The highest point is Everest. Where is Everest? Mount Chomolungma: history of the name

Nepal is blessed with unusual sights. Not only is the country known as the birthplace of Buddha; Most of the highest peaks in the world are located here, 8 of the 14 “eight-thousanders”. These include the tallest mountain on the planet - Everest.

She is also known as “Chomolungma”: translated from Tibetan as “Divine Mother of Life”. The international name “Everest” was given to the mountain in honor of the head of the geodetic survey of British India, Sir George Everest, simply because it was the employees of this institution who first measured the height of Chomolungma in 1852, proving that its Peak XV is the highest in the region and, probably, in the whole world .

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Over all these years of climbing Everest, more than 200 people died, and only a few bodies were lowered from the top. The rest are buried by meters of snow or exposed to the winds and “meet” other climbers on the way to the top. These are the laws of Everest: the higher the altitude, the less humanity remains in people. It happened more than once that a rising group could help those in trouble, but to provide help means ending the campaign, giving up a dream. Many passed by, and when they walked back, help was no longer needed.


Vladimir Vysotsky has a song “ Better than the mountains there can only be mountains,” and that’s true. The only exception is Chomolungma. What does a climber experience when he has conquered the main peak in his life? Joy or disappointment that the main goal has been achieved, and there will be “smaller” mountains in the future?!

Initially, the peak was not considered the highest in the world; according to the results of the first topographic survey (1823-1843), it was included in the classifier as peak “XV” (Dhualagiri was in the lead on this list). And only after the second topographic survey (1845-1850) everything fell into place.

IN 1921 year, the first expedition to Chomolungma with the aim of reconnaissance of the ascent route from the north, from Tibet. Based on reconnaissance data, the British, under the leadership of Mallory, stormed the peak in 1922, but monsoon, snowfall and lack of experience in high-altitude climbing prevented them from making the ascent.

IN 1924 year - the third expedition to Chomolungma. The group spent the night at an altitude of 8125 m, the next day one of the participants (Norton) reached an altitude of 8527 m, but was forced to return. A few days later, a second attempt was made to storm the north-eastern ridge (the Mallory, Irvine team using oxygen cylinders), the climbers did not return, there is still an opinion that they could have been on the top of Chomolungma.

Subsequent pre-war expeditions to the area did not bring new results.

IN 1952 year - a Swiss expedition set out to storm Everest from the south. Twice in 1952, Lambert and Norgay Tenzing climbed above 8,000 meters, but on both occasions the weather forced them to turn around.

IN 1953 year - the English expedition under the leadership of Colonel Hunt went to Everest (Qomolungma), they were also joined by New Zealand climbers, one of whom was E. Hillary, they were supposed to help the British cross the Khumbu Icefall, Sherpa Norgay Tenzing was included in the assault group . There is a legend that the conquest of Everest was prepared as a gift for Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her coronation.

On May 27, the first two - the Englishmen Evans and Bourdillon reached southern summit, where they left oxygen and a tent for the next assault group.

A May 29, 1953 Sherpa Norgay Tenzing and New Zealander Edmund Hillary reached the summit.

May 8, 1978 years, R. Messner and P. Habeler accomplished what was considered impossible - the first ascent of Everest without oxygen. Messner described his feelings this way: “In a state of spiritual abstraction, I no longer belonged to myself, to my vision. I am nothing more than a lonely panting lung, floating above the mists and peaks.”

The first ascent of Soviet climbers to the most high peak The land took place in May 1982. A Soviet team of 9 people climbed to the top of Everest along a very difficult, previously unclimbed route along the southwest face.

In Nepal there lives a man who has conquered the “top of the world” 21 times, and at the very top, which was once the seabed, amazing spiders live. The mountain is still growing, it has not even two, but four official names and is not, by the way, the highest in the world.

(Total 10 photos)

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1. Himalayan spiders

Even high in the mountains, where there is barely enough oxygen to breathe, we cannot hide from spiders. Euophrys omnisuperstes, better known as the Himalayan jumping spider, hides in the nooks and crannies of Everest, making it one of the highest living creatures on Earth. Climbers found them at an altitude of 6700 meters. These spiders are able to feed on almost anything that can fly so high. With the exception of some species of birds, these are the only living creatures that permanently live at such an altitude. True, in 1924, during the British expedition to Everest, a previously unknown species of grasshoppers was found here - now they are on display in the British Museum of Natural History.

2. Record for climbing Everest - 21 times

Appa Tenzing, also known as Appa Sherpa, was able to reach the top of the world 21 times. His first ascent took place in May 1990, after three earlier unsuccessful attempts. Apparently, having learned all the secrets of climbing, Appa continued to conquer Everest every year - from 1990 to 2011. He repeatedly emphasized that the effects of global warming are clearly visible in the mountains. Appa is concerned about melting snow and ice, making climbing the mountain more difficult, and about the safety of his people after his home village was flooded by a melting glacier. Appa made his last four ascents of Everest as part of environmental expeditions.

Conquering Everest is not as romantic as it might seem at first glance. Thanks to the significant development of the tourism industry, there has been a significant increase in the number of climbs to the world's highest mountain. So, in 1983, only 8 people reached the top, and in 2012, 234 people got there in just one day. It is not surprising that when conquering Everest, traffic jams and even fights occur. So, in 2013, climbers Ueli Steck, Simon Moreau and Jonathan Griffith got into a fight with the Sherpas after the latter asked them to stop climbing. Sherpas accused the climbers of causing an avalanche. An argument began, which on emotions escalated into a brutal fight using stones. Things got to the point of death threats, but the climbers returned to base camp, where the rest of their “colleagues” took their side. Even the Nepalese army had to intervene in the incident - then both sides of the conflict signed an agreement on its peaceful settlement.

4. 450 million years of history

Although Himalayan mountains formed about 60 million years ago, their history begins much earlier. 450 million years ago, limestone and rocks were part of sedimentary layers that lay below sea level. Over time, the rocks on the ocean floor gathered together and began to move upward at a rate of 11 centimeters per year. Fossils of sea creatures can now be found at the top of Everest. They were first discovered in 1924 by guide Noel Odell - thus proving that the summit of Everest was once under water. The first rock samples from the world peak were brought back by Swiss climbers in 1956 and by a team from America in 1963.

5. Height Controversy

What is the exact height of Everest? It depends on which country you are on. China stated that it is 8844 meters, while Nepal claims 8848 meters. This dispute arose because China believes that the height should only be equal to the height of the rock, excluding meters of frozen snow from the total. Whether this is true or not remains a double-edged sword, but the international community still includes snow in the height of the mountain. China and Nepal reached an agreement in 2010, finally establishing the official height of 8,848 meters.

6. Everest is still growing

According to the latest measurements, both China and Nepal may be wrong about the height. In 1994, a research team discovered that Everest continues to grow at 4 millimeters per year. The Indian subcontinent was originally an independent piece of land that collided with Asia to form the Himalayas. But the continental plates are still moving, and the heights of the mountains are rising. American researchers in 1999 installed special equipment that allows them to monitor its changes. Their more accurate measurements could result in the mountain's official height being changed to 8,850 meters. Meanwhile, other tectonic activity causes Everest to shrink, but the results combine to still keep it growing.

7. Everest has several names

Most of us know the mountain under the names Everest and Chomolungma. Last title came from Tibet, which translated means “Divine (qomo) mother (ma) of life (lung).” But these are not the only names by which the mountain is known. So, in Nepal it is called Sagarmatha (“Forehead in the Sky”), and it itself is part of the Nepalese Sagarmatha National Park. The mountain owes its name to Everest to the British surveyor Andrew Waugh, who was unable to find a single generally accepted name even after carefully studying all the maps of the surrounding area and communicating with its inhabitants. Andrew decided to name the mountain in honor of the geographer who worked in India, George Everest, the leader of the British team that first explored the Himalayas. Everest himself refused such an honor, but nevertheless, British representatives in 1865 changed the name of the mountain. Previously, it was simply called the 15th pick.

8. Traffic jams of people

Climbing Everest will cost anyone several thousand dollars, but the number of those eager to conquer the peak is steadily growing. In 2012, German climber Ralf Dujmowitz took a photo of hundreds of people queuing to climb. By the way, because bad weather and a long line, Ralph had to turn back at one of the passes called South Col. And on May 19, 2012, those who wanted to climb to the top of the mountain were forced to stand in line for about two hours - 234 people climbed Everest in one day. However, on the same day, four people died during the ascent, which raised some concerns about the safety of conquering the summit, and specialists from Nepal installed railings that help combat congestion. The issue of installing a staircase at the top is currently being discussed.

There are many photographs showing the beauty of Everest from all possible angles, but there are also reverse side medals: photographs of the huge amount of garbage left behind by climbers. According to some estimates, there are about 50 tons of waste of various origins on Everest, and their amount grows in proportion to the number of visits. On the slopes of the mountain you can see used oxygen cylinders, climbing equipment and other waste from climbers. In addition, the mountain is “decorated” by the bodies of dead climbers - due to difficulties in transporting them, victims of unfortunate circumstances remain lying on the slopes. Some of them serve as landmarks for other climbers. Thus, Tsewanga Palzhora, who died in 1996, “marks” an altitude of 8500 meters and even received the nickname “Green Shoes” - for his noticeable bright green shoes. Since 2008, a special environmental expedition (Eco Everest Expidition) climbs the mountain every year, the purpose of which is to combat pollution of Everest. On at the moment Thanks to this expedition, more than 13 tons of waste were collected. In 2014, the Nepalese government introduced a new rule according to which each climber must bring at least 8 kilograms of waste with him when descending the mountain - otherwise the $4,000 deposit will be lost. There is also creative project Everest 8848: Its artists turned 8 tons of waste into 75 works of art, even using the remains of broken tents and beer cans. In this way they are trying to draw attention to the pollution of the mountain.

10. Everest - not the best high mountain on Earth

Despite the assigned title, in fact Everest is not the most high mountain in the world. Mauna Kea, an inactive volcano in Hawaii, rises “only” 4,205 meters above sea level, but another 6,000 meters of its base are hidden under water. When measured from the ocean floor, its height is 10,203 meters, which is almost one and a half kilometers more than Everest.

Everest is also not the most “convex” point on the planet. The extinct volcano Chimborazo in Ecuador reaches an altitude of 6267 meters above sea level, but is located only one degree from the equator. Since our planet is slightly thicker in the center, the sea level in Ecuador is located further from the center of the Earth than in Nepal, and it turns out that Chimborazo is the highest point on Earth in terms of stereometry.

The highest mountain on our planet, Everest, is called differently - Chomolungma and Sagarmatha. It is located among the eternal snows of the Himalayas, on the border of Nepal and Tibet. Its peak attracts tens of thousands of climbers and ordinary extreme travelers. And many, of course, are interested how many km is Mount Everest in height.

How many kilometers is Mount Everest amounts to

This mountain received its name in 1865. At that time, the Englishman George Everest served as the chief surveyor of India. He made the greatest contribution to the study of Mt.

Exactly, how many km is Everest is, it was named in 1852, 8.8 kilometers or 8848 meters. The neighboring mountains are even quite high - about eight kilometers each, but it was D Chomolungma that turned out to be the highest. The author of the exact height is Andrew Waugh, student and successor of George Everest.

One more thing. The highest on the planet were formed about twenty million years ago due to the fact that the seabed rose. The process of layering of rocks does not stop today; every year Everest, along with all the Himalayas, rises by five centimeters. So perhaps when our descendants ask, how many km is Mount Everest, they will hear a completely different answer.

Some interesting facts about Chomolungma

You can find a lot about this amazing beautiful mountain interesting information on the Internet. Here are some of them:

  • About five thousand people climb Everest every year;
  • the ascent of one person costs about 50 thousand dollars;
  • having climbed to the peak of a mountain, a climber loses from ten to twenty kilograms;
  • The first woman to conquer Everest was the Japanese woman Junko Tabei (climbed the mountain in 1976).

The most difficult section on this mountain is the last three hundred meters. This section is called the longest mile on the planet. Here climbers do not have the opportunity to protect each other, since this area has a very steep slope covered with snow.

If you are interested in the information, how many km is Mount Everest, you might also be curious to know that at the highest point of this mountain the wind speed is about two hundred kilometers per hour, and the air temperature is about 60 degrees below zero. This mountain is also called the mountain of death. About two hundred people died while climbing the peak of Everest. Most often, people died due to extreme cold, lack of oxygen, avalanches, heart problems, and so on.

Updated: June 21, 2016 by: Punisher

It is difficult to imagine that the words “Qomolungma”, “Everest”, “Peak XV”, “Sagarmatha” are the names of the same mountain, the highest point on the planet. Today, the height of Everest is 8848 meters, and this is far from the final figure - according to scientists, the peak increases by another 5 mm every year.

Everest height. Description of the object and general information

On the planet rushes up among the eternal snows of the Himalayan mountain range on the border of two states: China and Nepal. However, it is generally accepted that the peak itself is located on the territory of the Middle Kingdom.

One of the names - “Chomolungma” - translated from Tibetan sounds very beautiful “Mother of the Wind” or, according to some other sources, “Mother of the vital force of the earth”. The Nepalese are accustomed to calling her “Sagarmatha”, which means “Mother of the Gods”.

The name “Everest,” which is more familiar to us, was proposed in 1856 by the Englishman Andrew Waugh, who at that time was the successor of D. Everest, the head of the geodetic department in British India. Before that, in Europe the mountain was called “Peak XV”.

It is noteworthy that it is unlikely that Everest will be immediately visible from the Nepalese side - it is obscured from the outside world by the Nuptse and Lhotse mountains, whose heights are no less impressive and are 7879 m and 8516 m, respectively.

The most courageous and resilient adventurers climb to the peak of Kala Patthar or Gokyo Ri to admire the top of the world and take breathtaking photos.

Everest height. Climbing history

This mountain has attracted and continues to attract climbers from all over the world. Without exaggeration, we can say that Everest has become a place of “pilgrimage” for climbers. Every year hundreds of climbers come here, who strive, if not to visit the peak, then at least to see the legendary mountain with their own eyes.

Everest is considered difficult to climb: the peak has a pyramidal shape with a steeper slope on the south side. At an altitude of 5 thousand meters, the glaciers end, and on the steep slopes of the mountain the snow does not linger at all.

The mountain was first conquered at the end of May 1953. The team consisted of thirty people who used - without them it was impossible. Almost 30 years later, Soviet climbers climbed the southeastern wall. Ukrainian athletes M. Turkevich and S. Bershov especially distinguished themselves - they made the first night ascent in history.

To date, according to the latest statistics, about 3,000 climbers from all over the planet have already visited Everest. Unfortunately, the mountain never let go of about 200 athletes - they died: some on the ascent, some on the descent from lack of oxygen, frostbite or heart failure, some fell or were caught in an avalanche.

This once again proves the fact that on such routes, as a rule, the decisive role is not played by expensive and modern equipment, but accompanying luck, which can protect the traveler from falls and hurricanes that destroy everything in their path.

Everest height. How realistic is it to be in the vicinity of a great mountain?

Year after year, the number of untouched places like the Himalayas on the planet does not increase at all. Everyone who has recovered to conquer the peak will certainly find himself among those unspoiled by civilization and scientific progress pristine places.

Everest is a height for those who strive to conquer the insurmountable. But, as they say, nothing is impossible in this world, the main thing is to want it. For many years, the gigantic mountain has amazed with its grandeur, impressed with its formidability and attracted millions of adventurers. Although not everyone goes to the very top. Why do they come to Everest? Photos taken at the foot or in the foothills and the atmosphere itself are unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. In addition, international rallies are held here every year, base camps and dating evenings are held.

Those who absolutely want to see the earth from the highest point on the planet need to hire a guide or join a special group. However, I would like to immediately warn you that this pleasure is not cheap - the cost of the climb will cost 45-60 thousand dollars.

Routes

Routes: 10 - classic

Everest(named after Sir George Everest) or Chomolungma(from Tibetan "Divine") or Sagarmatha(from Nepali "Mother of the Gods"). There was also a name Chomo-Kankar, which translated from Tibetan meant "mother is the queen of snowy whiteness".

For a long time (until 1903) the peak was called Gaurizankar, due to the fact that the traveler G. Schlagintveit put forward the version that the peaks of Everest and Gaurizankar are identical.

Everest is shaped like a pyramid; the southern slope is steeper. Glaciers flow down from the massif in all directions, ending at an altitude of about 5 thousand m. On the southern slope and edges of the pyramid, snow and firn are not retained, as a result of which they are exposed.

Everest and Lhotse will be connected by a four-kilometer bridge, in which there is a depression - the South Col (7986 m). The northern spur of the peak is called Lap-Chyi. In its short branch is the peak of Changtse (7538 m). Also in the area is one of the pearls of the Himalayas - the Pumori peak (7145 m).

The glaciation in the area is quite large. WITH northern slopes the grandiose Rongbuk glacier, highly branched in its upper reaches, descends towards the Tibetan Plateau. The Kanchung glacier descends to the east from Chomolungma. To the southwest of the massif there is an extensive glacial cirque known as the Western Cirque. It is the main feeding basin of the Khumbu Glacier.

The slopes of Qomolangma break off to the north and northwest with steep walls to the headwaters of the Rongbuk glacier, and to the east, to the headwaters of the Kanchung glacier, by a steep stepped rock wall. There are powerful ice-firn accumulations on the steps, so ice collapses are frequent here. To the southwest, towards the Western Circus, the slopes of the massif are terminated by cliffs of average steepness of 55°. There are many ice-filled couloirs on these rocks.

Located in National Park Sagarmatha. Map

Geology

Geologically the massif is complex:

  • at its base granite,
  • in the higher part there are gneisses,
  • in the cover part with limestones.

Story

Initially, the peak was not considered the highest in the world; according to the results of the first topographic survey (1823-1843), it was included in the classifier as peak “XV” (Dhualagiri was in the lead on this list). And only after the second topographic survey (1845-1850) everything fell into place.

IN 1921 year, the first expedition to Chomolungma with the aim of reconnaissance of the ascent route from the north, from Tibet. Based on reconnaissance data, the British, under the leadership of Mallory, stormed the peak in 1922, but monsoon, snowfall and lack of experience in high-altitude climbing prevented them from making the ascent.

IN 1924 year - the third expedition to Chomolungma. The group spent the night at an altitude of 8125 m, the next day one of the participants (Norton) reached an altitude of 8527 m, but was forced to return. A few days later, a second attempt was made to storm the north-eastern ridge (the Mallory, Irvine team using oxygen cylinders), the climbers did not return, there is still an opinion that they could have been on the top of Chomolungma.

Subsequent pre-war expeditions to the area did not bring new results.

IN 1952 year - a Swiss expedition set out to storm Everest from the south. Twice in 1952, Lambert and Norgay Tenzing climbed above 8,000 meters, but on both occasions the weather forced them to turn around.

IN 1953 year - an English expedition led by Colonel Hunt set off for Everest (Qomolungma), they were also joined by New Zealand climbers, one of whom was E. Hillary, they were supposed to help the British cross the Khumbu Icefall, Sherpa Norgay Tenzing was included in the assault group . There is a legend that the conquest of Everest was prepared as a gift for Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her coronation.

On May 27, the first pair - the British Evans and Bourdillon - reached the southern peak, where they left oxygen and a tent for the next assault group.

The first ascent of Soviet climbers to the highest peak on Earth took place in May 1982. A Soviet team of 9 people climbed to the top of Everest along a very difficult, previously unclimbed route along the southwest face.