On which continents are the most famous mountains located? The highest peaks of the world on all continents. Where is Mount McKinley

Previously, the site talked about. However, all these mountains are located in one part of the world - Asia, namely in two neighboring mountain systems, the Himalayas and Karakoram, therefore it is customary to distinguish 7 highest mountain peaks in the world, one for each part of the world. Climbers who have conquered all these mountains are members of the honorable Seven Summits Club.
There are 2 main lists of the seven peaks of the world. More difficult to climb is the list compiled by Italian climber Reinhold Messner. In this list, in addition to Asia, Europe, South and North America, Africa, Antarctica, not Australia, but Australasia appears as a part of the world, i.e. a region that includes Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and their 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 American mountaineer Richard Bass is more traditional from the point of view of Russian geography; it includes Australia rather than Australasia as a part of the world.
Thus, the highest peaks in the world become not seven, but eight. In some interpretations there are even nine of them, because Geographers still disagree 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.

The highest mountain peak in Asia - Chomolungma in the Himalaya mountain system, also known as Everest. Chomolungma in Tibetan means “mistress of the winds.” As for the English name Everest, it was given in honor of Sir George Everest, head of the geodetic survey of British India 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 Sherpa (Sherpas are 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 expedition.

The highest mountain peak in South America - Aconcagua in the Andes mountain system. 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 along the northern slope. When climbing, the influence of altitude is noticeable; the atmospheric pressure at the top is approximately 40% of the pressure at sea level. However, the use of oxygen tanks when climbing is not required. Even children can conquer this mountain with proper training: in 2013, 9-year-old American Tyler Armstrong did it, and in 2016, 12-year-old Romanian Dor Jeta Popescu did it.

The highest mountain peak in North America is Denali, part of 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 mountain has been returned to its traditional Indian name - Denali (this word means “great” in the language of the Athabascan 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. This peak was first conquered in 1906 by the American expedition of Frederick Cook.

The highest mountain peak in Africa is Mount Kilimanjaro. Height - 5895 meters. Located in Tanzania. Climbing Kilimanjaro is considered quite simple, but requires time for altitude acclimatization. Almost any healthy person can climb the main routes leading to it, without mountaineering training or special equipment.

The highest mountain peak in Europe and Russia is the Elbrus volcano. Height 5642 meters. It is located in 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 Georgy Emmanuel in 1829.

The highest peak in Antarctica is Vinson massif. 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 difficult 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 costs about 30 thousand dollars per person and include delivery to Antarctica from Chile.

The highest mountain peak in Australasia (the region that includes Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and the adjacent Pacific Islands) - Jaya(other name - Pyramid of Carstens). Height 4884 meters. Jaya is the highest mountain in the world located on an island. The first ascent of Jaya took place in 1962 - it was made by a group of four Austrian climbers led by Heinrich Harrer.

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 of ​​​​naming the peak: in honor of the national hero of Poland Tadeusz Kosciuszko (1746 - 1817).

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 name 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.

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 Nepalese 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.

The highest mountains in the world have different names, but at the same time they can be called briefly - Seven Peaks - a term that appeared in 1985 at the suggestion of Richard Bass (the man who was the first to conquer all seven peaks) and united the seven highest peaks on each continent. This association is not equal to the ranking of the highest mountains in the world, most of which are located in Nepal. This list is made up of mountains, each of which is the highest on its continent.

The highest peak in North America is located in Alaska and is the center of Denali National Park. The summit of Mount McKinley is 6194 meters away from the ground. This mountain is the third in the world in terms of topographic position, surpassed only by Everest and Aconcagua. And if you take into account the ratio of base to peak, then McKinley is the highest mountain in the world. The mountain got its name in honor of the American president, and the Indian name - Denali - means “great”.

Part of the Andes and with a height of 6959 meters, Mount Aconcagua is considered the highest peak in South America. The mountain is located in the Argentine province of Mendoza and is 15 km from the border with Chile. The name of the mountain comes from the Quechua words for “stone guardian.”

Europe – Mount Elbrus (Russia)

Elbrus is an inactive volcano with a height of 5642 meters, which is located in the Caucasus Mountains on the border of Russia and Georgia.

Elbrus has several other names, the most romantic of which, translated from Adyghe and Kabardino-Circassian, means “mountain that brings happiness.”

Asia – Mount Everest (Nepal/China)

The world's highest mountain, Everest, lies exactly on the border of Nepal and China. Everest is part of the Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world. This is where the highest mountains in the world are located. The height of Everest is 8848 meters. Everest attracts all climbers of the world and this is understandable. Technically, Everest's routes are not very difficult, but they come with the added challenges of altitude sickness, extreme winds and nasty weather conditions. The name Everest is English - in honor of the head of the geodetic service who first told the European community about this peak. The mountain has the Tibetan name Chomolungma (divine mother of life) and the equivalent Nepalese name Sagarmatha (mother of the gods).

The highest mountain on the African continent is an extinct volcano, the highest point of which is 5895 meters away from sea level. Moreover, Kilimanjaro has three peaks, two of which are extinct, and the third may well wake up. Kilimanjaro erupted 360,000 years ago, but volcanic activity at Kibo Peak (the highest of the three) was seen 200 years ago, suggesting the volcano is potentially active. In Swahili, the name Kilimanjaro means "sparkling mountain".

The highest point of Oceania is also the highest mountain in the world, which is located on an island. Puncak Jaya is located in the west of the island of New Guinea. The height of Mount Puncak Jaya, also called simply Jaya or Carstensz Pyramid, is 4884 meters. The name of the mountain means "mountain of victory" in Indonesian.

Antarctica - Mount Vinson

The seventh of the highest mountains in the world received its name in honor of Carl Vinson, an eminent American politician. The Vinson Mountains are part of the Ellsworth Mountains and have a high point 4,892 meters above sea level.

Seven mountains, each unique in its origin and beauty, attract climbers from all over the world. Climbers who have conquered the Seven Peaks are united in an informal community.

« 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 glaciers of Kilimanjaro, 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