The highest peaks of the world on all continents. The highest mountain in the world - which one, where is located What is more Everest or Elbrus
The 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"- this is a 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. (Clickable, 2010×810 px):
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
This is the highest point of the American continent, 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. Given that the border between Europe and Asia is ambiguous, often Elbrus is also called the highest European mountain peak. (Clickable, 2500×663 px):
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. (Clickable, 1650×630 px):
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, with the Southern peak (8760 m) lying on the border of Nepal, and the Northern (main) peak (8848 m) located in 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 most high mountain in a world located on an island.
The mountain was discovered in 1623 by the Dutch explorer Jan Carstens, who saw a glacier at the top from afar. 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".
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 subsequently named the Vinson Massif, after the famous American politician Carl Vinson.
View of the Vinson Massif from space:
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.
Ecology
The highest peaks are at the peak of the highest mountains of the seven continents. Among climbers they are known as " seven peaks", which was first conquered by Richard Bass on April 30, 1985.
Here are a few interesting facts about the highest points in all parts of the world.
highest mountain peaks
One of these days program Google Maps' Street View invited everyone to enjoy the view of the highest peaks of the world, offering interactive galleries of the highest mountains on Earth.
Maps include panoramic view of 4 of the 7 peaks: Everest in the Himalayas of Asia, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe and Aconcagua in South America.
You can make a virtual ascent of these peaks without exposing yourself to the heights and natural difficulties that climbers face.
1. The highest peak in the world and Asia - Mount Everest (Chomolungma)
Mount Everest height
8848 meters
Mount 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 highest mountain on earth, which is located in the area Mahalangur Himal 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 most high mountain in the world attracts many experienced climbers and amateurs from all over the world. Although climbing the standard route is not technically a big problem, 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 from Tibetan it is translated as "Divine mother of snows" and from Nepali as "Mother of the Universe". The mountain is considered sacred to local residents. 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 annually rises by 3-6 mm and shifts to the northeast by 7 cm.
- First ascent of Everest committed New Zealander Edmund Hilary(Edmund Hillary) and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay(Tenzing Norgay) as part of the 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 top, and 8 died. The most tragic year was 1996, when 98 people conquered the summit, 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
Geographic coordinates of Aconcagua.
32.6556 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. Also this highest peak in both the western and southern hemispheres.
The mountain is part 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:
- 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 mountaineering, Aconcagua is easy mountain to climb, if heading along the northern route, which does not require ropes, hooks and other equipment.
- First conquered aconcagua british Edward Fitzgerald(Edward FitzGerald) in 1897.
The youngest climber to reach the summit of Aconcagua was 10 years old Matthew Monitz(Matthew Moniz) December 16, 2008. The oldest is 87 years old Scott Lewis(Scott Lewis) in 2007.
3. The highest mountain in North America - Mount McKinley
McKinley 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 Alaska national park Denali and is the highest peak in the US 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 the highest peak in Russia 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". Later it was renamed "McKinley" in honor of US President William McKinley.
- The first to conquer McKinley steel American climbers led by Hudson Stack(Hudson Stuck) and Harry Carstens(Harry Karstens) June 7, 1913.
Best climbing period - 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 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 dormant volcano, which may 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 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 the European origin of the 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.
- First ascent was made by a German researcher Hans Meyer(Hans Meyer) and an Austrian climber Ludwig Purtsheller(Ludwig Purtscheller) on the third attempt October 6, 1889
- About 40,000 people try to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro every year.
The youngest climber to climb Mount Kilimanjaro was 7 years old Keats Boyd(Keats Boyd), who made the ascent on January 21, 2008.
5. The highest peak in Europe (and Russia) - Mount Elbrus
The height of Mount Elbrus
5642 meters
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 an extinct 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, in Europe and the western part of Asia. The western peak reaches 5642 m, and the eastern 5621 m.
Other facts:
- 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 located in a mobile tectonic region, and deep under the extinct volcano is molten magma.
- First ascent on the east summit Elbrus was made on July 10, 1829 Hilar Kachirov, who was on the expedition of the 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. Crawford Grove(F. Crauford Grove).
From 1959 to 1976 a cable car , which takes visitors to a height of 3750 meters.
A year on Elbrus about 15-30 people die mainly due to poorly organized attempts to conquer the summit
In 1997 SUV Land Rover Defender climbed to the top of Elbrus, setting a Guinness world record.
6. The highest peak of Antarctica - Vinson Massif
Vinson array height
4892 meters
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 Massif is the highest mountain in Antarctica, 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- Member of the US Congress. The Vinson Array was first discovered in 1958, and first ascent was committed 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 1400 people tried to conquer Vinson Peak.
7. The highest peak in Australia and Oceania - Mount Punchak Jaya
Height of Puncak Jaya
4884 meters
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 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.
Mount Kosciuszko is considered the highest peak on the Australian continent., 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 Punchak Jaya conquered for the first time in 1962, Austrian climbers led by Heinrich Garrer(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 hardest climbs. He has the highest technical rating, but not the greatest physical demands.
Previously, the site talked about. However, all these mountains are located in one part of the world - Asia, namely in the two neighboring mountain systems of the Himalayas and the Karakoram, therefore it is customary to single out the 7 highest mountain peaks in the world, one for each part of the world. Climbers who have conquered all these mountains are included in the honorary Seven Summits Club.
There are 2 main lists of the seven peaks of the world. More difficult to climb is the list compiled by the Italian climber Reinhold Messner. In this list, in addition to Asia, Europe, South and North America, Africa, Antarctica, not Australia appears as part of the world, but Australasia, i.e. region including Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and adjacent Pacific islands. Accordingly, instead of the highest peak in Australia - Mount Kosciuszko, whose height is only 2228 meters and which is very easy to conquer, the list includes Mount Jaya in New Guinea, whose height is 4884 meters and which was first conquered only in 1962. The list, compiled by the American climber Richard Bass, is more traditional in terms of Russian geography, it lists Australia as part of the world, not Australasia.
Thus, the highest peaks of the world become not seven, but eight. In some interpretations, there are even nine of them, because. between geographers there are still disagreements about the border between Europe and Asia, so the highest peak in Europe is either Elbrus in the Russian Caucasus, or Mont Blanc in the Alps.
In this article, we will use the Messner list, because it is he who is presented as the main one on the website of the Seven Summits Club - 7summits.com. The mountains in the ranking are sorted by height, starting with the highest.
Asia's highest mountain peak - Chomolungma in the Himalayas, also known as Everest. Chomolungma in Tibetan means "mistress of the winds", as for the English name Everest, it was awarded in honor of Sir George Everest, head of the British India Survey in 1830-1843. The height of the peak is 8848 meters. Chomolungma is located in China, namely in Tibet, on the border with Nepal. The first ascent of the mountain was made on May 29, 1953 by Sherpas (Sherpas - a people living in Eastern Nepal, as well as in India) Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary. The climbers used oxygen devices. More than 30 Sherpas took part in the work of the expedition.
The highest mountain peak in South America aconcagua in the Andes mountain range. Height 6962 meters. Located in Argentina. Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the western and southern hemispheres. In mountaineering, Aconcagua is considered a technically easy mountain if you climb the northern slope. When climbing, the influence of altitude is noticeable, the atmospheric pressure at the top is about 40% of the pressure at sea level. However, the use of oxygen tanks during the ascent is not required. Even children can conquer this mountain with appropriate training: in 2013, 9-year-old American Tyler Armstrong did it, and in 2016, 12-year-old Romanian Dor Jeta Popescu.
The highest mountain peak in North America Denali included in the Alaska Range. Height 6194 meters. Located in the USA (Alaska). From 1896 until August 28, 2015, the mountain was called McKinley, in honor of the 25th President of the United States of America, now the traditional Indian name Denali has been returned to the mountain (this word means "great" in the language of the Athabaskan Indian people). From 1799 to 1867, the mountain was the highest point of the Russian Empire, until Alaska, where Denali is located, was sold to the United States. For the first time this peak was conquered in 1906 by the American expedition of Frederick Cook.
Africa's highest mountain peak is Mount Kilimanjaro. Height - 5895 meters. Located in Tanzania. Climbing Kilimanjaro is considered quite simple, but it takes time for high-altitude acclimatization. Almost any healthy person can climb the main routes leading to it, without climbing training and special equipment.
The highest mountain peak in Europe and Russia is the Elbrus volcano. Height 5642 meters. It is located on the territory of the Caucasus, on the border of the republics of Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria. The first ascent of Elbrus was carried out by a Russian expedition led by George Emmanuel in 1829.
The highest peak of Antarctica - vinson array. Height 4892 meters. The first ascent took place in 1966 by an American expedition led by Nicholas Clinch. Conquering Vinson is not a cheap pleasure due to the inaccessibility of Antarctica and severe climatic conditions (even in summer the temperature on the massif does not rise above minus 30 degrees Celsius): you must either organize an expedition yourself or pay for the services of a travel company, which cost about 30 thousand dollars per person and include shipping to Antarctica from Chile.
The highest mountain peak in Australasia (a region that includes Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and the adjacent islands of the Pacific Ocean) - Jaya(other name - Pyramid of Carstens). Height 4884 meters. Jaya is the highest mountain in the world located on the island. Jaya was first climbed in 1962 by a group of four Austrian climbers led by Heinrich Harrer.
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.
Recall the 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 Range, "under the command" of the mighty Elbrus, "cuts through" a dense veil of clouds (Photo source:).
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. As a result, mountain climbers 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 (Photo source:).
Aconcagua (South America) - Altitude: 6962 meters
- the highest peak of the Andes mountain range in South America. Aconcagua "in combination" is the highest extinct volcano in the world.
In the photo, ant-sized climbers make their way forward towards the summit. A giant whirlwind of snow is circling above them (Photo source: ).
Sunrise over Aconcagua. The majestic panorama of the Andes appears in all its guise before the brave climbers (Photo source:).
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 (Photo source:).
View from the heights of McKinley. A dense blanket of clouds "creeps" on the peaks (Photo source:).
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. Recently, scientists have been sounding the alarm, the Kilimanjaro ice cap is rapidly decreasing in volume. Over the past decades, 80% of the ice on this mountain has already melted. As the main culprit of this process, climatologists call.
African elephants against the backdrop of the snowy peaks of Kilimanjaro are a very unusual sight (Photo source:).
On the way to Kilimanjaro. The landscape is fantastic (Photo source: ).
View of the veil of clouds from the highest point of the African continent (Photo source:).
Elbrus (Europe) - Height: 5642 meters
In Russia, there is also a mountain-record holder - this is the highest peak in Europe -. Elbrus is part of the Main Caucasian Range and is located on the border of the two Russian republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. In the past (about 50 AD) Elbrus was an active volcano.
Handsome Elbrus (Photo source:).
Camp on the spurs of Elbrus (Photo source:).
Panorama of the mountains, opening to climbers from the top of Elbrus (Photo source:).
Silent and mysterious land of snows and clouds of Elbrus (Photo source:).
Unusual atmospheric phenomenon. The shadow of the top of Elbrus in the morning haze (Photo source:).
The beauty of the Elbrus region. End of all seasons. Green alpine meadows and spurs of Elbrus covered with snow (Photo source:).
At the top of Elbrus - a fantastic world of white snow and clouds (Photo source:).
Vinson Massif (Antarctica) - Height: 4892 meters
The coldest continent of the planet - Antarctica also has its mountains. The highest of them were discovered relatively recently, at the end of the 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.
This is what the Vinson Array looks like from space (Photo Source:
The highest peaks of the six parts of the world, great ambitions and dramatic climbing stories
seven peaks
The highest peaks of the six parts of the world,
big ambitions and dramatic
climbing stories
Seven peaks - these words are like a spell for those who are in love with the mountains. When climbers hear these sounds, a craving for travel and a thirst for risk is born in their heart, understandable only to those who have been brought thousands of meters above sea level. The geographical conditionality that played a role in their selection has not bothered anyone for a long time. People quit their jobs, destroy marriages, risk their health and life - all in order to conquer the highest points of all continents. Today we will plunge into the magic of the Seven Peaks Club and remember the legendary peaks that have taken so many lives and given so much glory.
Like any great idea, the distribution of the seven peaks between the continents is the subject of much controversy. Let us outline only two main stumbling blocks. The first is directly connected with Russia: if we draw the border between Europe and Asia along the Urals, the highest point in Europe will be Elbrus (5642 m), but if we assume that there are solid bears and many-sided Mongols beyond the threshold of Russia, Mont Blanc (4810 m) will enter the Seven Peaks. The second dispute concerns Australia and the moment whether to consider Oceania as part of this continent. In the first case, the highest point of mainland Australia will be Mount Kosciuszko (2228 m), in the second case, the main peak of Oceania, Jaya (4884 m), in Indonesia. We, confirming the reputation of the magazine without disputes and politics, will tell you the story of each applicant mountain without exception. And we recall that most of the generally recognized programs still include Elbrus and Jaya.
Asia: Everest (8848 m)
“The mathematician and topographer Radhanat Sikdar was the first to measure the height of this mountain in 1852 on the basis of trigonometric calculations”
Chomolungma, Sagarmatha, Everest - all these are the names given to the roof of the world by a tribe of little ants. This mountain is located on the territory of the Kingdom of Nepal in the heart of the Himalayas. Everest, towering 8848 meters above the planet, blown by storm winds and severely collecting bloody tribute from climbers, has been beckoning with its inaccessibility and madness of the idea - to visit the main peak of the planet - for almost a hundred years now. The mathematician and topographer Radhanat Sikdar was the first to measure the height of this mountain in 1852 on the basis of trigonometric calculations - while he was in India, 240 kilometers from the mountain itself. The exact height (8848 meters) was determined using theodolites in the 1950s.
Prior to Sir Edmund Hillary's first ascent in 1953, there were over 50 attempted ascents; as you might guess, few of the travelers met an enviable fate. After the first ascent, the world was engulfed in fever - the first ascent without oxygen, the first woman on Chomolungma, the first man without legs, the first child ... Believers Sherpas believe that numerous commercial expeditions desecrate sacred mountain, revered among the local peoples as a goddess. If so, Chomolungma does not remain in debt: in terms of mortality, this mountain is not the bloodiest in the Himalayas, but in terms of mass and terrible details of the death of expeditions, it definitely takes first place. Be that as it may, without climbing Everest, the quest of the Seven Peaks cannot be considered complete, and many climbers leave this tidbit for last.
South America: Aconcagua (6962 m)
Aconcagua - great mountain in the lands of the Quechua Indians on the territory of modern Argentina, which is the highest point not only in South America, but also in the southern and western hemispheres of our planet. In Quechua, its name means " stone guard". Technically, Aconcagua can be called a simple mountain, provided that the ascent is made along the usual route from the north. This peak is considered the easiest "non-climbing" mountain: when climbing the mentioned path, neither ice axes, nor railings, nor crampons are needed. This is probably why the second largest base camp after Everest is located here - the so-called "Mule Square", Plaza de Mulas, at an altitude of 4370 meters. However, despite the apparent accessibility of Aconcagua, mountain sickness here, at an altitude of almost 7 thousand kilometers, does not spare those who are at ease with acclimatization. The piercing cold and bad weather reigning at the summit do not spare the guests of the Quechua lands: frostbite is one of the most common injuries among unprepared travelers. If the climber is chasing technique and the complexity of the route, you can climb Aconcagua from the south - this is the most difficult and dangerous of the climbs available here.
North America: Denali (6190 m)
"The mountain was first climbed by Reverend Hudson Stack in 1913"
If for some reason the name of this mountain seems unfamiliar to you, know that this is the very legendary McKinley Peak, the highest point in the United States, which has just returned to its original name given to it by the local Koyukon people. It is located in Alaska, and therefore, until 1867, Denali was the main peak of the Russian Empire: characteristically, the Russians simply called it “Big Mountain”. McKinley is the surname of the 25th President of the United States. The mountain was first climbed by Reverend Hudson Stack in 1913. Given that Denali is located beyond the Arctic Circle, ascents are possible only in May-July, when the harsh northern weather and the polar day favor climbers. At the moment, 20,000 travelers have already visited the highest peak in the United States, but according to statistics, only 50% get to the top - the icy slopes of Denali do not forgive mistakes and require excellent physical shape. Climbing Denali is often compared to climbing Everest - the temperature drops to -35 degrees, the Kahiltna glacier, through which the path goes, is sprinkled with snow, hiding huge cracks (therefore, this section has to be skied, dragging cargo), spending the night in tents among icy desert, and the steepness of individual sections reaches 45 degrees. national park Denali issues permits to enter the protected area and is wary of guides from other countries - only locals are allowed to drive organized groups here.
Africa: Kilimanjaro (5895 m)
Africa's highest potentially active stratovolcano, Kilimanjaro, is not technically difficult mountain, but the proximity to the equator makes high-altitude acclimatization not so easy - going up, the traveler comes from the African heat to the very invigorating cold of the five-thousander (recall that there is a thick cap of snow at the top of the symbol of Tanzania). The first westerners tried to conquer the summit in shorts and T-shirts (there is evidence of this in the book "Life, travel and work in East Africa" by Charles New), and the porters were completely naked. But the expedition of German travelers led by Hans Meyer in 1889 turned out to be more prudent and still took Kilimanjaro. By the way, according to the census, their local guide Mzee Lauwo lived for more than 120 years and was still alive in 1996.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is now an important source of income for Tanzania's budget. Six routes lead to the summit, two of which (Marangu and Machame) are accessible to people without altitude experience and offer travelers accommodation in huts and organized camps. Registration for the track on these two roads is carried out at the very beginning of the path, the ascent takes from 5 to 7 days. In order not to catch mountain sickness, travelers often "train" on the nearby Meru volcano (4562 meters). In recent years, speed climbing around Kilimanjaro is in full swing: the latest achievement belongs to mountain guide Karl Igloff, who ran up and down the Umbwe route in 6 hours and 56 minutes.
Europe 1: Elbrus (5642 m)
"The double peak of Elbrus is a kind of national symbol of Russia"
An extinct volcano, located in the heart of the Caucasus, is the main center of attraction for climbers from central Russia. The double peak of Elbrus is a kind of national symbol, and even if you are not connected with mountaineering, this mountain has repeatedly flashed in the history of Russia, at least as part of the chronicles of the Great Patriotic War - serious battles were fought for the strategic height. In the last decade, with the improvement of the situation in the region, there are more and more foreigners here.
The first ascent was made by scientists and travelers in July 1829 along the northern route. And until now, most of the ascents are made along this classical path from the other side of the mountain, where shelters and lifts are now located. Climbing Elbrus is a short epic compared to the same Denali (7-10 days versus 20). The infrastructure of the resort does not stand still: earlier there was only the old shelter "Barrels" on the mountain, and now at an altitude of 3900 meters the high-rise hotel LeapRus has been built using Italian technologies - places in it must be booked in advance, since its capacity is 40 people.
This summer, an additional line of lifts began to be built on the mountain, which will stretch up to 3847 meters and will facilitate the transfer of cargo to the mountain in the summer season. Despite the apparent simplicity of the peak, climbing Elbrus is strictly not recommended without an experienced guide: deep cracks in the glaciers and rapidly changing weather are increasingly collecting their bloody tribute from unprepared and lost climbers. With proper preparation, backcountry expeditions to the mountain are possible - you can go down both on a snowboard and on skiing. Climbing season - summer time, when successful windows in the weather occur more often. A pleasant bonus to climbing Elbrus will be walking along the Elbrus region, where high-mountain meadows bloom and rare flowers are found.
Europe 2: Mont Blanc (4810 m)
The cradle of French mountaineering, Mont Blanc is a major tourist attraction on the border between France and Italy, where casual onlookers as well as experienced freeriders, alpinists and climbers meet. The famous Tour du Mont Blanc tourist route runs around the mountain, and at an altitude of 3842 meters (the neighboring Aiguille du Midi peak, where the cable car built in 1955 leads) there is an observation deck from where tourists admire the Mont Blanc massif. A little lower stretches a huge freeride field - White Valley - with the longest track in the vicinity of 22 kilometers, which partially goes along the body of the glacier. The first mention of climbing Mont Blanc dates back to August 1786 - then the Swiss geologist Benedict de Saussure even established a prize for the first person to think of conquering the great mountain.
The highest mountain of the Alps attracts a huge number of tourists in the summer. Transfer to the main route is carried out on a beautiful little train - the so-called Mont Blanc tram - to Ny d'Aigle, from where travelers go to spend the night in Guter's shelter and act on the mountain in the early morning. Despite the apparent gentleness of the slope, climbing Mont Blanc requires good physical fitness and experience with crampons and ice axes. The most unpleasant place on the route is the Grand Couloir - because of serious rockfalls, climbers have been maimed and killed here more than once. However, in the pursuit of the Seven Peaks, injuries have not stopped anyone yet.
Antarctica: Vinson Massif (4892 m)
The Vinson Massif is one of the most extraordinary points of the Seven Summits program. To start at least with the fact that these mountains were discovered only in 1957 from the side American aircraft. The difficulty of access to the massif adds to the cost of storming the Antarctic peaks - the cost of the expedition for our compatriots is from $40,000. Of course, this is not $ 60,000 that guides will have to pay for climbing Everest as part of a group, but at the current dollar rate, it is very likely that in order to combine these two peaks, you will have to part with a kidney. Perhaps that is why climbing the Vinson Massif is one of the elite entertainments. By the way, the pioneers of the mountain, a group of American scientists and climbers, were sponsored by the authorities and the US Army: as part of the expedition of 1966-67. Vinson Peak was climbed along the western ridge, which is still used in most ascents. The first passage along the eastern ridge was made only in 2001 - by the way, among the participants of the expedition was the same John Krakauer, the author of "Into the Wild" and "Into Thin Air".
Australia and Oceania: Jaya (4884 m)
Jaya (another name is the Karstensz Pyramid) is located in the western part of the island of New Guinea, but belongs to Indonesia. Not far from this peak is the Grasberg high-altitude quarry, where gold, silver and copper are mined. The stone peaks of Jaya were first conquered by the same Heinrich Harrer, a repentant Wehrmacht soldier who spent seven years in Tibet, in 1962. And among the pioneers from the Russian expedition of the magazine "Around the World" in 1995 was the legendary. According to travelers, in the case of Jaya, it’s not so much the ascent that is exhausting, but the long and difficult climb to the base camp through the jungle with tropical rains and damp overnight stays. In addition, injured members of the expedition cannot be evacuated by helicopter, and local porters often go on strike during the expedition itself, demanding more money for their work. Rise to highest point requires advanced climbing skills.
Global warming has sadly affected the glaciers of Jaya and the surrounding mountains: they almost completely disappeared between 1939 and 1962, and the huge Meren glacier melted from 1994 to 2000. Every year, the ice cover in those places where it still remains is reduced by 7 meters.
Australia: Kosciuszko (2228 m)
“The Kosciuszko National Park is visited by up to 70,000 tourists a year, and approximately 30,000 of them take the pleasant four-hour walk to the top of the mountain.”
The last peak, sometimes referred to as the “Seven Summits”, is a kindergarten for experienced climbers, Mount Kosciuszko, first conquered in 1840 by the Polish traveler Pavel Strzelecki. The Kosciuszko National Park is visited by up to 70,000 tourists a year, and about 30,000 of them make the pleasant four-hour hike to the top of the mountain. So if everything you read above puzzled you, you can limit yourself to one point of the program of the Seven Peaks: you can only die from boredom at two thousand.
Kosciuszko. Photo: nationalparks.nsw.gov.aujp
We hope that after this article about the Seven Peaks, you will go looking for the second and third jobs in order to collect the required amount as soon as possible and hit the road. After all, the Seven Peaks are not only peaks high in the sky, but also a great journey through all the continents of the planet.