mind that the altitude is extreme and so is the weather.

Even in the warmer months, the mountains are usually coated with snow and ice and the air has an unbeatable chill to it. You’ll need special equipment and it also helps to remember that you’ll need the services of an experienced guide as well as a legal permit to climb the mountains. The Himalayas are definitely not the sort of place you go for your first attempt at mountain climbing so you should be sure that you have gained adequate experience before booking your ticket. When you do come, remember to pack warmly, be prepared for anything and get ready to start your adventure in the mountains of Nepal. Tags: User Comments & Reviews: 17 Comment(s) To leave a comment, please sign in using the login box on the right or click here , or sign up here .

Page 1 of 4 LEO PRESUNTO - 2011-05-10 16:42:41 OI AMIGOS EU GOSTEI TANTO DISSO AXO Q VOU VIZITAR AMANHA ESSAS MONTANHA DO NEPAU PORQUE EU GOSTEI DEMAIS DESSA MMONTANHAS POR FAVOR ME INFORMEM MAIS SOBRE ISSO QUE EU GOSTEI JMUITOO CARA MUITO BOM ESSE LUGAR GOSTARIA DE IR PRA AI PORQUE E MUITIO BONITO UM ABRASSO DE LEO PRESUTNO ESPERO Q VOCES SEJAM MUITO FELIZE NA VIDA DE VOCES VOCES SABIAM QUE EU SOU BRASILEIRO MUITO FELIZ SE UM DIA VOCE QUISEREM VIR PRA PASSO FUNDO EU DO CASA PRA VOCES BEIJOS TCHAU ABRASSO Photos: The World's Tallest Mountains Photos: The World's Tallest Mountains By Remy Melina | August 9, 2010 0

1:49pm 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 Mount Everest: Highest Mountain in the World Mount Everest: Highest Mountain in the World Mount Everest: Highest Mountain in the World Facts, Figures and Trivia About Mount Everest Mount Everest, highest mountain in the world, and Lhotse bask in evening's last light.

Photograph copyright Whitworth Images/Getty Images Elevation: 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) Prominence: 29,035 feet (8,850 meters). Most prominent mountain in the world. Location: On the border of Nepal and Tibet/China, Asia Coordinates: 27°59′17″ N / 86°55′31″ E First Ascent: Sir Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) and Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) on May 29, 1953. Native Name for Everest Mount Everest , called Peak XV after its survey by the Great Trigonometric Survey of India, conducted by Great Britain, in 1856, is also called Chomolangma, meaning “Goddess Mother of Snows” or literally "Holy Mother" in Tibetan and Sagarmatha, meaning "Mother of the Universe" in Nepalese. The mountain is sacred to the native people in Tibet and Nepal. Named for George Everest British surveyors named Mount Everest for George Everest (properly pronounced “I-ver-ist”) a Surveyor General of India in the mid-nineteenth century.

British surveyor Andrew Waugh calculated the elevation of the mountain over several years based on data from the Great Trigonometric Survey, announcing that it was the highest mountain in the world in 1856. continue reading below our video Understanding Baseball Waugh also called the mountain, previously called Peak XV, Mount Everest after the previous Surveyor General of India. Everest himself was against the name, arguing that native people could not pronounce it. The Royal Geographic Society, however, officially named it Mount Everest in 1865. Everest's Current Elevation Mount Everest's current elevation of 29,035 feet is based on a GPS device implanted on the highest bedrock point under ice and snow in 1999 by an American expedition led by Bradford Washburn. This exact elevation is not officially recognized by many countries, including Nepal . A measurement in 2005 by the Chinese State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping determined that the elevation of Mount Everest is 29,017.16 feet (8,844.43 meters), with a variance of 8.3 inches. This elevation was also made from the highest rock point.

A cap of ice and snow atop the bedrock varies between three and four feet deep, as determined by both the American and Chinese expeditions. Surveyors Added 2 Feet to Height Mount Everest was once surveyed at exactly 29,000 feet but the surveyors didn't think people would believe that so they added two feet to its elevation, making it 29,002 feet. Peak Still Rising and Moving Mount Everest is rising from 3 to 6 millimeters or about 1/3 inch a year. Everest is also moving northeastward about 3 inches a year. Mount Everest is higher than 21 Empire State Buildings stacked on top of each other. During the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake which shook Nepal on April 25, 2015, Mount Everest shifted three centimeters to the southwest, according to data from a Chinese satellite run by the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation. The agency says that Mount Everest has moved an average of four centimeters annually between 2005 and 2015. Read more about the Everest earthquake at Earthquake and Avalanche Kills Climbers on Mt.

Everest April 25, 2015 Glaciers Shape Mt. Everest Mount Everest was dissected by glaciers into a huge pyramid with three faces and three major ridges on the north, south, and west sides of the mountain. Five major glaciers continue to chisel Mount Everest—Kangshung Glacier on the east; East Rongbuk Glacier on the northeast; Rongbuk Glacier on the north; and Khumbu Glacier on the west and southwest. Read more at The Geology of Mount Everest . An Extreme Climate Mount Everest has an extreme climate. The summit temperature never rises above freezing or 32° F (0° C). Its summit temperatures in January average -33° F (-36° C) and can drop to -76° F (-60° C). In July, the average summit temperature is -2° F (-19° C). Everest's Jumping Spider A small black jumping spider (Euophrys omnisuperstes) lives as high as 22,000 feet (6,700 meters) on Mount Everest . This is the highest non-microscopic life form found on the planet.

Biologists say there is the possibility that microscopic organisms may live at higher elevations in the Himalaya and Karakoram mountains . What's Best Time to Climb? The best time to climb Mount Everest is in early May before the monsoon season . Two Normal Routes The Southeast Ridge from Nepal, called the South Col Route, and the Northeast Ridge or the North Col Route from Tibet are the usual climbing routes up Mount Everest . First to Climb without Supplemental Oxygen In 1978 Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler were the first to climb Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. Messner later described his summit experience: "In my state of spiritual abstraction, I no longer belong to myself and to my eyesight. I am nothing more than a single narrow gasping lung, floating over the mists and summits." In 1980 Reinhold Messner made the first solo ascent, which was via a new route on the mountain's north side. Largest Climbing Expedition The largest expedition to climb Mount Everest was a 410-climber Chinese team in 1975.

Total Number of Ascents As of January, 2014, a total of 6,971 ascents of Mount Everest have been made by 4,042 different climbers. The extra 2,829 ascents are multiple ascent by climbers; many of them are Sherpas. Total Deaths through 2013 Through mid-2014 a total of 265 climbers (162 Westerners and others and 103 Sherpas ) have died on Mount Everest between 1924 and 2014. Of those deaths, 156 occurred on the Nepalese side of the mountain and 109 on the Tibetan side. Deaths commonly occur from exposure to weather, avalanches , icefall, and altitude-related illnesses . Read more: Death on Mount Everest: How Climbers Die on Mount Everest Most on Summit in a Day The most climbers to reach the summit in a single day was 40 on May 10, 1993. Most Tragic Day on Mt.

Everest The single most tragic day on Mount Everest was April 18, 2014, when a massive avalanche killed 16 Sherpa guides in the Khumbu Icefall above Everest Base Camp in Nepal while they were fixing a route through the deadly icefall. Safest Climbing Year The safest year on Mount Everest in recent times was 1993 when 129 climbers reached the summit and only 8 died. Most Dangerous Year The least safe year on Mount Everest was 1996 when 98 climbers summitted and 15 died. That season was the Into Thin Air fiasco documented by author Jon Krakauer Longest Stay on Summit Sherpa Babu Chiri stayed on the summit of Mount Everest for 21 hours and 30 minutes. First Ascent by American Woman Stacey Allison from Portland, Oregon made the first ascent by an American woman on September 29, 1988. Country with Most Deaths The country with the most deaths on Mount Everest is Nepal with 47 (as of 2009).

Fastest Descent Jean-Marc Boivin of France made the fastest descent from the summit of Mount Everest to the base by swiftly paragliding down in 11 minutes. Notable Ski Descents Davo Kamicar of Slovenia made the first ski descent of Mount Everest from the summit to the south side base camp on October 10, 2000. A noted previous ski descent was on May 6, 1970 by Japanese skier Yuichiro Miura , who descended 4,200 feet on skis from the South Col until crashing. His descent was made into the movie The Man Who Skied Down Everest, which won an Academy Award for best documentary . Italian climber Bert Kammerlander partially skied down the north side of Everest in 1996, while American skier Kit DesLauriers also partly skied the north side in 2006. On May 16, 2006, Swedish skier Tomas Olsson attempted to ski the direct North Face of Mount Everest via Norton's Couloir, a 60-degree couloir that drops about 9,000 feet down the mountain.

Despite extreme fatigue on the summit, Olsson and Tormod Granheim skied down the face. After descending 1,500 feet, one of Olsson's skis brought so they fixed it with tape. Lower they had to rappel down a cliff band . While rappelling, the snow anchor failed and Olsson fell to his death. Bodies Still on Everest There is no official count of how many dead climbers still remain on the slopes of Mount Everest. Some sources say there as many as 200 climbers on the mountain, with their bodies buried in crevasses, under avalanched snow, on mountain slopes after falls, and even alongside popular climbing routes. Read How Do Climbers Die on Mount Everest? for more information about climber deaths on the mountain. Helicopter Lands on Summit A Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopter flown by Didier Delsalle, a French pilot, landed on Mount Everest's summit in May, 2005. To set a record recognized by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FIA), Delsalle had to land on the summit for two minutes. He landed and stayed on the summit twice for four minutes each time.

This set the world rotorcraft records for the highest landing and the highest take-off.

Question: In which mountain chain would you find Mount Everest?
Answer: Himalayas