The Top 10 Highest Mountains in the World

Mountain climbing can be treacherous and treacherously exhilarating. As you ascend higher, breathing becomes increasingly challenging.

There are 14 mountains around the world that reach an elevation of over 8,000 meters, such as Everest in Asia, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Aconcagua in South America and Denali in North America.

Mount Everest

Mount Everest stands taller than any mountain in the world and is famous for its striking pyramid-like form, snowcapped peak, and challenging climbing conditions. At nearly five and a half miles in height, its sheer height awe-inspiring for anyone who sees it; located within the Himalayan range it attracts mountaineers seeking adventure and satisfaction in conquering new challenges.

Sir Edmund Percival Hillary was the first man to successfully scale Everest with Tenzing Norgay in 1953, reaching its summit together. Since then, thousands have attempted to conquer it but only a small percentage have succeeded due to avalanches and wind; furthermore it is notoriously challenging due to its dry climate and icy conditions.

Everest is part of the Himalayas mountain range that straddles Nepal and China. Initially named Peak XV during the Great Trigonometrical Survey of Himalayas conducted in 1841, later it was changed to George Everest after leading this survey but never seeing its summit himself. Many mountaineers still prefer using traditional names for Everest such as Chomolungma () or Sagarmatha (), meaning mother goddess of the universe and “goddess of the sky”, respectively.

Kangchenjunga, which stands at 3,854m above sea level, consists of five individual peaks connected by ridges. Climbers first ascending it stayed just short of summiting its highest peak due to local belief regarding it as a holy site.

Mount Makalu

Makalu stands at an astounding 8,463-meter height and can be found in Mahalangur Himalayas 19 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Mount Everest. Featuring four sharp ridges forming its pyramid-like profile, its summit ridge marks the border between Nepal on its south side and Tibet Autonomous Region of China on its northern side.

This mountain offers an exceptional trekking route, boasting lush valleys, high waterfalls and alpine meadows. Additionally, it is a popular climbing spot offering both ice climbing and rock climbing challenges.

Climbers consider Makalu an extremely challenging mountain to scale due to its steep pitches and knife-edged ridges. As such, it took 20 years for the first climbing team to summit it; making this trek ideal for those seeking an engaging challenge without undertaking something as extreme as Everest.

One of the most popular routes up Makalu is from its north face and northeast ridge via Kangchungtse’s saddle, through glacier climbing on lower slopes, snow and ice climbing at Makalu-La saddle, then along rocky ridges to its summit. Though challenging, this path doesn’t pose too many risks or require advanced mountaineering skills to traverse.

Makalu derives its name from Sanskrit Maha-Kala, or Big Black, which refers to Lord Shiva’s dark figure depictions. Locally it is commonly referred to as Kumba Karna which translates into The Giant.

Mount Manaslu

The Manaslu mountain range is an unspoiled and remote region in Nepal that features an astonishingly diverse landscape. The trail winds its way through lush forests, alpine meadows, and Tibetan-style villages as it gives visitors an insight into its rich cultural heritage and traditional way of life still present here.

Manaslu, at 8,000 meters, has long presented mountaineers with an incredible challenge since its initial ascent in 1956. It features an intimidating, steep summit ridge which requires oxygen tanks for ascending; springtime provides easier conditions when climbing is possible without using oxygen tanks; however autumn brings with it more difficulty due to an unpredictable knife-edge snow ridge hidden by cornices.

Numerous expeditions to Manaslu have been foiled by its rugged terrain and unpredictable weather, though one expedition led by Briton H. W. Tilman made an initial reconnaissance and then another led by Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu successfully reached its summit, marking a first in history when a team reached an 8,000-meter peak without supplementary oxygen support.

The region is home to an eclectic range of ethnic groups that contribute to its vibrant culture. Sherpas are mountain dwellers known for their blend of Buddhist and Hindu beliefs that has resulted in distinctive rituals and festivals unique to them – something which demonstrates their close ties with nature and their immediate surroundings. Following Nepal’s devastating 2015 earthquake, Manaslu District suffered greatly; local people are slowly rebuilding lives and returning to normal lives again by trekking here. By supporting their efforts you’ll help strengthen community life!

Mount K2

K2 is the second highest mountain and an iconic climbing destination, known for its treacherous terrain and rich history. Situated in China and Pakistan’s Karakoram Range near their border, this epic challenge boasts an alarming fatality rate. Yet regardless of this threat, climbers from across the globe remain inspired to attempt conquering its summit.

Peak Serac is a steep pyramid-shaped mountain that drops rapidly in all directions, featuring the iconic Bottleneck rock gully which presents climbers with the risk of an avalanche when traversing it. Furthermore, pieces from Great Serac often break off and land within this narrow rock gully, and climbing attempts of any magnitude face a steep incline of 50 to 100 meters when trying to scale it – though many climbers have accomplished summit attempts without incident!

K2 differs from Everest by typically being scaled during fall months to avoid monsoon season, offering numerous climbing routes for ascent, including Abruzzi Spur. Two other popular choices are North Ridge and Black Pyramid routes – though Black Pyramid may provide easier climbing terrain but still requires high levels of expertise to scale successfully.

K2 is widely known as the Savage Mountain due to its high fatality rate among eight-thousander mountains, with one person dying per four who reach its summit. K2 has also been the site of numerous mountaineering tragedies – most notably when three members of an eight-thousander climbing team disappeared in 2008. This event caused widespread debate regarding safety standards as well as increased awareness of climbing high altitude mountains.

Annapurna

Annapurna Mountain in Nepal is not only one of the highest mountains, but is also revered by many local people as sacred ground. The name Annapurna comes from two Sanskrit words “Anna” meaning food and “Purna” meaning full or complete; thus symbolizing sustenance and abundance. Annapurna region boasts incredible natural and cultural diversity that make it an enjoyable trek destination – it also plays host to various ethnic communities including Magar and Gurung communities that reside here.

Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal made history when they ascended the North Face of Annapurna in 1950, becoming the first people ever to summit an 8,000-meter peak. However, their journey was fraught with difficulty: Lachenal was injured during an accidental fall that sidelined him from climbing; Herzog suffered severely damaged feet caused by glacier ice which resulted in two years of physical pain due to foot fractures caused by contact with rock; eventually losing all enthusiasm for climbing altogether.

The Annapurna Massif features many striking landmarks, such as the world’s deepest river gorge – Kali Gandaki Gorge – which separates Annapurna from Dhaulagiri. Furthermore, Tilicho Lake and Ghorepani Rhododendron Forest can also be found here; while near their summits lies remnants of an ancient sea known as Tethys which existed 60 million years ago.

While trekking through Annapurna region, it is vitally important to become acquainted with local culture and adhere to local norms. Doing this will allow you to fully appreciate this stunning region while engaging in meaningful interactions with its inhabitants in a courteous manner. Similarly, smoking and alcohol should be avoided publicly or during religious festivals and be mindful of wildlife – do not litter or leave trash behind and remain aware of how the mountains might change throughout your visit.