Mount Everest: Earth's Highest Point

The Summit of the World

Mount Everest (Sagarmatha / Chomolungma) is the highest mountain above sea level on Earth.

Key Metrics

• Elevation: 8,848.86 m (29,031.7 ft) — joint China/Nepal 2020 survey.
• Location: Mahalangur Himal, Himalayas — border of Nepal (Khumbu) and China (Tibet Autonomous Region).
• First Ascent: May 29, 1953 — Edmund Hillary (NZ) & Tenzing Norgay (Sherpa).
• Geology: Sedimentary/metamorphic rock (limestone, marble) thrust up by Indian-Eurasian plate collision (~50 Ma). Still rising ~4 mm/yr.

Other "Highest" Claims

• Mauna Kea (Hawaii): Tallest from base (ocean floor) = 10,210 m. Summit 4,207 m above sea level.
• Chimborazo (Ecuador): Farthest from Earth's center (equatorial bulge) = 6,384.4 km from center. Summit 6,263 m above sea level.
• K2 (Karakoram): 2nd highest above sea level (8,611 m) — harder, deadlier.

Climbing Today

~800 summits/year (pre-COVID). Commercial expeditions ($30k–$100k+). Permits: Nepal $11k, China $10k+. Crowding, waste, climate change (glacial melt) are critical issues. Death rate ~1–2% (historical).