What is the name of the highest peak on earth. Geography lesson: what is the tallest mountain in the world
The highest mountains in the world have different names, but at the same time they can be called briefly - Seven Peaks is a term that appeared in 1985 at the suggestion of Richard Bass (the man who first conquered all seven peaks) and united the seven highest peaks on each continent. This association is not equal to the rating of the highest mountains in the world, most of which are located in Nepal. This list is made up of mountains, each of which is the highest on its continent.
Highest peak North America is located in Alaska and is the center of Denali National Park. The top of Mount McKinley is 6194 meters from the ground. This mountain is the third in the world in terms of topographic position, it was overtaken only by Everest and Aconcagua. And if you take into account the ratio of the base to the peak, then McKinley is the highest mountain in the world. The mountain got its name in honor of the American president, and the Indian name - Denali - means "great".
Part of the Andes and with a height of 6959 meters, Mount Aconcagua is considered the highest peak South America... The mountain is located in the Argentine province of Mendoza and is 15 km away from the border with Chile. The name of the mountain comes from the words in the language of the Quechua people "stone guard".
Europe - Mount Elbrus (Russia)
Elbrus is an inactive volcano with a height of 5642 meters, which is located in Caucasus mountains on the border of Russia and Georgia.
Elbrus has several other names, the most romantic of which is translated from Adyghe and Kabardino-Circassian means "mountain that brings happiness."
Asia - Mount Everest (Nepal / China)
The most high mountain world Everest is located exactly on the border of Nepal and China. Everest is part of the Himalayas - the highest mountain range in the world. It is here that the highest mountains in the world are located. The height of Everest is 8848 meters. Everest attracts all climbers in the world and this is understandable. Technically, Everest's routes are not very difficult, but they add to them problems such as altitude sickness, strong winds and disgusting weather conditions. The name Everest is English - in honor of the head of the geodetic service, who first told the European community about this peak. The mountain has the Tibetan name Chomolungma (divine mother of life) and the equivalent Nepalese Sagarmatha (mother of the gods).
The highest mountain on the African continent is an extinct volcano highest point which is 5895 meters distant from sea level. Moreover, Kilimanjaro has three peaks, two of which are extinguished, and the third may well wake up. Kilimanjaro erupted 360,000 years ago, but volcanic activity at Kibo Peak (the highest of the three) was seen 200 years ago, suggesting that the volcano is potentially active. In Swahili, the name Kilimanjaro means "sparkling mountain".
The highest point of Oceania is also the tallest mountain in the world and is located on the island. Punchak Jaya is located in the west of the island New Guinea... The height of Punchak-Jaya Mountain, which is also called simply Jaya or Karstenza Pyramid, is 4884 meters. The name of the mountain in Indonesian means "mountain of victory".
Antarctica - Mount Vinson
The seventh of the highest mountains in the world got its name in honor of Carl Vinson, an American eminent politician. The Vinson Massif is part of the Ellsworth Mountains and has a highest point 4892 meters from sea level.
Seven mountains, each of which is unique in its origin and beauty, beckon climbers from all over the world. The climbers who have conquered the Seven Peaks are united in an informal community.
Wherever this question is asked, the answer will always be Mount Everest. However, few people think about the meaning of this question. Most people on the planet will not try to think twice and will immediately answer it the same way. Everest. Therefore, it is not for nothing that when we compare the highest mountains on other planets in our solar system (for example, Mount Olympus on Mars), then we definitely put Everest in comparison. The truth is, Everest is not the highest point on planet Earth.
The peculiarity of our planet is such that instead of an ideal sphere, the Earth is a flattened spheroid. Therefore, those places that are near the equator, as a rule, are much farther from the center of the planet than those that are at its poles. Given this fact, then Everest, like all the Himalayas, can hardly be called the highest point on the planet.
The understanding that the Earth is a spherical body came to people as early as the 6th century BC. The ancient Greeks were the first to know about this. And although this theory is attributed to Pythagoras, it is likely that it could equally have appeared by itself as a result of travel between Greek settlements. The fact is that sailors began to notice changes in the position and visibility of the stars, depending on the chosen geographical latitude.
Planet Earth. View from space to the western hemisphere
By the 3rd century BC, the theory of a spherical earth began to acquire quite scientific significance. By measuring the angle of falling shadows in various geographical locations, Eratosthenes (276 BC - 194 BC) - the Greek astronomer from Cyrene (the territory of modern Libya) - was able to calculate the circumference of the Earth with an error of 5-15 percent ... With the rise of the Roman Empire and the adoption of Hellenistic astronomy, the theory of a spherical earth spread throughout Mediterranean Sea and Europe.
This knowledge was preserved thanks to its transmission from generation to generation by monks, as well as thanks to the scholasticism of the Middle Ages. By the era of the Renaissance and the revolution in science (mid-16th - late 18th century), geological and heliocentric views were established in science. With the advent of modern astronomy, more accurate measurement methods and the ability to look at the Earth from space, mankind was still able to see the true shape and size of our planet.
Modern Earth Models
Let's clarify the situation a little: the Earth is not an ideal sphere, but it is not flat either. In the first case, I want to ask for forgiveness from Galileo, in the second - from the flat Earth society. As mentioned above, the Earth has the shape of a flattened spheroid, which, in turn, is a consequence of the peculiarity of rotation. At the poles, it seems to be flattened, and in the equatorial part, it is elongated. Many space objects in the solar system have the same shape (take at least Jupiter or Saturn). Even rapidly rotating stars, such as one of the brightest, Altair, have the same shape.
Data from the 2014 Global Earth Model, where brighter colors indicate points farthest from the center of the Earth
Based on some recent measurements, it was found that the polar radius of the Earth (that is, the distance from the center of the planet to one pole or another) is 6356.8 kilometers, while the equatorial radius (from the center to the equator) is 6378.1 kilometers. In other words, objects located along the equator are 22 kilometers farther from the center of the Earth (geocenter) than objects located at the poles.
Naturally, it is worth considering some topographic changes in certain areas, where some objects located near the equator are closer to the center, while others are farther from the center of the Earth, in comparison with other objects in a particular region. The most notable exceptions are the Mariana Trench (the most deep place on Earth, depth 10,911 meters) and Mount Everest, whose height above sea level is 8,848 meters. However, these two geological features represent very little difference when considering the general shape of the Earth. The difference in this case is only 0.17 percent and 0.14 percent, respectively.
Highest point on earth
In fairness, we note that Everest is indeed one of the highest points on our planet. The height at its peak is 8488 meters above sea level. However, due to its location in the Himalayan range (27 degrees 59 minutes north of the equator), it is actually lower than the mountains located in Ecuador.
Mount Chimborazo
It is here, where the Andes mountain range is located, that the highest point on planet Earth is located. The height of Chimborazo Mountain is 6263.47 meters above sea level. However, due to its location (1 degree 28 minutes south of the equator) in the highest bulging part of the planet, its total height from the center is about 21 kilometers.
View of Mount Everest from the top of Kala Pathar
If we consider the issue in terms of the distance to the geocenter, Everest is located at a distance of 6382 kilometers from the center of the Earth, while Chimborazo is located at 6384 kilometers. The difference is only about 3.2 kilometers, which at first glance may seem quite insignificant. However, when it comes to the ranks of the "best", you need to be precise.
Of course, even after such explanations, there will be people who will confidently say that Mount Everest is still the highest point on the planet, if we consider its height from the foot (base) to the peak. Unfortunately, they are wrong here too. Because in this case, the title of the highest mountain goes to Mount Mauna Kea, a shield volcano located on the island of Hawaii. The height of the mountain from the base to the very top at Mauna Kea is 10,206 meters. This is the highest mountain on our planet. However, most of the mountain goes several thousand meters deep into the ocean, and therefore we can only see its peak at 4207 meters.
However, those who consider Everest itself high mountain according to its height above sea level, they will be right. If we consider its height as the height above sea level, then Everest is indeed the highest mountain in the world.
The real name of the highest mountain on Earth, located in the Himalayan mountain system, sounds like Chomolungma. This peak rises to 8848 meters: no other mountain in the world exceeds this mark.
Even the second peak of the two-headed Everest breaks all records - 8760 meters above sea level.
The title of the highest point in the world was awarded to the mountain only in the middle of the 19th century, when the worker of the Indian geodetic service Radhanat Sikdar measured its height. Since by that time no such high peak was known, Chomolungma received this title. Subsequently, the size of the mountain was refined: with each subsequent, more accurate and accurate measurement, Everest turned out to be even larger.
The latest results of the Italian geologist and the American expedition (8850 and 8872) were not officially recognized.
Due to its honorary title, the mountain attracts many extreme lovers who challenge the harsh nature. Every year, several hundred people try to climb Mount Everest, but not everyone succeeds: harsh conditions are a difficult test even for the most trained climbers, many of whom ended their lives on the slopes of the highest mountain in the world.
Mariana Trench
The Mariana Trench, also known as the Mariana Trench, is the lowest point on the surface of the earth's crust. This trough is located in the Pacific Ocean, in its western part, near the Mariana Islands. It is an extended depression, which at its lowest point, known as the Challenger Abyss, is about 11,000 meters below sea level.
The Mariana Trench was opened in 1875 and its depth was measured at the same time. At that time, the instruments were not very accurate and showed a result of 8,367 meters (perhaps the measurements were not taken at the deepest point). In the middle of the 20th century, an English expedition set the maximum depth at 10,863 meters, and a little later, these dimensions were clarified by the Soviet expedition, which provided a result of 11,023 meters.
The Mariana Trench is an amazing formation. At its bottom there are real mountain ranges that were formed hundreds of millions of years ago. In 1960, the first dive to the bottom of the trough was made on the Trieste submersible. This was followed by only two dives, one of the daredevils was the famous director James Cameron.
The lowest point on land is about Dead sea on the border between Israel and Jordan. This region is located 399 meters below sea level.
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 tallest 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 tallest 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.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 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.Country: PRC / Nepal
Mountain system: Himalayas
There are not so many points on the map of our planet that have crossed 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.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.
Among local population a legend is spread that Mount Kanchenjunga is a woman, and therefore hates in advance all the girls who set foot on its slope. Only one woman visited its summit, the Englishwoman Jeanette Harrison, who climbed in 1998.
Chogori
Height: 8611 m.Country: PRC / Pakistan
Mountain system: Karakorum
The second highest mountain in the world after Everest also belongs to the Himalayan mountain range. Chogori, known among climbers under the code name K-2, is located on the verified border of Pakistan and China. The letter "K" means "Karakorum", and "2" - serial number peaks, which in 1856 she was awarded by the traveler Colonel Montgomery.
According to statistics, every fourth person who dares to conquer the top of Chogori 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.Country: Nepal / PRC
Mountain system: Himalayas
The tallest Mountain peak in the world - this 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-capped 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 things 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 data of the study of 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 the New Zealander Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas (Sherpas are one of the peoples of Nepal) Tenzing Norgay. They passed through the South Col on the way 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 Sergei Bershov distinguished themselves - 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. Prior to this ascent, he had already visited all the highest peaks of all seven continents, he also visited the highest mountains of Russia. Thus, the man wanted to prove that all the 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 oldest person climbed to the top of Chomolungma. It was 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.
Dangers of Everest
Every year, about 500 people try to reach the summit of Everest. 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 whose territory 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 peak in spring and autumn, since at this time the monsoons are not so active.
Travel companies call a different price for a hike up the mountain from Nepal: on average, from 20 to 60 thousand dollars. On the Chinese side, this 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 at all.
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 that 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, which is 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. Since the opening of the peak 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 "salvation of 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 go 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 depicting the Dalai Lama and an amulet from a Buddhist monastery on his way to the top of Everest. The man climbed to 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 highest point on the planet. The earth, according to them, 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 caused only loud laughter from the surveyors. But - for the sake of interest - we give below the data on the "new record holders".Chimborazo
Height: 6384 m.Country: Ecuador
Mountain system: Andes
Having measured the height of Everest from the center of the Earth and comparing the data obtained with the height of the extinct volcano Chimborazo, scientists have found that the latter is 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.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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