The absolute height of Mount Everest. Which mountain is higher - Mauna Kea or Everest? Where is Mount Everest and what is its height?

The magnificent scenery of Mount Qomolungma is mesmerizing. The highest mountain is covered with glaciers, which give rise to many mountain rivers and streams, and its top is hidden in a fantastic haze. The nature around Everest is amazingly beautiful. The Asian Queen of the Mountains constantly attracts risk-seekers, mountaineers, rock climbers and ordinary travelers who love real wild nature.

The most high mountain world rises among the glaciers of the Himalayas. Everest is a mountain with a height of 8848 meters, and this is an absolute record. The place where the ancient peak settled is located on the border of Nepal and China, at the intersection with the Tibetan Autonomous Region, but the highest point belongs to the latter country - this is the peak of the Main Himalayan Range.

Queen of the Mountains

The intricate name “Qomolungma” comes from the Tibetan “Divine Mother Life”, which symbolizes the life force or wind. This name is given to the mountain peak in honor of the goddess Sherab Jamma. The Nepalese call the highest mountain in the world differently. “Sigarmatha” is the name of Everest in their language. The translation coincides with the Tibetan version - “Mother of the Gods”. The familiar name “Everest” was proposed by the Englishman Andrew Waugh in 1856. Around the same time, it was determined that Mount Everest had the highest height in the region.

On our planet, every year virgins are destroyed. clean places. Civilization has not reached natural monuments only in rare exceptions, and the object of our attention is one of such reserves. Mount Everest, photos of which were taken over the years, does not change its appearance.

From the Nepal side, the “Mother of the Gods” is covered by two mountain peaks- Nuptse and Lhotse, which are very tall. To see the highest mountain in the world, you will have to go quite a distance and climb the crust of Kala Patthar, which rises 5.5 km. Another option is to climb Gokyo Ri, which is almost the same height. Only in this way will you be able to see Everest in all its pristine beauty. Of course, if the mountain stood on a plain, among valleys, alone, it would be easier for us to feel the power of this creation of nature. But having to go the extra mile to get the best angle creates a special atmosphere.

Externally, Mount Everest (the photos show this very well) resembles a somewhat irregular pyramid. The southern slope is at a high angle, so snow and ice cannot stay on it. The bare side gives the mountain a unique look.

Mount Everest is made up of sand and limestone that formerly served as the bottom of the Tethys Ocean. It’s impossible to believe, but scientists have proven that the peak used to be hidden under water. Shells and other residual rocks of the seabed are still found on Chomolungma. 60 million years ago, the continent began to move, tectonic plates split, and the Indian lithospheric plate moved north. The collision with the Eurasian Plate created a deformation that forced much of the ocean underground. A rock barrier was formed on which mountains, including Everest, are now located. The Himalayas are still growing because geological processes have not yet stopped.

Because of my ancient history The mountain climate is quite unstable. In the warmest month of July, at the top it is -19 C. In winter, the temperature can reach -60 C. It never gets above zero here. Monsoon winds in summer period bring a lot of rain and snow storms, so this is not the best time for climbing.

Animals and plants live here reluctantly. Near the base of Everest, some grass and low-growing shrubs, lichens, and moss grow. Himalayan jumping spiders live here, only they can withstand a height of almost 7000 meters above sea level. They eat frozen insects that were brought here by the winds. In addition to spiders, some species of grasshoppers live on the slopes. From 6700 m onwards, only microbes live in the Himalayas. Birds sometimes fly to the top - ducks and jackdaws, which can withstand the test of altitude.

Sacred Mountain of the Sherpas

Among the indigenous population of Tibet you can find Sherpas. This is backgammon, which emigrated from China five centuries ago to the southern side of the Himalaya range. They protect their sacred mountain Chomolungma, because they consider it the abode of gods, demons and spirits.

Local legends say that the Indian preacher Padmasambhava, who became one of the founders of Buddhism, came up with the idea of ​​​​organizing a competition to see who can climb Everest the fastest. The opponent could not defeat the old man, and left the drum on the mountainside. Now whenever an avalanche comes down from the mountains, local residents they beat the ritual drum, driving out the spirits.

The most amazing records were set by the local population. Thus, the Sherpa representative Tenzing Norgay, together with E. Hillary, was the first to climb to the top. Two of his compatriots had been there at least 20 times in their entire lives. Pemba Dorje Sherpa spent only 8 hours and 10 minutes on the climb.

Local beliefs for a long time prohibited white people from climbing the mountains. It is believed that Trisul was the first to be admitted in 1907. From this moment the story of the conquest of Everest begins.

Story

The very first climber who decided to conquer Everest was the Indian mathematician Radhanath Sikdar. His profession helped him calculate the height of the sacred mountain, so he went on his journey prepared. Having covered a distance of 240 km, Sikdar proved his calculations. It is worth noting that his research helped the British-Indian Geodesy Service organize an expedition to explore the heights of Chomolungma.

Conquering Everest is an event that has become a proverb. As soon as people found out that this was the highest mountain in the world, they immediately began to conquer it. But the successful ascent took place only on May 29, 1953. E. Hillary and N. Tensing were able to conquer Everest. From that moment on, climbing Mount Chomolungma became a mandatory program for every climber. This is a difficult path that can often end tragically. Along the way, professionals face oxygen deficiency, low temperatures, heavy winds, and frostbite. This dangerous look extreme sport, which is often abandoned after the first stop at the beginning of the journey.

Soviet climbers conquered Everest in 1982. For five days (from May 4 to May 9), 11 of our compatriots courageously fought with nature. A new unique record was also achieved - the first ascent at night. The path to Everest, the mountain, altitude and slope directly affect the difficulty of the climb, the Soviet athletes made along their previously untrodden path - on the southwestern slope. One of the expedition members climbed without an oxygen tank, which equates to a mortal risk.

Everest is a mountain whose height has been set for several decades. Finally, accurate measurements appeared only in the middle of the 20th century. Chinese researchers announced a figure of 8848 meters. It must be said that in 1998 other data appeared. American scientists using a navigation system determined that Everest is 2 meters higher than previously thought. Italian surveyors are generally inclined to consider the height of Everest to be 8872 meters, that is, 11 m higher than the original assumptions. Modern science accepts the Chinese point of view.

Whatever the true height of Chomolungma, not everyone succeeds in conquering its peak. The last few hundred meters are considered especially difficult. On this part of the route, most climbers give up, having changed their minds about risking their health. Retreat, of course, is a shame, but the very fact of the attempt is highly valued in the circles of mountain lovers. According to statistics, only one attempt out of 10 is successful.

Tourism

Despite the fact that man has not yet reached the local nature, last years A nature reserve has opened around the mountain. Visit National Park Anyone who does not have the opportunity to climb the highest point in the world can climb Sagarmatha. It is also very beautiful here.

Over the course of 50 years, almost 3,000 climbers from different parts of our planet reached the top of Everest. Mount Chomolungma is treacherous; during the ascent, many people were hit by an avalanche and died from hypothermia and lack of oxygen. Modern equipment, oddly enough, does not yet save climbers from the real risk of not reaching the top.

These days, this type of extreme tourism is gaining increasing popularity. Many amateurs cannot even imagine how difficult it is to climb Mount Everest, the photo of which and the initial climb do not seem very difficult. Overcoming oneself, fighting one's own fears - this is the main motive for climbing. Those who climb the mountain out of pure vanity will not succeed. Climbers say mountains sense intent and respond with proud challenges.

It is worth noting that Nepalese residents earn good money thanks to the tourism sector, but they treat new people with a considerable amount of mistrust. They realize that sacred mountain capable of killing anyone, but they still enjoy the flow of tourists. And people are attracted by the desire to test their strength.

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Chomolungma is located in mountain system The Himalayas, namely in the Mahalangur-Himal range, which is located on the border of the Republic of Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

The height of its northern peak, located in China and considered the main one, is 8848 meters. This is an absolute record among the highest mountains on Earth, of which there are 117 (all of them are concentrated in the region of Central and South Asia). The southern peak is slightly lower, 8760 meters, and can be called “international”: it is located on the border of two countries.

The mountain looks like a three-sided pyramid. The slope and ridges from the south are so steep that snow and glaciers cannot be held on them. The rock wall also has no snow cover. The remaining ribs, starting from about 5 km altitude, are covered by glaciers.

The part of Everest located on the Nepal side is part of national park"Sagarmatha". This is exactly what Sagarmatha is called the highest peak of the world in Nepali (translated as “Heavenly Peak”). On this side it is obscured by the Nuptse (7879 m) and Lhotse (8516 m) mountains. Beautiful views It is overlooked from the surrounding mountains of Kala Patthar and Gokyo Ri.

Chomolungma - this name is translated from Tibetan as “Mistress of the Winds” - one of ten mountain peaks, the so-called eight-thousanders, located in the Himalayas (there are only 14 of them in the world). Undoubtedly, it remains the most attractive target for climbers around the world.

How was the height of Everest calculated?

It is noteworthy that until 1852 the highest point on the planet was considered multi-peaked. mountain range Dhaulagiri, also located in the Himalayas. The first topographical studies, carried out from 1823 to 1843, did not refute this statement.

After some time, doubts began to arise, and the first to express them was the Indian mathematician Radhanath Sikdar. In 1852, being at a distance of 240 km from the mountain, he, using trigonometric calculations, made the assumption that Chomolungma, or, as it was then called, Peak XV, was the highest peak in the world. Only four years later, more accurate practical calculations confirmed this.

Data on the height of Chomolungma often changed: according to popular assumptions of that time, it was approximately 8872 meters. However, the English aristocrat and geodesist George Everest, who headed the geodetic survey of British India from 1830 to 1843, was the first to determine not only the exact location of the Himalayan peak, but also its height. In 1856, Chomolungma was given a new name, in honor of Sir Everest. But China and Nepal did not agree with this renaming, although the merits of the outstanding surveyor were beyond doubt.

Today, according to officially confirmed data, Everest is located at an altitude of 8 km 848 m above sea level, of which the last four meters are solid glaciers.

Who are these courageous pioneers?

Organizing ascents to the “roof of the world” and conducting scientific research there were difficult not only because of the high cost of such events. Nepal and then-independent Tibet remained closed to foreigners for a long time. Only in 1921 did the Tibetan authorities give the go-ahead and the first expedition began exploring possible routes to climb Everest along the northern slope. In 1922, monsoons and snowfalls prevented researchers from reaching the top, climbers used oxygen cylinders for the first time, and reached 8320 meters.

Englishman George Herbert Leigh Mallory, a 38-year-old assistant professor from Cambridge and a famous mountaineer with extensive experience, was obsessed with the idea of ​​​​conquering Everest. In 1921, a group under his leadership reached a height of 8170 meters and set up camp, and he himself went down in history as the person who first set out to conquer this proud and inaccessible height. Subsequently, he made two more ascent attempts, in 1922 and 1924. The third of them turned out to be the last and... fatal. On June 8, they, along with their teammate, 22-year-old student Andrew Irwin, went missing. From the ground they were last seen through binoculars at an altitude of approximately 8,500 meters. And then - that’s it: the fearless explorers suddenly disappeared from sight...

Mallory's fate became clear only 75 years later. On May 1, 1999, an American search expedition discovered the remains of a brave climber at an altitude of 8230 meters. There was no doubt that it was him: he was identified by the “J. Mallory,” as well as a letter from his wife found in his breast pocket. The corpse itself lay face down with outstretched arms, as if trying to embrace the mountain. When they turned him over, his eyes were closed, which meant only one thing: death did not come suddenly. Further examination of the remains of Chomolungma’s first victim showed that the legendary explorer suffered fractures of the tibia and fibula.

Thus, two versions were refuted at once: about death from a fall from high altitude, and about death during the descent. As for Irwin, his body has not yet been found, although it is obvious to everyone that he also died then. And, most likely, then he was blown away by a strong wind into the nearest abyss, the depth of which is at least 2 km.

Another famous conqueror of Chomolungma was the British officer and mountaineer Edward Felix Norton, who in 1924 reached 8565 meters, which became an absolute record that stood for the next thirty years.

Between 1921 and 1952, about 11 unsuccessful ascent attempts were made. In 1952, an expedition from Switzerland tried twice to conquer the peak. But the high-altitude climbers returned with nothing.

In 1953, New Zealand climbers joined the English expedition. On May 29, 1953, 34-year-old New Zealander Edmund Hillary and 39-year-old Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first people on Earth to ascend to the “roof of the world.” They spent only 15 minutes there: due to insufficient oxygen, they simply could not do any more. Norgay symbolically buried cookies and sweets in the snow as an offering to the gods. It's funny that he couldn't photograph a New Zealander; he only managed to capture a Nepalese at the top.

Tenzing Norgay tried seven times, together with other expeditions, to climb to the top of Chomolungma. Each time he did this with the special philosophy of a representative of a mountain people. As Sherpa later recalled in his book “Tiger of the Snows,” there was no bitterness in him. He felt like a child climbing onto his mother's lap.

How did they feel, citizen of the distant island state in the Pacific Ocean and a native of the mountainous Himalayan kingdom, who became the first conquerors of the top of the world? They hugged each other and patted each other on the back with feeling. It is probably impossible to convey the whole gamut of these emotions in words.

The world learned about the conquest of Everest only three days later. It is difficult to overestimate the significance of this event. The restless Hillary and the expedition crossed Antarctica a few years later. The British Queen Elizabeth II, who is also the monarch of New Zealand, knighted him. The New Zealand climber also became an honorary citizen of Nepal. In 1990, Hillary's son Peter climbed to the top.

After 1953, expeditions from the United States, India, Italy, and Japan were sent to the “roof of the world.” The first American to set foot on the top of Chomolungma was Jim Whittaker. This happened on May 1, 1963. After some three weeks, the world was waiting for a sensation akin to its first conquest - American climbers crossed the Western Ridge, where no human had ever set foot before.

Since 1975 on the assault highest peak the planets moved the representatives of the fairer sex. The first woman to conquer Everest was a climber from the Country rising sun Junko Tabei, and Polish citizen Wanda Rutkiewicz, is the first European in this capacity. In 1990, the first Russian woman reached the top, it was Ekaterina Ivanova.

Desperate summit conquerors

More than 4 thousand people have already been to the top of Chomolungma. Many more than once. For example, the Nepalese climber Apa Sherpa conquered it 21 times. Scientists say that mountain dwellers find it easier to stay at such a height. Still, the record set by a local resident of Chhurim, who climbed to the top twice in a week, is surprising.

Everest exploration is primarily a test of the limits of human capabilities. The Italian R. Messner and the German P. Habeler climbed the mountain in May 1978 without oxygen masks. Messner subsequently climbed alone more than once and set a series of records. He was the first to conquer the peak during the monsoon period, climbed without the help of porters, and completed the climb in record time. new route. When you study the biographies of such desperate daredevils, you understand that the desire to conquer peaks is like a passion or a disease.

In 1982, a Soviet expedition climbed Chomolungma for the first time along difficult route from the southwestern wall. The selection of athletes was similar to the selection of astronauts. 11 people climbed, one climber was without an oxygen mask, one climbed the summit at night. The photographs show that beauty with such natural observation deck an extraordinary one opens up. Words cannot describe what a wonderful sight this is at night, in the light of the stars.

How the blind American Erich Weihenmayer (2001) and Mark Inglis with amputated legs (2006) were able to reach the top is known only to them. The goal of the daredevils was to show people all over the world that achieving their goal is a reality. And they did it!

Extreme cases

In the history of the conquest of Everest, human courage often borders on madness. Man is tireless in his desire to set new records and achievements, especially of this kind, with the prospect of going down in history.

First attempt to get down from it alpine skiing undertaken by the Japanese Miura, who only miraculously did not fall into the abyss. French snowboarder Marco Siffredi was less fortunate. For the first time, the descent from the summit along the Norton Couloir ended safely. In 2001, the brave athlete wanted to take a different route, along the Hornbein Couloir - and went missing.

The speed of skiers can be judged by the descent of the Frenchman Pierre Tardevel. From a height of 8571 meters he traveled 3 km in 3 hours. In 1998, Frenchman Cyril Desremo was the first to descend from the summit on a snowboard. Back in 1933, the Marquess of Clydesdale and David McIntyre flew over the top of the mountain in a biplane (an airplane with two wings placed one above the other).

Pilot Didier Delsalle first landed a helicopter on the top of the mountain in 2005. They flew over Everest on hang gliders and paragliders, and jumped from planes using parachutes.

Climbing today

About 500 people a year decide to conquer Everest (Chomolungma). This is a very expensive pleasure. A rise is possible from both Nepal and China. Departure from the former will cost more, while from Chinese territory it is cheaper, but technically more difficult. Commercial firms that specialize in escorting you to the top of the highest mountain on the planet ask for between 40 and 80 thousand dollars. The amount includes the cost of modern equipment and payment for porters. The Nepal government permit alone can cost between $10,000 and $25,000. The rise itself lasts up to two months.

It is naive to think that without good health and proper physical training one can take on such a difficult and serious undertaking. Climbers expect the most difficult ascent, inhuman loads, cutting down steps in the ice, laying bridges over cracks in the harshest natural conditions. A person spends about 10,000 kilocalories per day when climbing Everest (instead of the usual 3 thousand). During the ascent, climbers lose up to 15 kg of weight. And not everything depends on them themselves, on the level of their training. A sudden hurricane or landslide can knock you off your feet and carry you into the abyss, and an avalanche can crush you like a small insect. Nevertheless, more and more daredevils decide to climb.

The capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, is reached by plane. The journey to base camp takes about two weeks. It is located at an altitude of 5364 meters. The path here is not very difficult, the difficulties begin further. During adaptation to the extreme conditions of Everest, ascents alternate with descents to the camp. The body gets used to thin air and cold. In preparation for the ascent, every detail is carefully checked. When a person is over an abyss, his life often depends on the strength of the cable and the steel carabiner driven into the rock.

Above 7500 meters the so-called “death zone” begins. There is 30% less oxygen in the air than under normal conditions. Blinding sun, knocking wind (up to 200 km per hour). Not everyone can withstand such realities, which one of the researchers compared with those on Mars.

A mild cold can result in pulmonary or cerebral edema. The cardiovascular system is working at its limit. Frostbite, fractures and dislocations during climbing are not uncommon. But you also need to go back down, which is no less difficult.

“The longest mile on Earth,” is what climbers call the last 300 meters, the longest difficult area. It is a steep, very smooth slope covered with snow. And here it is - the “roof of the world”...

Climatic conditions, flora and fauna

In summer, the temperature on Everest during the day does not rise above -19 degrees, and at night it drops to minus 50. The coldest month is January. Temperatures often drop to 60 degrees below zero.

Of course, in such extreme conditions the animal and vegetable world cannot be rich and varied. On the contrary, it is very meager. However, it is here that the highest-living representative of the earth's fauna lives - the Himalayan jumping spider. Its individuals were discovered at an altitude of 6,700 meters, which seems simply unthinkable for the existence of life.

Somewhat lower, at a level of 5500 meters, a perennial herbaceous plant grows - yellow gentian. Even higher, at an altitude of 8,100 meters, the researchers observed the mountain jackdaw or chough, a member of the corvid family, a close relative of the alpine jackdaw.

Ecological situation

Recently, scientists have been sounding the alarm and calling for access to the highest peak in the world to be closed. The reason is the catastrophic level of pollution of Everest and its surroundings.

Everyone who comes here leaves behind about 3 kg of garbage. According to preliminary estimates, more than 50 tons of waste have accumulated on the mountain. Teams of volunteers have been organized to clear the slopes of traces of human activity.

However, modern equipment and established routes only increase the number of visitors here; there are even traffic jams on the routes. And the flow of tourists to the foot of Chomolungma is growing every year...

In continuation of a series of posts that have attracted a lot of attention from bloggers (, and) let's remember why Everest is called Everest.

Anyone who studied geography at school will easily remember the name of the highest peak on the planet. Everest has long attracted climbers, extreme sports enthusiasts and fans of all things mysterious. Its height has been measured several times recently. Therefore, even in official materials there are three sets of numbers: 8848 m, 8850 m, 8844 m. The first of them is firmly embedded in our memory. The latter was measured from the Chinese side. This question is not easy, because we are talking about the height of the highest mountain on Earth. And it is very correct that the interested parties agreed for the near future to conditionally consider the height to be 8848 meters.

Meanwhile, your current name The highest mountain on the planet received it relatively recently, only a century and a half ago. Since time immemorial, Tibetan monks have called her Chomolungma - “Mother Goddess of the Earth.” French missionaries, who reached the Himalayas in the 18th century, put it on the map under the name Ronkbuk - that was the name of the Tibetan monastery built by order of the Dalai Lama on the northern slope of the mountain.

In Nepal, the highest of the mountains was called Sagarmatha - “Heavenly Peak”. However, today the whole world knows the mountain under the name that the British gave it.

Dali was given in honor of a man who never climbed to its peak or even came close to it.

George Everest born on July 4, 1790 in Wales, in the town of Gwernvale, into an aristocratic family. For boys from wealthy English families of that time, a military career was typical, and George was no exception. After leaving school he entered the military school in Woolwich. George studied well, especially pleasing his mathematics teachers with his success. Everest graduated from the school ahead of schedule, at the age of 16, and was sent to serve in India as an artillery cadet.

The command, appreciating his brilliant mathematical abilities, transferred the young military man to the geodetic service. In 1814, Everest went on an expedition to the island of Java, where he spent two years.

In 1816, the 26-year-old officer was returned to India, and two years later he became the deputy of the William Lambton- Head of the British Geodetic Survey in India.

At this time, Lambton and his subordinates solved a truly titanic task - conducting a geodetic survey of India. It was not only about the country within its modern borders, but also about the territories in which other states have now been formed, primarily Pakistan.

Theodolite - a measuring instrument used by George Everest

FEATURES OF FLORA AND FAUNA OF EVEREST

During a year climatic conditions on Everest are considered very extreme. January is recognized as the coldest month, as average temperature ranges from -36 to -60° C! But the warmest month, if you can call it that, is July, when the temperature does not drop below -19° C. Amazing fact is that the boiling point of water at the top of the mountain is only 70° C. This phenomenon is due to the pressure indicator, which is only 326 mbar. Usually in spring and winter, Qomolungma has a characteristic westerly wind.

Only a small part of plants and animals can withstand extreme conditions. In 1924, scientists made an amazing discovery: as it turned out, at an altitude of about 6700 meters, a jumping spider belonging to the genus Araneomorpha was found. In order to survive, the little spider has to hunt small springtails and flies that live within 6,000 meters. But insects, in turn, feed on lichens and some types of fungi.

As part of an expedition that took place in 1925, experts discovered about 30 species of those same lichens. Also, in the area of ​​5600 meters, scientists discovered a bar-headed goose. Only a few species of birds can withstand the pressure at the top, and they use climbers' food scraps as food.

"Peak XV"

This work began in 1806, and was completed only half a century later, in 1856. George Everest spent most of his life on it.

In 1823 William Lambton died and Everest succeeded him. True, two years later he was struck down by a serious illness, which forced him to return to England.

In Britain, however, Everest continued to deal with issues of the Indian Geodetic Survey - he provided supplies of new instruments, solved theoretical problems and organizational issues.

In 1830, with his health problems behind him, George Everest returned to India, where he worked for another 13 years.

During these years, the mountain peaks of the Himalayas were also recorded, but their heights were not measured. All peaks were given a code name, and Chomolungma was included in this list as “Peak XV”.

Merit Award

In 1843, 53-year-old George Everest retired with the rank of colonel and returned to England. Despite his advanced age, the honored surveyor decided to do something for which he had not had time before - starting a family. It must be said that the scientist was more than successful in this, having acquired six children.

George Everest's services to the British Empire were highly appreciated. In 1861 he was awarded the title "Sir" and in 1862 he was elected vice-president of the Royal Geographical Society.

Having worked for many years in the geodetic service in India, Everest trained a galaxy of students, one of whom, Andrew Waugh, in 1852, worked to determine the height of the Himalayan peaks. Waugh's measurements showed that "Peak XV" is not only the highest mountain of the Himalayas, but also the highest point on the globe.

The highest mountain in the world needed a suitable name. In 1865, the English Royal Geographical Society decided that in recognition of services to science and in honor of Sir George Everest's 75th birthday, “Peak XV” should be named after him. Andrew Waugh was the first to express this idea in 1856, and over the next nine years the community of English scientists came to the conclusion that Sir Everest deserves it.

At first, the hero of the day categorically did not like this idea, but his colleagues insisted on their own. As a result, “Peak XV”, first in English documents, and then throughout the world, began to be called “Everest”.

Sir died, but the name lives on

The memory of the merits of the scientist-geodesist remained only in specialized literature and in encyclopedias, but the name given to the peak was so firmly entrenched that it supplanted all its other names.

In countries whose territory is directly adjacent to the Himalayas, in particular in China and Nepal, there have long been proposals to return the “historical” name to the peak. Cartographers, trying to reconcile the warring parties, offer this option: the entire mountain range receives the name Chomolungma, and the peak takes on the double name Everest (Sagarmatha).

However, whatever one may say, for most people who do not delve deeply into such disputes, Everest remains Everest. The surname of Sir Surveyor turned out to be very suitable for the highest peak of the planet.

It's funny that John Everest himself was of Welsh origin and called himself an Ivrist. But the mountain in English transcription immediately began to be called Everist. For the whole world, who speaks little English, it began to be called Everest... which, with a certain stretch, can be called “always resting.” Again, it is interesting that George himself had the nickname “Neverest” - “never resting.”

Note that Everest himself took part in a meeting on names in 1857 and spoke out against the use of his name. In his opinion, the name does not correspond well to local languages ​​and cannot be learned by the natives.

FIRST CLIMBING OF JOMOLUNGMA

On May 26, 1953, the first attempt was made to climb the inaccessible Everest, but Charles Evans and Tom Bourdillon, members of the British expedition, did not reach the top by only 100 meters! The reason for this was an acute lack of oxygen. But a few days later - on May 29, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquered inaccessible mountain. The climbers did not stay at the top for long; they managed to take a few pictures and buried a cross in the snow with a couple of chocolates.

Since Everest holds the title of the highest mountain in the world, tourists and climbers from all over the world gather at the foot of the mountain to make a difficult climb and conquer the inaccessible slopes of Qomolungma. Thanks to many years of experience of professionals, there is a large selection of safe routes. There are two most popular routes: following the Northern ridge from Tibet and along the Southeast ridge from Nepal. The latter is considered technically easier, so it is also recognized as the most popular among beginners.

The bulk of the climbs to the highest mountain in the world take place in May, and all because in given time There are no powerful gusts of wind. Also, October and September are very favorable months, but the large amount of snow formed after the monsoons makes climbing slightly difficult.
Putorana Plateau - lost World Siberia, here it is. Here is an American and famous one. It is impossible not to mention The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -

Everest, or another name Chomolungma, is the highest mountain on Earth. Let's find out where she is.

Where is Everest?

Mount Everest has 2 peaks, the highest is the northern one, 8848 m high, the southern one – 8760 m high.

Mount Everest got its name from George Everest, an English surveyor who spent more than 37 years studying this area. This European name, the inhabitants of Tibet (China) call their mountain Chomolungma, and for the inhabitants of Nepal the name of the mountain sounds like Sagarmatha.

Chomolungma is located in the Himalayan mountain range (South Asia), which is located on the territory of 5 countries: China, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan and India.

The northern peak of Everest belongs to China, and the southern peak is on the Sino-Nepalese border.

The Himalayan mountains extend over 3000 km and are 350 km wide.

Climbing Everest is carried out from Chinese and Nepalese territory.

When was Everest formed?

The Himalayan mountains were formed about 60 million years ago, during the Jurassic-Triassic periods. The mountains were formed by the collision of two tectonic plates: Asian and Indian. The mountains “grow” to this day.

Mount Everest is composed of the following rocks:

• Shales are dark, fine-grained.
• White crystallized limestones.
• The corneas are striped dark green.

Almost at the very top there are intrusions with veins of quartz and granite.

A little about climbing Everest?

It takes about 40 days to visit the peaks of Everest. First, climbers undergo acclimatization (getting used to the mountains) in the mountains lower in altitude, in the main base camps, of which there are only 2. Acclimatization is necessary in order not to get mountain sickness.

Even before the ascent, you need special nutrition - eat a lot of rice and pasta to stock up on energy, because more than 10 thousand kcal are spent in the mountains every day.

There is not enough oxygen in the mountains, so most climbers climb high peaks like Everest with oxygen tanks, which they begin to use when the altitude approaches 8 thousand meters above sea level.

Another negative factor on Everest is that the air temperature can drop to -62ᵒC, and also hurricane winds, so climbers wear goose down clothing.

In order not to “fly” from the cliff, Everest conquerors use synthetic ropes (nylon), 10 mm in diameter, and ice axes for fastening; they put “crampons” on their boots - special devices with metal spikes.

The first conquerors of Everest were the Englishman Edmund Hillary and the Nepalese Tenzing Norgay. This happened in 1953.

So now we know where Everest is.

You probably noticed the information that Everest is, in the full sense of the word, a mountain of death. Storming this height, the climber knows that he has a chance not to return. Death can be caused by lack of oxygen, heart failure, frostbite or injury. Fatal accidents, such as a frozen oxygen cylinder valve, also lead to death. Moreover: the path to the top is so difficult that, as one of the participants in the Russian Himalayan expedition, Alexander Abramov, said, “at an altitude of more than 8,000 meters you cannot afford the luxury of morality. Above 8,000 meters you are completely occupied with yourself, and in such extreme conditions you do not have extra strength to help your comrade.”

Chomolungma (Everest) is the highest peak on Earth (8848 m above sea level).

Geography of Everest

Located in the Himalayas, in the Mahalangur-Himal range (in the part called the Khumbu Himal). The southern peak (8760 m) lies on the border of Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region (China), the Northern (main) peak (8848 m) is located in China.

Everest has the shape of a triangular pyramid, the southern slope is steeper. On the southern slope and ribs, snow and firn are not retained, as a result of which they are exposed. The height of the North-Eastern shoulder is 8393 m. The height from the foot to the top is about 3550 m. The top consists mainly of sedimentary deposits.

From the south, Everest is connected by the South Col pass (7906 m) with Lhotse (8516 m), sometimes called South summit. From the north, the sharply sloping North Col (7020 m) connects Everest with the Northern peak - Changze (7543 m). To the east the impassable eastern wall of Kangashung (3350 m) falls abruptly. Glaciers flow from the massif in all directions, ending at an altitude of about 5 km.

Chomolungma is partly part of the Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal).

Climate

At the top of Chomolungma there are strong winds, blowing at speeds of up to 200 km/h.

The average monthly air temperature in January is −36 °C (on some nights it can drop to −50…−60 °C), in July it is about 0 °C.

Everest as a mountaineering object

Everest, being the highest peak on Earth, attracts a lot of attention from climbers; climbing attempts are regular.

The climb to the top takes about 2 months - with acclimatization and setting up camps. Weight loss during the climb is on average 10-15 kg. Countries on whose territory the approaches to the peak are located charge a fee not only for climbing it, but also for a number of mandatory services (transport, liaison officer, translator, etc. The order of ascent of expeditions is also established. The cheapest way to conquer Chomolungma is from the side Tibet (PRC) along the classic route from the north.

The main season for climbing to the top is spring and autumn, as there are no monsoons at this time. The most suitable season for climbing the southern and northern slopes It is considered spring. In autumn you can only climb from the south.

A significant part of ascents are organized by specialized companies and performed as part of commercial groups. Clients of these companies pay for the services of guides who provide the necessary training, provide equipment and, as far as possible, ensure safety along the entire route. The cost of climbing is up to 85 thousand US dollars, and the climbing permit alone, issued by the Nepalese government, costs 10 thousand dollars.

In the 21st century, thanks to the development tourism infrastructure There has been a significant increase in annual ascents, for example, if in 1983 8 people reached the summit, in 1990 about forty, then in 2012 234 people climbed Everest in just one day. During the ascent, many hours of traffic jams and even fights between climbers were noted.

According to experts, the success of the expedition directly depends on the weather and equipment of travelers. Climbing Chomolungma continues to be a serious challenge for everyone, regardless of their level of preparation. Acclimatization plays an essential role before climbing Everest. A typical expedition with south side spends up to two weeks climbing from Kathmandu to the base camp at an altitude of 5364 m, and another month is spent acclimatizing to the altitude before the first attempt to climb to the top is made.

The most difficult section of the Everest climb is the last 300 m, nicknamed by mountain climbers “the longest mile on Earth.” To successfully complete this section, you need to overcome a steep, smooth rock slope covered with powdery snow.

Difficulties

Climbing Everest with the goal of reaching highest point the mountains are characterized by exceptional difficulty and sometimes end in the death of both the climbers and the Sherpa porters accompanying them. This difficulty is due to the particularly unfavorable climatic conditions of the apical zone of the mountain due to its significant altitude. Among these climatic factors unfavorable for the human body: high rarefaction of the atmosphere and, as a consequence, extremely low oxygen content in it, bordering on a fatally low value; low temperatures down to minus 50-60 degrees, which, in combination with periodic hurricane winds, is subjectively felt by the human body as a temperature down to minus 100-120 degrees and can lead to extremely quickly occurring thermal injury; Intense solar radiation at such altitudes is of no small importance. These features are complemented by the “standard” dangers of mountaineering, which are also inherent in much lower peaks: avalanches, cliffs from steep slopes, falling into relief crevices.

Air temperature at the top and at the bottom

The climate and temperature regime of Everest is harsh and unpredictable, and sometimes even extreme. Temperature values ​​at the foot and at the top differ sharply from each other. At the foot, as a rule, the temperature is above zero, which decreases by 6.5 degrees with every thousand meters.

The temperature depends on seasonality, but is never above 0 degrees. The most favorable climatic conditions are in the summer months of the year; the average temperature in July is minus 19 degrees. In winter, the temperature drops, so the average temperature in January-February is -36 degrees, and at night it can reach up to 55-60 degrees below zero.

In winter and spring period Western winds blow throughout the year, and southwestern winds in winter, the speed of which can reach 280 kilometers per hour. During the summer and autumn months, monsoons blow Indian Ocean, with the arrival of which a large amount of precipitation falls.

Sudden temperature changes on Everest are not uncommon. Even during the most favorable period for conquest (from May to October), sudden storms and snowfalls are also typical. But in each season there are 3-4 days of stable weather, they are called “windows”, which climbers use to conquer mountain peaks.

How and who conquered Everest

• The first to achieve the feat and conquer the world's highest peak, 8848 meters high, were climber Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Almost 65 years have passed since then (1953). And during this period of time, hundreds of thousands of brave people tried to conquer this mountain.
• The second ascent of Chomolungma was 3 years later in 1956 by a Swiss expedition group led by Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luxinger.
• In 1963, the first American expedition to Everest was organized, and Jim Whittaker became the conqueror. The American was accompanied by Sherpa Nawang Gombu, who later in 1965 climbed the peak for the second time as part of an Indian expedition and became the first person lucky enough to conquer the peak twice.
• In 1975, the first conqueror of Everest among fair half humanity became the Japanese woman Junko Tabei.
• In 1982, the first Soviet expedition took place to reach the top of the world. It consisted of 25 people, the leaders of the group were Vladimir Balyberdin and Eduard Myslovsky.

Since then, many ascents of Everest have been made by humanity, including people of different generations and nationalities. At the end of 2017, the total number of people peaked at 8,306.