First Woman to Summit Mount Everest: Junko Tabei

Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 16, 1975. She climbed via the Southeast Ridge route with Sherpa Ang Tsering as part of an all-women Japanese expedition. Tabei later completed the Seven Summits, becoming the first woman to do so. Her achievement broke gender barriers in high-altitude mountaineering and inspired generations.