The seven highest mountain peaks of the six continents of the earth. The highest mountains in the world by continent The highest mountains on the continent
All climbers can agree that climbing the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the world's continents, is one of the highest achievements of their sport; it is more difficult to get them to agree on which peaks constitute the Seven Summits. The problem is one of geographical classification and perspective. First, there is the question of whether Europe is considered part of Asia or a continent in itself. If we accept the concept of Eurasia as a single continent, there should in fact be only six summits. Another question arises in relation to Europe: if the Urals are taken as the dividing line between Europe and Asia, should the highest point in Europe be Mont Blanc, which is undeniably entirely in Europe, or Mount Elbrus, which, depending on the interpretation, is barely managed to escape classified as an Asian trait? The question then arises as to whether Australia is classified in isolation or includes Oceania. A pair of climbers formulated two of the most popular schemes. The list of peaks, compiled and selected by American climber Dick Bass, draws a line in Australia itself; the list compiled by Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner covers Oceania. Since neither climber supports the concept of Eurasia or is concerned about the location of Mount Elbrus, their lists are otherwise identical. Here, then, are the Seven Worlds - or perhaps the eight - Peaks.
Africa: Kilimanjaro
The highest peak in Africa is scaled by Kilimanjaro, a volcanic massif in northeastern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. The massif extends approximately east-west for 50 miles (80 km) and consists of three main extinct volcanoes, the youngest and tallest of which has the central cone of Kibo, which rises to 19,340 feet (5,895 meters). The Kibo summit was first reached in 1889 by German geographer Hans Meyer and Austrian mountaineer Ludwig Purtscheller. Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, established in 1973 to protect the mountain above the tree line as well as six forest corridors running down the mountain's forest belt, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Europe: Mount Elbrus
The highest peak in the Caucasus and the highest point in Europe is Mount Elbrus in southwestern Russia. Created over 2.5 million years ago, this extinct volcano has two cones that extend to heights of 18,510 feet (5,642 meters) and 18,356 feet (5,595 meters). The tall cone was first raised in 1874 by a British expedition led by Swiss guide Peter Knubel. Elbrus is covered with 22 glaciers that feed the Kuban River.
North America: Denali
Denali (also called Mount McKinley), located in the center of the Alaska Range in south-central Alaska, is the highest peak in North America. It rises sharply about 18,000 feet (5,500 meters) from the Denali Fault at its base to the higher, more southerly of the two peaks. Denali's official elevation was 20,320 feet (6,194 meters) from the early 1950s until 2015, when the United States Geological Survey (USGS) restored it to 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) after a thorough re-evaluation using modern technology. equipment. In 1910, two explorers, dubbed the Sourdough Expedition, were the first climbers to summit North Peak. On June 7, 1913, Hudson Stuck and Harry Carstens held a party for the South Peak, the true summit. Currently, hundreds of climbers attempt to reach the summit every year.
South America: Mount Aconcagua
Mount Aconcagua, on the Chilean border in west-central Argentina, is the highest point in South America and the Western Hemisphere, but its exact elevation has been debated since the early 20th century. In January 2001, a group of scientists using advanced GPS (Global Positioning System) technology reported the altitude to be 22,840 feet (6,962 meters), plus or minus 16 feet (5 meters), but neither the Argentine government nor the National Geographic Society do not recognize this figure; the altitude of 22,831 feet (6,959 meters), set by the Military Geographical Institute of Argentina, remains the generally accepted figure. Mount Aconcagua has two peaks, north and south, connected by a ridge. The southern peak has been measured at 22,736 feet (6,930 meters). The highest northern peak was first reached in 1897 by Swiss mountaineer Matthias Zurbriggen.
Asia: Mount Everest
Mount Everest, the highest mountain in Asia and the world, stands on the ridge of the Great Himalayas of southern Asia, which lies on the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Reaching 29,035 feet (8,850 meters), it was recognized for the first time as the highest point on the surface Lands by the Government Survey of India in 1852. Major expeditions to Everest began in the 1920s, but it was not until 1953 that Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay—members of an expedition sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society and the Alpine Club—certainly reached its apogee. Mystery still surrounds the 1924 disappearance of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, who may have reached the summit before disappearing. Mallory's body was found at 26,760 feet (8,156 meters) in 1975; Irwin has gone missing.
Antarctica: Vinson Massif
Discovered in 1935 by American explorer Lincoln Ellsworth, Vinson Massif is the highest mountain in Antarctica. Located in the Country Range of the Ellsworth Mountains in the western part of the continent, the peak overlooks the Ronne Ice Shelf. It rises to an altitude of 16,050 feet (4,892 meters) above sea level. Vinson is named after Carl Vinson, an American congressman who championed the exploration of Antarctica. The summit was first reached in 1966 by an American expedition supported by the American Alpine Club and the National Science Foundation.
Australia: Mount Kosciuszko
The highest peak in Australia itself is Mount Kosciuszko, located 240 miles (390 km) southwest of Sydney in the snowy mountains of the Australian Alps in south-eastern New South Wales. Located in Kosciuszko National Park, it rises to an elevation of 7,310 feet (2,228 meters). Nearby are Mounts Townsend, Twinme, North Ramshead and Carruthers, which all have an elevation of 7,000 feet (2,130 metres). The first European to climb Mount Kosciuszko was Polish explorer and geologist Paul Strzelecki, who made the ascent in 1840 and named the mountain in honor of Polish patriot and hero of the American Revolution, Tadeusz Kosciuszko.
Australia/Oceania: Jaya Peak (Mount Carstenz)
If the wider net is omitted to include Oceania, the tallest mountain is Jaya Peak (also known as Mount Carstens), found in the Sudirman Range in the west-central highlands of the island of New Guinea. Rising to an elevation of 16,024 feet (4,884 meters), it is the highest island peak in the world. The snowfield of Jaya Peak was reached by Dutch explorer Hendrik A. Lorenz in 1909, but another 53 years passed before its summit was climbed in 1962 by an expedition led by Austrian explorer and writer Heinrich Harrer, author of Seven Years in Tibet ( 1953).
They differ greatly in their height. The most is, which rises 2 kilometers above sea level. This is a consequence of the presence of an ice sheet, whose thickness can reach 4,800 meters. However, the highest point on Earth is not located in Antarctica. What mountains can be considered the highest on each continent of the planet?
All 100 of the highest mountains are in Eurasia, and the first TOP 36 are in only two mountain systems, the Himalayas and the Karakoram. But the highest point of both Eurasia and our entire planet is Everest, also known as Chomolunga (27°59′17″N 86°55′31″E). It rises 8,848 meters above sea level. People have repeatedly tried to conquer it, but it was only possible in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzig Norgay. Since then, this mountain has become almost the most popular in world mountaineering. Today, there are even hours-long traffic jams of people wanting to go up there. Travel companies will be happy to take on trips even people with zero mountaineering experience. However, this is extremely dangerous - every year several people die at the top, whose bodies simply cannot cope with the harsh conditions at altitude.
The highest point is Aconcagua(32°39′11″ S 70°00′44″ W). This mountain belongs to the Andes system and is located in Argentina, near the border with Chile. Its height is 6960 meters - this is the highest point on Earth outside of Asia. It also has no equal in the Southern and Western Hemispheres. Matthias Zurbriggen managed to climb it for the first time in 1897.
The highest mountain is called Denali, although for a long time, until 2015, it bore the name of US President McKinley. On the map it can be found at coordinates 63°04′10″ N. w. and 151°00′26″ W. It is located in the state of Alaska. It is noteworthy that this peak was once the highest point in Russia while Alaska was part of it. Its height reaches 6190 meters. The first time a person managed to conquer it was in 1913; this was done by a team of 4 people led by Hudson Stack.
The highest point is Mount Kilimanjaro(3°04′00″ S 37°21′33″ E), reaching 5895 meters. It is located in Tanzania. It was conquered back in 1889. The top of the mountain is one of the few places in Africa where you can see snow all year round.
The highest point of the highest continent, Antarctica, is called Vinson Peak(78°31′31″ S and 85°37′01″ W). Its height is 4892 meters. The mountain was discovered only in 1957 during aerial reconnaissance. The first person climbed Vinson Peak only in 1966, by that time all the other highest peaks of the continents had been conquered.
The main peak of Australia is Mount Kosciuszko, located in the southeast of the continent. It was discovered in 1840, and then the Pole Strzelecki conquered it. It is interesting that at first he gave this name to another nearby mountain, which he considered the highest in the world, but the scientist was mistaken. When the error was discovered, local authorities swapped the names of the two peaks.
Climbers have a special program called “Seven Summits”. Her goal is to conquer all the highest points of the continents, as well as Elbrus (5642 meters), which is considered the highest point in Europe. The first person to complete it was Richard Bass, who in 1983 conquered all the peaks except Everest, and in 1985 he also conquered Chomolunga.
« What made both man and animal strive to these barren heights? Dr. James Chapin, who spent many years studying the birds of the Congo, once found the skeleton of the Hamlin's monkey on the top of Karisimbi, many miles from its native forests. And recently I read an interesting article about a pack of hyena dogs that were seen in the Kilimanjaro glaciers, at an altitude of almost twenty thousand feet. Perhaps man is not the only creature in this world who climbs a mountain just because it stands in front of him».
© George Schiller. Year under the sign of the gorilla.
Climbing a mountain is a desire that everyone understands. Even when photographing landscapes, we often try to find a higher vantage point, and there is little that compares to the feeling of looking out over the world from the top after a hard climb. It's no surprise that mountain hiking and high-altitude mountaineering continue to gain popularity.
Advances in technology, equipment and increased knowledge about hypoxia are gradually making mountaineering more accessible. Every year more and more people decide to challenge themselves and test their strength. Even on Everest, despite the enormous cost of the expedition (from 4 to 5 million rubles), the number of climbers is constantly growing. Nepalese authorities are already deciding how to reduce the number of people on the world's highest peak for safety.
In addition to conquering the highest point on the planet, the idea of climbing all the highest points of the continents - Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa, Australia and Antarctica - has gained great popularity. Climbers who were able to complete this program are unofficially united in "7 Peaks Club".
The classic set of the highest mountains on Earth includes Everest (8848 m), Aconcagua (6961 m), Denali (formerly McKinley, 6194 m), Kilimanjaro (5894 m), Elbrus (5642 m), Vinson Massif (4892 m) ) and Jaya Peak (formerly Carstens Pyramid, 4884 m). However, there is an alternative option where Jaya is replaced by Mount Kosciuszko (2228 m) in Australia. The discrepancies are due to the fact that Kosciuszko is the highest point of Australia, and therefore the entire continent. However, if we take into account Oceania, which lies on the same tectonic plate, then the highest point is Jaya. Most often, to avoid discrepancies, climbers conquer both of these mountains, since the Kosciuszko peak is very accessible in height.
The founder of the idea of the Seven Summits program is considered to be the American William Hackett (1918-1999), who in the 40-50s. last century, conquered the highest mountains in five parts of the world - Denali (1947), Aconcagua (1949), Kilimanjaro (1950), Kosciuszko (1956) and Mont Blanc (1956), which at that time was considered the highest point in Europe.
Hackett grew up in Portland, Oregon, and became interested in the mountains at age 14. During World War II he spent more than three years in the Mountain Division. The ascent of Denali in 1947 was part of Operation White Tower for the US Army and had two goals: to obtain photographs of snow at high altitude and test the capabilities of photographic equipment and to conduct a scientific test on the amount of radiation in order to begin geological work on the area in the future.
The second famous climber was the Japanese Naomi Uemura (1941-1984). He managed to climb to the top of Mont Blanc (1966), Kilimanjaro (1966), Akongaua (1968), Everest (1970) and Denali (1970). While preparing for an expedition to Antarctica in 1984, Uemura decided to repeat the ascent of Denali and went missing.
The breakthrough in 1978 was made by the famous Italian climber Reinhold Messner, who also conquered all 14 eight-thousanders in the world. He began the program with Jaya Peak in 1971 and climbed Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro and Everest before 1978, thus summiting six of the seven peaks. It was Messner who called Elbrus the highest point in Europe and proposed the option of seven peaks with Jaya Peak. Already in the 80s, Messner climbed Kosciuszko and Vinson Massif. Due to a break in the program, the climber became only the fifth person to visit the highest points of the planet.
The first real conqueror of the 7 peaks in 1983-1985 was the American Richard Bass. The amateur climber climbed Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson and Kosciuszko in just 1983, and Everest in 1985.
Patrick Morrow, a Canadian mountaineer, was the first to plan an ascent of 8 peaks, including both Jaya and Kosciuszko, and completed the program in 9 years.
The first woman to repeat his success in 1992 was Junko Tabei, a Japanese climber who was also the first woman in the world to climb Everest in 1975.
After understanding the possibility of such a program, climbers began to compete in the speed of mastering all peaks. In 1990, Rob Hall and Gary Ball were able to do this in seven months.
In 2006, Indian climber Maili Mastan Babu spent 172 days climbing 7 peaks. In 2008, Dane Henrik Christiansen broke his record and improved the result to 136 days. In 2010, Vernon Texas managed to reduce the time to 134 days. The latest achievement to date belongs to Steve Plain, who secured the record at 117 days in 2018.
The youngest 8 summit climber in 2011 was American Jordan Romero, who was only 15 years old at the end of the program.
Now the 7 peaks program with Jaya or Kosciuszko peak has been completed by 416 people. The complete set with 8 peaks was collected by 348 people.
December 11 is International Mountain Day. The holiday was established by decision of the 57th UN General Assembly in January 2003.
Daria Solovyova
As you know, there are 6 continents on planet Earth, each of them has its own highest point. 7 peaks of the world- these are the peaks of six continents, the largest of them, Eurasia, has two peaks: Europe and Asia.
We offer you a list of seven peaks in ascending height. The easiest mountains to climb, which do not require special mountaineering training: Kosciuszko and Kilimanjaro.
The “7 Summits of the World” program appeared thanks to the American Dick Bass: in 1981, together with Frank Wells, he embarked on an ambitious project, deciding to conquer the highest points of the continents. Starting from Mount McKinley, Bass had summited all 7 peaks by 1985. Now the “7 Peaks Club” unites thousands of followers around the world.
In addition to the seven peaks of the world, there are the highest mountain peaks on the planet, exceeding 8000 meters above sea level. In total, there are 14 eight-thousand-meter mountains on Earth, all of them are located in Central Asia. In addition to Everest, these include: Chogori, Annapurna, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and others.
It is difficult even for experienced professional climbers to get the “crown of the earth,” that is, to conquer all the available eight-thousanders; the “seven peaks of the world” program is more accessible.
7 peaks: list
There are two versions of the Seven Summits of the World program, the duality being associated with the continent of Australia. Its highest point is Kosciuszko Peak, but in New Guinea, which formally belongs to Oceania, there is a higher point - the Carstens Pyramid or otherwise Mount Jaya. Based on the fact that Australia and Oceania are one part of the world, the ascent should be made to Mount Jaya. Climbers choose the most convenient option for them or conquer two points at once.
There are also sometimes discussions about Elbrus: should we consider this peak located in Europe or Asia? Those who adhere to the second version consider Mont Blanc, located in the Western Alps, to be the highest peak in Europe. Thus, excluding Elbrus from the program of 7 peaks of the world, since the highest peak in Asia is Everest (Chomolungma).
Kosciuszko
Part of the world: Australia
Mountain system: Australian Alps
2228 meters
First ascent: in 1840
The first conquerors: Pavel Edmund Strzelecki
The lowest of the world's seven peaks is Mount Kosciuszko, which rises in the Kosciuszko National Park in Australia. Polish traveler Edmund Strzelecki was the first to climb the mountain in 1840. He also came up with the idea for the name of the peak: in honor of the national hero of Poland Tadeusz Kosciuszko (1746 - 1817).
Stone pedestal on Kosciuszko Peak Climbing Kosciuszko is accessible to unprepared tourists; this is facilitated by the low altitude and convenient trail - it is impossible to get lost here. A walk to Kosciuszko can be combined with the second highest peak in Australia - Townsend (2209 meters).
Jaya or
Part of the world: Australia and Oceania
Mountain system: Maoke
Summit height above sea level: 4884 meters
First ascent: 1962
The first conquerors: Austrian climbers B. Huizinga, R. Kippax, F. Temple under the leadership of Heinrich Harrer.
Mount Puncak-Jai or simply Jaya (Victory), another name is the Carstens Pyramid, located on the island of New Guinea in Oceania. It was discovered for Europeans by Jan Carstens in 1623, for which it received its name.
The Carstens Pyramid is considered technically quite difficult to climb; you will need climbing equipment. There are two options for climbing Mount Jaya: by helicopter to the base camp, or on foot through the jungle. The first method is faster and safer.
Part of the world: Antarctica
Mountain system: Elsworth
Height above sea level: 4892 meters
The first conquerors: a group of 10 American climbers led by Nicholas Clinch
Vinson Massif is the highest point of the coldest continent in the world, Antarctica. Due to the many peaks of approximately the same height, identifying the peak was not easy at first. The massif, as well as the Ellsworth Mountains, first became known in 1935, when Lincoln Ellsworth saw them from above during a flight. The name is associated with the name of Carl Vinson, an American congressman, on the initiative and with the help of whom Antarctica was actively explored.
The first full ascent was made in December 1966 by American climbers under the leadership of N. Clinch. Conquering heights is complicated primarily by weather conditions and territorial remoteness.
Part of the world: Europe
Mountain system: Caucasus Mountains
Height above sea level: 5,642 m.
First ascent: in 1868 to the eastern peak, in 1874 to the western.
The first conquerors: Kabardian Killar Khashirov (eastern peak), Englishmen F. Gardiner, F. Grove, G. Walker and J. Knubel (western peak)
Mount Elbrus is the highest peak in Russia and Europe, located in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. It is of volcanic origin. Elbrus is rightfully considered one of the seven wonders of the world of Russia. There are many variants of the names of the mountain in different languages: Jin-padishah - “king of mountain spirits”, Oshkhamakho - “mountain of happiness”, Mingi-Tau - “eternal mountain”, etc.
The mountain has two peaks, the highest of which is the western one - 5642 meters, the eastern one is slightly lower - 5621 meters. Elbrus is known for more than 23 glaciers, which feed the large rivers Kuban, Baksan and Malka. From the highest point of Elbrus there is a view of the Black and Caspian Seas.
An expedition of the Russian Academy of Sciences under the leadership of General G. A. Emmanuel first attempted to conquer Elbrus in the middle of the 19th century, but only the guide K. Khashirov accomplished the ascent.
During the Great Patriotic War, the German mountain infantry division “Edelweiss”, under the leadership of Captain Heinz Groth, climbed Elbrus. On August 21, 1942, Nazi flags were hoisted on its tops. In February 1943, the fascist flags were removed by the Red Army and Soviet banners were installed. The ascent was carried out in frosty and snowy conditions.
The slopes of the mountain are gentle, but the significant height requires some preparation. At the moment, thanks to the developed infrastructure, Elbrus and the Elbrus region attract not only professional climbers (speed races, extreme climbs), but also winter sports enthusiasts.
Part of the world: Africa
Mountain system: free-standing mountain
Summit height above sea level: 5895 meters
First ascent: in 1889
The first conquerors: German Hans Mayer and Austrian Ludwig Purtscheler
On the territory of Tazania, on the border with Kenya, rises the picturesque Mount Kilimanjaro, which is a dormant volcano. Its highest peak, Uhuru, is the highest point in Africa, the Roof of Africa, as it is often called, and is included in the 7 Summits program.
Uhuru Peak The name "Kilimanjaro" can be translated from the local language as "sparkling mountain". At the beginning of the 20th century, Kilimanjaro was called Kaiser Wilhelm's Summit. Kilimanjaro's cap is always covered with glaciers and snow.
Kilimanjaro is suitable for climbing even for inexperienced travelers without mountaineering training and equipment. The easiest route is Lemosho, its duration is 5-8 days, which allows you to smoothly acclimatize and more easily survive altitude sickness. For the climb you will need warm clothes and shoes.
Denali (old name of McKinley)
Part of the world: North America
Height peaks above sea level: 6190 meters
Mountain system: Alaska Range
The first conquerors: Hudson Stack
One of the seven highest peaks in the world is Mount Denali (McKinley). Initially it belonged to the territory of Russia and was called Bolshaya. At the end of the 19th century it was renamed McKinley (in honor of the American president). The modern name is Denali (which translates as “Great”).
For the first time, Dr. Frederick Cook tried to conquer the peak at the beginning of the 20th century: an unsuccessful climb did not stop the traveler, and after 3 years the idea was crowned with success. However, the officially recognized record is considered to be the expedition of Hudson Stack. In the 21st century, the mountain was conquered by Matvey Shparo (with a group of climbers with disabilities), Kilian Jornet Burgada (the fastest climb), and Lonnie Dupre (solo climb). Climbing Denali is recommended during the summer months.
Mount Aconcagua
Part of the world: South America
Mountain system: Andes
Height above sea level: 6960.8 meters
First conqueror: Matthias Zurbriggen
Aconcagua is the highest point of North and South America, located in Argentina, Aconcagua National Park, the nearest city is Mendoza. The name of Mount Aconcagua translates as “snow mountain”; it was once an active volcano.
The peculiarity of Aconcagua is low atmospheric pressure at the top, but even physically unprepared people can conquer its northern slope (the remaining slopes are dangerous due to strong winds and steep climbs). home
Among the record ascents are:
- the rise of 87-year-old Scott Lewis;
- the fastest ascent among men (about 12 hours) is Karl Egloff, among women (12.5 hours) - Fernanda Maciel.
Part of the world: Asia
Mountain system: Himalayas
Summit height above sea level: 8848 meters
The first conquerors: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay
Mount Everest or Chomolungma is the highest point on Earth. Every climber dreams of conquering Everest, but not everyone manages to do it. Located in Asia, the absolute record holder for height, Everest, is the highest point on the planet and the oldest geological formation (60 million years old). From Tibetan the name of Mount Chomolungma is translated as “holy mother of the Universe.” Discovered in the mid-19th century, the peak was originally called Peak XV, and then received the name Everest after the surveyor George Everest.
Despite the considerable cost, climbing the slopes of the mountain is very popular among climbers. The notoriety of the “cemetery” of unlucky summit conquerors (after the mark of 6500 meters the “death zone” begins) does not frighten travelers: the corpses of climbers frozen into the slopes still serve as landmarks for groups. Obstacles such as strong winds, pressure changes and frost can only be overcome by experienced athletes.
The mountain was conquered by pioneer climbers Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary (1953). It is on Everest that many records are set, for example, children (13-year-old Jordan Romero), elderly people in their ninth decade (Miuro Yuchiro) have been here. The record holder for the number of ascents of Everest is Nepalese Kami Sherpa (24 times since 1994).
Among the female conquerors of Chomolungma, we should remember the Japanese Janko Tabei (climbing in 1975). She became the first woman in the world to climb Everest. She is the first woman to conquer all seven peaks of the world. Lhakpa Sherpa is a Nepali who climbed Everest 9 times. Indian climber Malavat Purna became the youngest athlete to climb Everest. At the time of the climb she was 13 years and 11 months old.