Source: nature.su
Only mountains can be better than mountains - Vysotsky sang and was right. Mountains have always attracted people. Brave people, despite the cold, lack of oxygen, dangers and difficulties stubbornly "climbed" to the heights. What drew them there? Curiosity? Want to test yourself? Thirst for glory? Do you want to prove your superiority to yourself and others? Thirst for knowledge? It is difficult to find any logic in the inexplicable craving of people for mountains.
Let us recall the deeds of past years, when during the Great patriotic war the German mountain division "Edelweiss" with fierce battles broke through to the very high mountain Europe - Elbrus, to install Nazi flags on its top. Why did the pragmatic Germans need to spend their energy on conquering this peak? Did Hitler even need such proof of his own greatness?
Mountains are the greatest creation of mother nature. They are great, powerful and eternal. Representatives of the species Homo sapience are deprived of these qualities. Rising to the sky, they try to join the great secret of the universe, and when they reach the top, they begin to see clearly. Against the backdrop of the cold gigantic peaks, everything that they lived before seems petty and insignificant.
Let's take a virtual journey and climb to the tops of the highest mountains of all the continents of the Earth and enjoy the fantastic landscapes that open before the eyes of brave climbers. Maybe we will be able to comprehend the secret of these natural monuments.
The main Caucasian Ridge, "under the command" of the mighty Elbrus, "cuts through" the dense veil of clouds.
Everest (Asia) - Height: 8848 meters
Chomolungma) is the highest peak of our planet, part of the Himalayas. For many climbers, this mountain is the most desired trophy. But not everyone can climb this mountain. Therefore, mountaineers "climbing" the mountain are sometimes forced to face cynical decisions about whether to rescue those in distress or continue on their way. Often the rescue of climbers in distress at high altitude is simply not possible, since here every step is given with incredible difficulty. Therefore, on the slopes of the mountains you can meet the bodies of dead climbers. You can familiarize yourself with very "unsightly" stories and photographs. 
Photo on the left: the road to Everest, photo on the right: base camp at an altitude of 8300 meters.
Aconcagua (South America) - Altitude: 6962 meters
The most high peak Andes mountain range in South America. Aconcagua "in combination" is the highest extinct volcano in the world.
In the photograph, ant-sized climbers make their way forward towards the summit. A giant whirlwind of snow circles above them.
Sunrise over Aconcagua. The majestic panorama of the Andes appears in all its guise before the brave climbers.
McKinley (North America) - Height: 6194 meters
The summit of Alaska occupies an honorable third place among the highest peaks of the continents in our ranking.
Giant McKinley against the backdrop of the coniferous forests of Alaska.
View from the heights of McKinley. A dense blanket of clouds "creeps" on the peaks.
Kilimanjaro (Africa) - Altitude: 5895 meters
The highest point in Africa - the mountain is located in the northeastern part of Tanzania. It is a very unusual sight to see a snowy peak in the sultry African savannah. AT recent times Scientists are sounding the alarm, the Kilimanjaro ice cap is rapidly shrinking in volume. Over the past decades, 80% of the ice on this mountain has already melted. As the main culprit of this process, climate scientists call global warming.
African elephants against the backdrop of the snowy peaks of Kilimanjaro are a very unusual sight.
On the way to Kilimanjaro. The landscape is fantastic.
View of the veil of clouds from the highest point of the African continent.
Elbrus (Europe) - Height: 5642 meters
In Russia, there is also a mountain-record holder - this is the highest peak in Europe -
were discovered relatively recently, in the late 50s of the last century. The Vinson Massif is part of the Ellsworth Mountains and is located 1200 kilometers from the southernmost point of the planet.
The other day Google program Maps' Street View invited everyone to enjoy the view of the world's highest peaks by offering interactive galleries of the highest mountains on Earth.
The maps include panoramic views of 4 of the 7 peaks: Everest in the Asian Himalayas, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe and Aconcagua in South America.
1. The highest peak in the world and Asia - Mount Everest (Chomolungma)
Mount Everest height
8848 metersMount Everest geographic coordinates:
27.9880 degrees north latitude and 86.9252 degrees east longitude (27° 59" 17" N, 86° 55" 31" E)
Where is Mount Everest located?
Mount Everest or Chomolungma is the highest mountain on Earth, which is located in the Mahalangur-Himal region in the Himalayas. The international border between China and Nepal runs along its summit. The Everest massif includes the neighboring peaks of Lhotse (8516 m), Nuptse (7861 m) and Changze (7543 m).
The highest mountain in the world attracts many experienced climbers and amateurs from all over the world. Although climbing the standard route does not technically big problems, on Everest, the biggest dangers are considered to be lack of oxygen, disease, weather and wind.
Other facts:
Mount Everest, which is also called Chomolungma, is translated from Tibetan as "The Divine Mother of Snows" and from Nepali as "Mother of the Universe". The mountain is considered sacred to the locals. The name Everest was given in honor of the Briton George Everest, who was the first to measure the height of the highest mountain peak in the world.
Mount Everest rises annually by 3-6 mm and shifts to the northeast by 7 cm.
The first ascent of Everest was made by the New Zealander Edmund Hillary and the Nepalese Sherp Tenzing Norgay as part of a British expedition on May 29, 1953.
The largest expedition to climb Everest consisted of 410 people who were part of the 1975 Chinese team.
The safest year on Everest was 1993, when 129 people reached the summit and 8 died. The most tragic year was 1996, when 98 people summited and 15 people died (8 of them died on May 11).
The Nepalese Sherpa Appa is the person who has most climbed Everest. He set the record by climbing 21 times from 1990 to 2011.
2. The highest peak in South America - Mount Aconcagua
Height of Aconcagua 6.959 meters Geographical coordinates aconcagua32.6556 degrees south latitude and 70.0158 degrees west longitude (32°39"12.35"S 70°00"39.9"W)
Where is Mount Aconcagua
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas, located in the Andes mountain system in the province of Mendoza in Argentina. It is also the highest peak in both the western and southern hemispheres.
The mountain is part of the Aconcagua National Park. It consists of a series of glaciers, the most famous of which is the Polish Glacier in the northeast, a frequent climbing route.
Other facts:
The name "Aconcagua" probably means from the Araucan language "on the other side of the Aconcagua River" or from the Quechua language "Stone Guard".
In terms of climbing, Aconcagua is an easy mountain to climb if you follow the northern route, which does not require ropes, pitons or other equipment.
Briton Edward FitzGerald was the first to conquer Aconcagua in 1897.
The youngest climber to reach the summit of Aconcagua was 10-year-old Matthew Moniz on December 16, 2008. The oldest is 87-year-old Scott Lewis in 2007.
3. The highest mountain North America- Mount McKinleyMcKinley height
6194 meters
Geographic coordinates of McKinley.
63.0694 degrees north, 151.0027 degrees west (63° 4" 10" N, 151° 0" 26" W)
Where is Mount McKinley
Mount McKinley is located in Denali National Park in Alaska and is the highest peak in the United States and North America, as well as the third most prominent peak in the world after Mount Everest and Aconcagua.
Other facts:
Mount McKinley used to be Russia's highest peak until Alaska was sold to the US.
Locals call it "Denali" (translated from the Athabaskan language "Great"), and the Russians who inhabited Alaska simply " big mountain". She was later renamed "McKinley" in honor of US President William McKinley.
The first to conquer McKinley were American climbers led by Hudson Stuck and Harry Karstens on June 7, 1913.
The best time to climb is from May to July. Due to the far northern latitude, there is lower atmospheric pressure and less oxygen at the summit than other high mountains in the world.
4. The highest peak in Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro
Height of Kilimanjaro
5895 meters
Geographic coordinates of Kilimanjaro.
3.066 degrees south latitude and 37.3591 degrees east longitude (3° 4" 0" S, 37° 21" 33" E)
Where is Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and is located in the Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania. This volcano consists of three volcanic cones: Kiba, Mawenzi and Shira. Kilimanjaro is a huge stratovolcano that began to form a million years ago when lava erupted in the Rift Valley region.
Two peaks: Mawenzi and Shira are extinct volcanoes, while the highest - Kibo is a dormant volcano that can erupt again. The last major eruption occurred 360,000 years ago, and activity was recorded only 200 years ago.
Other facts:
There are several versions explaining the origin of Kilimanjaro. One theory is that the name comes from the Swahili word "Kilima" ("mountain") and the Kichagga word "Njaro" ("whiteness"). According to another version, Kilimanjaro is European origin phrase kichagga, which means "we did not climb it."
Since 1912, Kilimanjaro has lost more than 85 percent of its snow. According to scientists, in 20 years all the snow on Kilimanjaro will melt.
The first ascent was made by German explorer Hans Meyer and Austrian climber Ludwig Purtscheller on the third attempt on October 6, 1889.
Around 40,000 people attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro every year.
The youngest climber to climb Kilimanjaro was 7-year-old Keats Boyd, who climbed on January 21, 2008.
5. The highest peak in Europe (and Russia) - Mount ElbrusThe height of Mount Elbrus
Geographic coordinates of Mount Elbrus
43.3550 degrees North, 42.4392 East (43° 21" 11" N, 42° 26" 13" E)
Where is Mount Elbrus located?
Mount Elbrus is dormant volcano, located in the western part of the Caucasus Mountains on the border of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia in Russia. The top of Elbrus is the highest in Russia, Europe and the western part of Asia. The western peak reaches 5642 m, and the eastern 5621 m.
Other facts:
The name "Elbrus" comes from the Iranian word "Albors", which means "high mountain". It is also called Ming tau ("eternal mountain"), Yalbuz ("mane of snow") and Oshkhamakho ("mountain of happiness")
Elbrus is covered by a permanent ice sheet that supports 22 glaciers, which in turn feed the Baksan, Kuban and Malka rivers.
Elbrus is located in a mobile tectonic region, and deep under the extinct volcano is molten magma.
The first ascent to the eastern peak of Elbrus was made on July 10, 1829 by Hilar Kachirov, who was on the expedition Russian general G.A. Emmanuel, and to the western one (which is about 40 m higher) - in 1874 by an English expedition led by F. Crauford Grove.
From 1959 to 1976, a cable car was built here, which takes visitors to a height of 3750 meters.
About 15-30 people die on Elbrus a year, mainly due to poorly organized attempts to conquer the summit.
In 1997, the Land Rover Defender SUV climbed to the top of Elbrus, setting a Guinness world record.
6. The highest peak of Antarctica - Vinson Massif
Vinson array height
Geographic coordinates of the Vinson massif
78.5254 degrees south latitude and 85.6171 degrees west longitude (78° 31" 31.74" S, 85° 37" 1.73" W)
Vinson Massif on the map
The Vinson array is the most high mountain Antarctica, which is located on the Sentinel Range in the Ellsworth Mountains. The massif, approximately 21 km long and 13 km wide, is located 1200 km from the South Pole.
Other facts
The highest peak is Vinson Peak, named after Carl Vinson, a member of the US Congress. The Vinson Massif was first discovered in 1958, and the first ascent was made in 1966.
In 2001, the first expedition reached the summit via the Eastern route and measurements of the height of the summit were made using GPS.
More than 1400 people tried to conquer Vinson Peak.
7. The highest peak in Australia and Oceania - Mount Punchak Jaya
Height of Puncak Jaya
Geographic coordinates of Puncak Jaya.
4.0833 degrees south latitude 137.183 degrees east longitude (4° 5" 0" S, 137° 11" 0" E)
Where is Punchak Jaya
Puncak Jaya or Carstens Pyramid is the highest peak of Mount Carstens in western Papua, Indonesia.
This mountain is the highest in Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea, in Oceania (on the Australian plate), the highest mountain on the island, and the highest point between the Himalayas and the Andes.
The highest peak on the Australian continent is Mount Kosciuszko, whose height is 2228 meters.
Other facts:
When Indonesia began to administer the province in 1963, the summit was renamed Sukarno Summit in honor of the President of Indonesia. Later it was renamed Punchak Jaya. The word "Puncak" in Indonesian means "mountain or peak", and "Jaya" is translated as "victory".
The summit of Puncak Jaya was first conquered in 1962 by Austrian climbers led by Heinrich Harrer and three other members of the expedition.
Access to the summit requires government permission. The mountain was closed to hikers and climbers from 1995 until 2005. Since 2006, access has been possible through various travel agencies.
Puncak Jaya is considered one of the most difficult climbs. He has the highest technical rating, but not the greatest physical demands.
All the Highest Mountains in the WorldThe process of formation of mountains on Earth takes millions of years. They arise from the collision of huge tectonic plates that make up the earth's crust.
Today we will get acquainted with the highest mountains on 6 continents and see how they look against the backdrop of the highest mountain peaks in the world - the "eight-thousanders", whose height above sea level exceeds 8,000 meters.
How many continents are on Earth? It is sometimes believed that Europe and Asia are 2 different continents, although they are one mainland:
Before we start talking about the highest mountains on 6 continents, let's take a look at the general diagram of the highest peaks on Earth.
"Eight-thousanders" is the common name for the 14 highest mountain peaks in the world, whose height above sea level exceeds 8,000 meters. They are all in Asia. The conquest of all 14 "eight-thousanders" of the planet - the conquest of the "Crown of the Earth" - is a great achievement in high-altitude mountaineering. As of July 2012, only 30 climbers have managed to do this.
North America - Mount McKinley, 6,194 m
This is the highest two-headed mountain in North America, named after the 25th President of the United States. Located in Alaska.
Indigenous peoples called this peak "Denali", which means "great", and during the period of Russian colonization of Alaska, it was simply called Big Mountain.
Mount McKinley as seen from Denali National Park:
The first ascent of the main summit of McKinley took place on June 7, 1913. There are 5 large glaciers on the slopes of the mountain.
South America - Mount Aconcagua, 6,962 m
It is the highest point in the Americas South America as well as the western and southern hemispheres. They belong to the longest mountain range in the world - the Andes.
The mountain is located in Argentina and in the Quechua language means "Stone Guardian". Aconcagua is the largest extinct volcano on our planet.
In mountaineering, Aconcagua is considered technically an easy mountain if you climb the northern slope.
The first recorded ascent of the mountain was in 1897.
Europe - Mount Elbrus, 5,642 m
This stratovolcano in the Caucasus is the highest peak in Russia. Considering that the border between Europe and Asia is ambiguous, often Elbrus is also called the highest European mountain peak.
Elbrus is a two-headed volcano with a saddle. The western peak has a height of 5,642 m, the Eastern one - 5,621 m. The last eruption dates back to 50 AD ...
In those days, the eruptions of Elbrus probably resembled the eruptions of modern Vesuvius, but were more powerful. From the craters of the volcano at the beginning of the eruption, powerful clouds of vapors and gases, saturated with black ash, rose many kilometers up, covering the entire sky, turning day into night. The earth shook from powerful tremors.
Today, both peaks of Elbrus are covered with eternal snow and ice. On the slopes of Elbrus, 23 glaciers diverge in different directions. The average speed of glaciers is about 0.5 meters per day.
The first successful ascent to one of the peaks of Elbrus was made in 1829. The average annual number of deaths while climbing Elbrus is 15-30 people.
Asia - Mount Everest, 8,848 m
Everest (Chomolungma) is the top of our world! The first eight-thousander in height and the highest mountain on Earth.
The mountain is located in the Himalayas in the Mahalangur-Himal range, and south peak(8760 m) lies on the border of Nepal, and the Northern (main) peak (8848 m) is located on the territory of China.
Everest has the shape of a trihedral pyramid. At the top of the Chomolungma, there are strong winds blowing at speeds of up to 200 km / h, and the air temperature at night drops to -60 Celsius.
The first ascent to the summit of Everest took place in 1953. Since the first ascent to the summit until 2011, more than 200 people have died on the slopes of Everest. Now the climb to the top takes about 2 months - with acclimatization and setting up camps.
View from space:
Climbing Everest is not only extremely dangerous, but also expensive: the cost of climbing in specialized groups is up to 65 thousand US dollars, and the climbing permit issued by the government of Nepal alone costs 10 thousand dollars
Australia and Oceania - Mount Punchak Jaya, 4884 m
The highest peak in Australia and Oceania, which is located on the island of New Guinea. It is located on the Australian Plate and is the highest mountain in the world located on an island.
The mountain was discovered in 1623 by the Dutch explorer Jan Carstens, who saw from afar into the glacier at the top. Therefore, sometimes the mountain is called the Pyramid of Carstens.
The first ascent of Puncak Jaya took place only in 1962. The name of the mountain from the Indonesian language is translated approximately as "Victory Peak".
Antarctica - Windson Massif, 4,892 m
These are the highest mountains in Antarctica. The existence of the mountain range became known only in 1957. Since the mountains were discovered by American aircraft, they were later named the Vinson Massif, after the famous American politician Carl Vinson.
View of the Vinson Massif from space:
Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro, 5,895 m
This is the highest point in Africa, a huge dormant volcano with two well-defined peaks in the northeast of Tanzania. The mountain has had no documented eruptions, but local legends speak of volcanic activity 150-200 years ago.
The higher one is the peak of Kibo, an almost regular cone with powerful glaciation.
The name comes from the Swahili language and supposedly means "mountain that sparkles".
The snow cap that has covered the mountaintop for 11,000 years since the last Ice Age is melting fast. Over the past 100 years, the volume of snow and ice has decreased by more than 80%. It is believed that this is not caused by a change in temperature, but by a reduction in the amount of snowfall.
The highest peak in Africa was first conquered by the German traveler Hans Meyer in 1889.
All cat sleeping positions
It is not by chance that the Himalayas received the name “Roof of the World” from the local population, because it is this mountain system that hides its most grandiose peaks in the clouds, reaching more than 8000 meters in height. The Himalayan mountain system was born due to the collision of the Hindustan subcontinent and Eurasia, the meeting of tectonic plates, which led to the formation of the Himalayan mountains, occurred more than one hundred and twenty years ago. To date, the steepest Himalayan peaks are the dream of climbers and lovers of extreme recreation. The top of the world stretches high above sea level and proudly looks at the lowlands because of the clouds, but the eight-thousanders are considered the most grandiose parts of it, as the most powerful peaks. We will give examples of the ten highest points in the world, which amaze with their overall dimensions and inaccessibility.
10. Annapurna. 8091 meters
Annapurna or, as the Nepalese often call her the "Goddess of Fertility", the height of the mountain is 8091 meters, she was the first of the Himalayan peaks conquered by man. Mount Annapurna is rich in nine peaks, one of which is still unconquered, not a single climber has set foot on Machapuchara, because locals they are sure that God Shiva himself lives on the top and strictly forbid anyone to disturb his peace. Despite the beliefs of people regarding the peak of Machapuchare, Mount Annapurna itself is considered the most deadly for its conquerors, because it claimed the lives of so many climbers.9. Annapurna. 8125 meters
Nanga Parbat, a mountain that the Pakistanis call Diamir or the Mountain of the Gods, reaches a height of 8125 and is considered one of the most dangerous Himalayan peaks. Mankind managed to conquer Nanga Parbat only on the sixth attempt, the first five expeditions were ruined by the formidable peak. The first conqueror of Diamir was in 1953 the Austrian G. Buhl, a member of the German-Austrian expedition, who climbed the summit alone and without oxygen equipment, which, perhaps, won the favor of the Mountain of the Gods. 8. Annapurna. 8156 meters
Nepal's Mount Manaslu, located on one of the mountain ranges, deservedly ranks eighth in the ranking of the highest mountains in the world, while its height reaches 8156 meters. Manaslu is often called a two-faced beauty, because its picturesque landscapes attract tourists and climbers with their beauty, and danger threatens to be a high price for conquering this beauty. The first human foot set foot on the summit in 1956. 7. Dhaulagiri. 8167 meters
Dhaulagiri is a Himalayan peak located in Nepal, its height reaches 8167 m. The local population knows the peak as the White Mountain, since Dhaulagiri is always covered with ice and snow, which gives it a white color and an unusual magical charm. The mountain first welcomed guests in 1960 and, despite being considered one of the most impregnable and difficult to climb, remains a vivid dream of many climbers and travelers. 6. Cho Oyu. 8201 meters
Cho Oyu is the border between China and Nepal, the height of the mountain is 8201 meters. Despite the solid height of Cho Oyu, it is considered one of the most inviting peaks, to date, fifteen climbing routes have been laid to the peak of the mountain. Although even with the relative simplicity of the ascent, the peak managed to kill thirty-nine climbers. 5. Makalu. 8485 meters
Makalu is a mountain adjacent to the Great Everest itself, which is only nineteen kilometers away. The local population knows Makalu better as the Black Giant, which got its name due to its formidable appearance and height of 8485 meters. This peak does not like guests very much, its slopes are very steep and difficult to climb, for this reason only a third of those who tried to conquer Makalu managed to reach its peak. 4. Lhotse. 8516 meters
Mount Lhotse, rising proudly between Nepal and China, reaches a height of 8516 meters and is considered one of the most difficult and dangerous in the world. Only three kilometers separate it from the transcendental Everest, a person managed to conquer Lhotse only in 1956, and even now, despite the beauty, it will not be possible to name a frequently visited peak. 3. Kanchenjunga. 8585 meters
Kangchenjunga, a Himalayan mountain rising between India and Nepal, has a height of 8585, has as many as five peaks and boasts the most colorful landscapes. The beautiful Kanchenjunga received her first guests in 1954, but she never had a special disposition towards visitors, which is probably why she adorned herself with steep slopes and impenetrable cliffs. Its conquest cost humanity forty lives, but despite this, many climbers dream of climbing this peak. 2. Chogori. 8614 meters
Mount Chogori, flaunting between Pakistan and China, rightfully occupies its second place in the world in terms of height. The height of the mountain is 8614 meters, the degree of difficulty of the climb is not inferior to the height, for the first time it was possible to conquer the impregnable Chogori in 1954, but the number of people who want to visit the second highest mountain in the world is only 249 people, for 60 of them this ascent was the last. Today, not many, even the most experienced, climbers show a special desire to conquer the peak, which itself is not happy with visitors. 1. Everest. 8848 meters
The leader in altitude in the world is Everest or Chomolungma, as some people call it. The height of this mountain giant is as much as 8848 meters, but his main feature consider not only the height, but also the shape, which resembles a pyramid. Mankind was able to conquer Everest only in 1953, and although today the main relatively safe route already exists, at one time the peak killed 210 climbers. For many years, Everest has been very popular among climbers and tourists, due to its grandeur and extraordinary magnetic beauty, but the strongest heavy winds, temperatures that often drop below 60 degrees and lack of oxygen spoil all the charm of conquering the peak. The cost of the equipment necessary for lifting is also very high, although for connoisseurs of mountain luxury, no deprivation and waste can be compared with happiness - to conquer the proud Everest.
