The highest mountain in the world information. The highest mountains in Russia. The highest mountains in South America
Mountains occupy about 24% of all land. The most mountains are in Asia - 64%, the least in Africa - 3%. 10% of the population lives in the mountains globe. And it is in the mountains that most rivers on our planet originate.
Characteristics of mountains
By geographical location mountains are united into different communities that must be distinguished.
. Mountain belts- the largest formations, often stretching across several continents. For example, the Alpine-Himalayan belt passes through Europe and Asia or the Andean-Cordilleran belt, stretching through North and South America.
. Mountain system- groups of mountains and ranges similar in structure and age. For example, the Ural Mountains.
. Mountain ranges- a group of mountains stretched in a line (Sangre de Cristo in the USA).
. Mountain groups- also a group of mountains, but not stretched out in a line, but simply located nearby. For example, the Bear Pau Mountains in Montana.
. Single mountains- unrelated to others, often of volcanic origin (Table Mountain in South Africa).
Natural areas of the mountains
Natural zones in the mountains are arranged in layers and change depending on the height. At the foothills there is most often a zone of meadows (in the highlands) and forests (in the middle and low mountains). The higher you go, the harsher the climate becomes.
The change of belts is influenced by climate, altitude, mountain topography and their geographical location. For example, the continental mountains do not have a belt of forests. From the base to the summit, the natural areas vary from deserts to grasslands.
Types of mountains
There are several classifications of mountains according to various criteria: structure, shape, origin, age, geographical location. Let's look at the most basic types:
1. By age old and young mountains are distinguished.
Old are called mountain systems whose age is estimated at hundreds of millions of years. Internal processes in them have calmed down, but external processes (wind, water) continue to destroy, gradually comparing them with the plains. The old mountains include the Ural, Scandinavian, and Khibiny mountains (on the Kola Peninsula).
2. Height There are low mountains, middle mountains and high mountains.
Low mountains (up to 800 m) - with rounded or flat tops and gentle slopes. There are many rivers in such mountains. Examples: Northern Urals, Khibiny Mountains, spurs of the Tien Shan.
Average mountains (800-3000 m). They are characterized by a change in landscape depending on the height. These are the Polar Urals, the Appalachians, the mountains of the Far East.
High mountains (over 3000 m). These are mostly young mountains with steep slopes and sharp peaks. Natural areas change from forests to icy deserts. Examples: Pamirs, Caucasus, Andes, Himalayas, Alps, Rocky Mountains.
3. By origin There are volcanic (Fujiyama), tectonic (Altai mountains) and denudation, or erosion (Vilyuisky, Ilimsky).
4. According to the shape of the top mountains can be peak-shaped (Communism Peak, Kazbek), plateau-shaped and table-shaped (Amba in Ethiopia or Monument Valley in the USA), domed (Ayu-Dag, Mashuk).
Climate in the mountains
The mountain climate has a number of characteristic features that appear with altitude.
Decrease in temperature - the higher it is, the colder it is. It is no coincidence that the peaks of the highest mountains are covered with glaciers.
Atmospheric pressure decreases. For example, at the top of Everest the pressure is two times lower than at sea level. This is why water boils faster in the mountains - at 86-90ºC.
The intensity of solar radiation increases. In the mountains, sunlight contains more ultraviolet radiation.
The amount of precipitation is increasing.
High mountain ranges trap precipitation and influence the movement of cyclones. Therefore, the climate on different slopes of the same mountain may differ. On the windward side there is a lot of moisture and sun, on the leeward side it is always dry and cool. A striking example is the Alps, where on one side of the slopes there are subtropics, and on the other, a temperate climate prevails.
The highest mountains in the world
(Click on the picture to enlarge the diagram in full size)
There are seven highest peaks in the world that all climbers dream of conquering. Those who succeed become honorary members of the Seven Peaks Club. These are mountains such as:
. Chomolungma, or Everest (8848 m). Located on the border of Nepal and Tibet. Belongs to the Himalaya mountain system. It has the shape of a triangular pyramid. The first conquest of the mountain took place in 1953.
. Aconcagua(6962 m). It is the highest mountain in the southern hemisphere, located in Argentina. Belongs to the Andes mountain system. The first ascent took place in 1897.
. McKinley- highest peak North America(6168 m). Located in Alaska. First conquered in 1913. Was considered the most high point Russia until Alaska was sold to America.
. Kilimanjaro- the highest point in Africa (5891.8 m). Located in Tanzania. First conquered in 1889. This is the only mountain where all types of Earth's belts are represented.
. Elbrus- the highest peak in Europe and Russia (5642 m). Located in the Caucasus. The first ascent took place in 1829.
. Vinson Massif- the highest mountain in Antarctica (4897 m). Part of the Ellsworth Mountains system. First conquered in 1966.
. Mont Blanc- the highest point in Europe (many attribute Elbrus to Asia). Height - 4810 m. Located on the border of France and Italy, it belongs to the Alps mountain system. The first ascent in 1786, and a century later, in 1886, Theodore Roosevelt conquered the top of Mont Blanc.
. Pyramid of Carstens- the highest mountain in Australia and Oceania (4884 m). Located on an island New Guinea. The first conquest was in 1962.
Anyone who has ever been to the mountains remembers them for the rest of their lives. This is such an incredible sight that it is simply impossible to forget. Here, being at the top, you understand what kind of bug you really are. Here your soul and body rest, here you can truly relax, feel the cold Mountain air, think about something lofty...
Which mountains are the most popular? Probably the same ones you fly down on skis or snowboard. However, over time, you realize that you want to climb higher and ask yourself the question - what is the largest mountain in the world? It turns out that the answer is simple - this is Everest, which we were told about more than once in school.
Chomolungma (8852 m)
Everest (or, as it is also called, Chomolungma), which is part of the huge mountain system The Himalayas and is located on the territory of Nepal and China, reaches an altitude of 8852 above sea level! To get to the top, travelers spend weeks and months, and once there, they resort to using an oxygen mask - if this is not done, you can stay at the top forever, since the air there is very rarefied. Over the entire period, only about 4,000 people were able to conquer the peak, and every year about 500 more volunteers try to do this, but not everyone succeeds.
Everest has a very interesting climate. Tropical plants grow at the foot of the mountain, while at the top it is incredibly cold (down to -70 at night), and wind speeds reach several hundred meters per second. Even if you managed to get to the peak under such weather conditions, you will not stay there for long. Firstly, the rarefied atmosphere, secondly, severe frost, thirdly, you need to get down in time while it is still light. By the way, going down is not much easier than going up. However, many travelers are not afraid of this at all.
Not long ago, scientists discovered a mountain on Mars whose height is as much as 21.2 kilometers, that is, it is more than two times higher than Everest. Probably, climbers would be happy to climb it, but we can’t fly to the red planet yet, alas.
Chogori (8611 m)
Chogori is the second highest mountain peak after Everest. It was first discovered by researchers in 1856 and at that time they decided to name it K2 in honor of the second peak of the Karakorum. However, years later the mountain received its current name.
Interestingly, the British first tried to climb Chogori at the beginning of the 20th century, but they succeeded. The Italians were the first to conquer the mountain in 1954.
For a long time it was believed that Chogori is the most high mountain on the planet, as many researchers claimed that its height could reach 8900 meters. And only in 1987, full measurements were carried out, thanks to which it turned out that the true height of Chogori is 8611 m.
Climbing Chogori is technically very difficult, so until the mid-2000s, only about 250 people climbed the mountain, and another 60 died during the climb. Moreover, successful attempts to climb occurred exclusively in warm seasons. Those who tried to conquer the mountain in winter invariably died.
Kanchenjunga (8586 m)
Kanchenjunga is mountain range in the Himalayas and is located on the border of India and Nepal. The massif consists of five peaks and all of them are incredibly high, but the highest is Kanchenjunga Main.
It is not known exactly when the massif was discovered, but it was for a long time considered the highest mountains until the mid-19th century. The first attempts to conquer the peak began in 1905, when an expedition led by Aleister Crowley was only able to climb to a height of 6200 meters. The next attempt took place in 1929, but it also ended unsuccessfully. But the members of the expedition led by Charles Evans were finally able to reach the peak on May 25, 1955. The ascent took place from the Yalung glacier.
Usually, with the development of technology, the mortality rate when climbing mountains falls, but this does not apply to Kanchenjunga. The fact is that the number of cases that end tragically is only increasing. Interestingly, almost all the women who tried to conquer the mountain died. U local residents There is even a legend - they say that the mountain kills all women who try to climb it out of jealousy.
Lhotse (8516 m)
Lhotse is part of the Mahalangur Himal mountain range, located on the border of China and Nepal. It has three peaks, the height of the main one reaches 8516 m.
The first successful conquest of the peak took place in 1956, when members of a Swiss expedition were able to do it. In 1990, Russians under the leadership of A. Shevchenko were able to climb the mountain along the South Wall. To date, their record has not been achieved, since climbing Lhotse this way is incredibly difficult. One of the participants in that expedition says that this happened only due to the fact that Soviet Union was able to bring together 17 excellent specialists who knew how to work harmoniously with each other.
The total number of people who reached the summit according to 2003 data is about 240, and about 12 died.
Makalu (8481 m)
Number five on our list of the highest mountains is Makalu or the Black Giant. This is a mountain range located in the Himalayas. It has several peaks, the main one reaching a height of 8481 m.
Like several other participants in our rating, the mountain is located on the border of China and Nepal, located 22 km from Qomolungma. According to historical data, Makalu has been known to Europeans since at least the beginning of the 19th century, but the first attempts to conquer the peak began only in the mid-20th century. Why? The explanation is simple - most specialists at that time wanted to conquer the highest mountains, which were Everest and Lhotse, and they were much less interested in the rest. However, over time this situation has changed radically.
The first successful ascent to the main peak was in 1955 - a French group led by Jean Franco managed to do this. They climbed the mountain along the northern route. Later there were successful climbs along other routes. If we talk about the Slavs, the last to climb Makalu were the Ukrainians from the city of Sumy, whose journey took two whole months.
Cho Oyu (8188 m)
Another mountain peak in the Himalayas, located on the border of Nepal and China, is Cho Oyu, whose height reaches 8188 m. It belongs to the Mahalangur Himal mountain range and is part of the Chomolungma mountain range.
Not far from Cho Oyu there is the Nangpa La Pass, covered with ice. Its height reaches 5716 m. It is through it that the trade route passes, along which the inhabitants of Nepal get to Tibet. From the latter side it is very easy to climb the mountain, but from the Nepal side it is incredibly difficult, since travelers are faced with a steep wall.
The first successful ascent to the peak occurred in 1952.
Dhaulagiri (8167 m)
Continuing our list, one cannot fail to mention Dhaulagiri or White Mountain, as it is sometimes called. Dhaulagiri is a mountain range in the Himalayas that has many peaks, the highest of which is Dhaulagiri I - its height reaches 8167 m.
The first ascent of the mountain took place in the middle of the 20th century, but a successful conquest took place only in 1960, when a team of the best European climbers decided to climb to the top. This took place in May, and the first winter ascent was made by the Japanese Akio Koizumi in 1982 together with Sherpa Nima Wangchu.
Manaslu (8156 m)
Our list ends with Manaslu (Kutang), located in the Himalayas. The mountain is part of the Mansiri Himal mountain range, which is located in northern Nepal. Manaslu has three peaks: main, eastern and northern. The first is the highest of them, its height reaches 8156 m.
The first successful ascent to the summit was made in 1956. The number of deaths during the ascent for the entire time was about 20 percent, which is a lot, although you can’t tell from the photo.
Today the mountain and its surrounding areas are part of National Park Manaslu, which was founded 15 years ago.
17.08.2013
There are many countries in the world where there are mountains. However, the bulk of the massifs are located in the center and south of Asia, among which Nepal stands out. The highest mountain range- Himalayas. It contains more than a hundred mountain peaks with a height exceeding 7 km 200 m. And only 14 mountains in the whole world have a height of more than 8,000 m. These are the highest mountains.
10. Mount Annapurna
The mountain is located in Nepal, namely in its central part. Annapurna has several peaks. One of these peaks has a height of 8,091 m. This is the highest point, it is called Annapurna I. This eight-thousander became the first one conquered by man. This happened in the fiftieth year. These mountains are considered unsafe to conquer. Previously, the death rate reached about 41%, modern equipment has made it possible to reduce this mark to 19.7%. This is the tenth most big mountain peace.
9. Nanga
Parbat Mountain with a height of 8 km 126 m is located in Pakistan in the northwestern part of the Himalayas far from the Indus River. Nanga Parbat is the westernmost 8-thousander. Due to the high level of death during the conquest at the beginning of the 20th century, it was called “Killer Mountain”. The mountain is included in the 3rd the most dangerous mountains and ninth the highest mountain.
8. Manaslu
The mountain has a height of 8 km 156 m and is located in the center of Nepal in the northern part. If we translate the name of the eight-thousander Manaslu, it will be “Mountain of the Holy Spirit”. On May 9, 1956, the mountain was conquered for the first time. It was a Japanese expedition consisting of Toshio Imanishi and Gualzen Norbu.
7. Dhaulagiri
This is the highest point of the Gandaki (river basin), located in Nepal in the northwest, 120 km river. Gandaki to the west. Dhaulagiri is represented by a number of peaks. The highest is called Dhaulagiri I. The height of the peak is 8,167 m. On May 13, 1960, this eight-thousander was conquered for the first time by an expedition assembled from Switzerland, Austria and Nepal.
6. Cho Oyu
The peak of the mountain is 8 km 201 m. Cho Oyu is located between Nepal and China. It is considered an easily conquered mountain in its category of eight-thousanders. The slopes are distinctively smooth, which makes it attractive for novice climbers. Trade routes pass through Cho Oyu. And it is the sixth largest mountain in the world.
5. Makalu
The height of the mountain is 8 km 516 m. Makalu is located between Nepal and China, 19 km from the famous eight-thousander Everest. The mountain is a four-sided pyramid with a main isolated peak and two additional peaks. They are named: Kangchungtse (altitude 7 km200 m) and Chomo Lonzo (altitude 7 km 800 m). On May 15, 1955, Makalu was first conquered by the French. The leader of the group was Jean Franco. The fifth highest mountain in the world.
4. Lhotse
The peak of the mountain is 8 km 516 m. Lhotse is located on the border between China and Nepal, only 3 km from Mount Everest. It is included in the list of the most dangerous peaks. In 2008, out of 371 climbers who dared to conquer this eight-thousander, 20 died. In 1955, Lhotse was first conquered by an international Himalayan expedition.
3. Kanchenjunga
The mountain is located between Nepal and India, west of the river. Tamura and east of the Tista River. Kachenjunga has a height of 8,586 m. The mountain is represented by five peaks: Kangbachen (7,903 m), Middle (8,482 m), South (8,494 m), Western (8,505 m), Main (8,586 m). In 1905, it was conquered by an expedition led by Aleister Crowley. Among the three Top 10 The highest mountains on earth.
2. Chogori (K2)
The second height of Chomolungma, separating Pakistan and China. The height of K2 is 8 km 614 m. A distinctive feature of the eight-thousander Chogori is its very high mortality rate, which is 25%. For 249 climbers who conquered the mountain, 60 died. And in winter the peak has not yet succumbed to anyone. On July 31, 1954, Chogori was conquered for the first time. It was an Italian expedition led by Ardito Desio.
1. Everest or Chomolungma
This highest mountain in the world and, of course, the most majestic among the eight-thousanders is located between China and Nepal. The height of Everest is 8 km 848 m. Climbing it is difficult mainly due to powerful winds and inclement weather. On May 29, 1954, she was conquered for the first time. These were Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay. In 2010, the youngest climber was 13 years old, Jordan Romero. Nepal currently has an age limit. The youngest age is 16 years old. Conquering the peak requires considerable expenditure on equipment. To climb Everest you need to spend money, which will cost about $8,000 (this does not include oxygen cylinders).
For most people living in the concrete jungle, the idea of spending a couple of days in the mountains seems like the perfect vacation solution. It is worth considering that the mountains suitable for such a holiday are slightly different from those presented in this list. The highest mountain peaks offer fairly harsh conditions. Interestingly, almost all of these peaks are located in the Himalayas. There are practically no traces of civilization here, the conditions in these mountains are so harsh. Nevertheless, expeditions are constantly sent there, the most courageous people decide to climb these high peaks. Even if you don't plan to do the same, you should still check out the list of these mountains.
Nuptse, Mahalangur Himal
The name of this mountain means “western peak” in Tibetan. Nuptse is located on the Mahalangur Himal range and is one of the mountains surrounding Everest. It was first conquered in 1961 by Dennis Davis and Tashi Sherpa. This peak is the twentieth highest in the entire world and opens this impressive list. 
Distagil Sar, Karakorum
This point is located among the Karakoram ranges in Pakistan. Distagil Sar rises to 7884 meters in height and extends three kilometers in width. In 1960, the peak was conquered by Günter Sterker and Dieter Marhar, who were representatives of the Austrian expedition. In this region, this mountain is the highest, and in the list it was in nineteenth place. 
Himalchuli, Himalayas
This peak is part of the Himalayas in Nepal and is located near even more high peak. With an altitude of 7894 m, Himalchuli can be called the second largest in this mountain chain. The summit was first reached in 1960 by Japanese Hisashi Tanabe. Since then, few have dared to repeat his impressive achievement. 
Gasherbrum IV, Karakorum
This is one of the peaks of the Gasherbrum range located in Pakistan. It is part of the northeastern edge of the Baltoro Glacier, which belongs to the Karakoram. The name means "shining wall" in Urdu. The other three peaks of Gasherbrum exceed eight thousand meters, and this one rises to approximately 7932 meters. 
Annapurna II, Annapurna Massif
These peaks are part of a single massif that makes up the bulk of the Himalayas. This peak rises to 7934 meters and is located in the east of the Annapurna massif. It was first conquered by Richard Grant, Chris Bonington and Ang Nima Sherpa in 1960. Since then, we have climbed to the top only a few times, the conditions here are so harsh. 
Gyachung Kang, Mahalangur Himal
This mountain is located between the two highest points in the world, exceeding eight thousand meters. It is part of the Mahalangur Himal range that straddles the Nepal-China border. The mountain was first conquered in 1964 by a Japanese expedition. Among the mountains below eight thousand meters, this is the largest, its height is 7952 meters. 
Shishabangma, central Himalayas
All the mountains described below exceed a height of eight thousand meters! Shishabangma is the lowest of them all, but that doesn't mean it's easy to conquer. It is located between China and Tibet, in a limited area where foreigners are not allowed. This is due to security reasons. In the Tibetan dialect, the name means "ridge above the grassy plains." 
Gasherbrum II, Karakoram
As mentioned above, Gasherbrum is part of the Karakoram. This is a peak with a height of 8035 meters, which was conquered by Austrian climbers in 1956. This peak is also known as K4, which denotes that it is the fourth in the Karakoram chain. 
Broad Peak, Karakoram
This 8051 meter high mountain is quite popular among climbers. It belongs to the Baltoro glacier and ranks twelfth on the list of the highest. The slopes have extremely harsh conditions, making climbing up almost impossible for most of the year. It is not surprising that there are few climbers who have conquered this peak. 
Gasherbrum I, Karakoram
Another name for this mountain is Hidden Peak. This is because this is a place extremely remote from civilization and difficult to reach. The peak, 8080 meters high, was conquered for the first time in 1956, when Americans Pete Schoening and Andy Kaufman climbed here. 
Annapurna I, Annapurna Massif
Tenth place on the list! The further you go, the more impressive the scale of the mountains becomes and the fewer people have conquered them. The main peak of the Annapurna massif is the tenth largest in the world and rises to 8091 meters. The name means "full of food" in Sanskrit. 
Nanga Parbat, Himalayas
This is the ninth largest peak, rising to 8126 meters. The mountain is located in Pakistan and is known as the “killer peak” because the most a large number of unsuccessful attempts to climb. It was never possible to climb the peak in winter: severe weather with strong winds they make the task simply impossible. 
Manaslu, Himalayas
The name translated from Sanskrit means “intelligence” or “soul”. This is a peak located in the Himalayas very close to Annapurna. This is a peak with a height of 8163 meters. This area is considered a protected area and is protected for environmental reasons. 
Dhaulagiri I, Dhaulagiri Massif
These mountains extend one hundred kilometers from the Kalingandaki River to the Bheri River. One of the peaks of this massif rises to 8167 meters and ranks seventh in size in the world. The highest point is named in Sanskrit, the word “dhaula” means “shining” and “giri” means “mountain”. 
Cho Oyu, Mahalangur Himal
The name translated from Tibetan means “turquoise goddesses”. This is a peak with a height of 8201 meters, which is the highest in this range and is located twenty kilometers west of Everest. Thanks to its moderate slopes and close passes, this mountain is considered the easiest option for climbing eight thousand meters. However, it is worth considering that this lightness is only in comparison with other peaks of this size. An unprepared traveler still cannot make such an ascent. 
Makalu, Mahalangur Himal
This is the fifth place on the list - a mountain with a height of 8485 meters! Mahalu Peak is part of the Mahalangur Himal range and is located a little further away. Its shape resembles a pyramid with four sides. The summit was first conquered in 1955 by the French. 
Lhotse, Mahalangur Himal
The name means “southern peak” in Tibetan. This is the second largest mountain in the massif, rising to 8516 meters. It was first conquered in 1956 by Swiss climbers Ernest Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger.
Kangchenyunga, Himalayas
Until 1852, this peak was considered the highest in the world. Its height is 8586 meters. This is a peak located in India. This mountain range is called the “five snowy peaks” and is worshiped by some Indians. In addition, this place attracts tourists. 
K2, Karakoram
Baltistan, a region of Pakistan, is home to the highest point of the Karakoram called K2. This 8611 meter high mountain is known for its harsh conditions, making it incredibly difficult to climb to the top. Few succeeded, and there was no successful ascent at all in winter. 
Everest, Mahalangur Himal
So, here is the leader of the list - Mount Everest, also known as Chomolungma. It was discovered in 1802 and conquered in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Since then, thousands of expeditions have been here, but not all of them ended in success. After all, it is a peak of 8848 meters high! Climbing Everest requires serious preparation and considerable financial investments, because without special equipment and oxygen cylinders it is simply impossible to carry out this most difficult task.
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 won't try to think twice and will immediately answer it the same way. Everest. Therefore, it is not in vain that when we compare the highest mountains on other planets in our solar system (for example, Mount Olympus on Mars), we always compare Everest. The truth is that 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 an oblate spheroid. Therefore, those places that are located near the equator, as a rule, are much further from the center of the planet than those that are at its poles. If we take this fact into account, then Everest, like all the Himalayas, can hardly be called the highest point on the planet.
Earth as a sphere
The understanding that the Earth is a spherical body came to people back in the 6th century BC. The ancient Greeks were the first to know about this. And although this theory is attributed to Pythagoras, it is equally likely that it could have arisen spontaneously as a result of travel between Greek settlements. The fact is that sailors began to notice changes in the position and visibility of stars depending on the chosen geographical latitude.
Planet Earth. View of the Western Hemisphere from space
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 geographic locations, Eratosthenes (276 BC - 194 BC), a Greek astronomer from Cyrene (in modern-day 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.
Knowledge about this 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 revolution in science (mid-16th to late 18th centuries), geological and heliocentric views had become established in science. With the advent of modern astronomy, more accurate measurement methods and the ability to look at the Earth from space, humanity was finally able to see the true shape and size of our planet.
Modern models of the Earth
Let's clarify the situation a little: The Earth is not a perfect sphere, but it is not flat either. In the first case, I want to apologize to Galileo, in the second - to the flat Earth society. As mentioned above, the Earth has the shape of an oblate spheroid, which, in turn, is a consequence of the peculiarity of its rotation. At the poles it seems to be flattened, and in the equatorial part it is elongated. Many space objects solar system have the same shape (take Saturn, for example). 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 Earth's center
Based on some recent measurements, it has been found that the polar radius of the Earth (that is, the distance from the center of the planet to one or another pole) 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 taking into account some topographic changes in certain areas, where some objects located near the equator are closer to the center, and others are further from the center of the Earth, compared to other objects in a particular region. The most notable exceptions are Mariana Trench(most deep place on Earth, depth 10,911 meters) and Mount Everest, whose height above sea level is 8848 meters. However, these two geological features represent very little difference when considering the overall 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 8848 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
This is where it is Mountain chain The Andes Mountains are the highest point on planet Earth. The height of Mount Chimborazo is 6263.47 meters above sea level. However, due to its location (1 degree 28 minutes south of the equator) in the highest protruding part of the planet, its total height from the geocenter is about 21 kilometers.
View of Mount Everest from the top of Kala Patthar
If we consider the issue in terms of distance to the geocenter, Everest is located at a distance of 6382 kilometers from the center of the Earth, while Chimborazo is located 6384 kilometers. The rounded difference is only about 3.2 kilometers, which at first glance may seem quite insignificant. However, when we're talking about about the titles of “the very 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 Mauna Kea, 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 a height of 4207 meters.
However, those who consider Everest the highest mountain according to its height above sea level will be right. If we consider its height as height above sea level, then Everest is truly the tallest mountain in the world.