Mount Chomolungma (Everest) - description, photos, facts. Everest, the highest mountain on earth

14.12.2021

Everest is the highest peak in the world, the second name is Chomolungma. Its popularity among climbers is great, especially among those who are eager to conquer this height. Without a doubt, traveling to the peak of the mountain is a dangerous adventure, because many people lost their lives on the way to the goal. But the hero who managed to conquer Everest can fully enjoy this unearthly beauty and a sense of freedom. There is something special lurking in her that attracts and attracts people so much, even at the cost of her life ...

Where is Mount Everest and how high is it?

Everest is 8848 meters high. Only in 1853 did the world learn about the highest point on earth, when the first ascent to the mountain took place. Prior to the discovery of the summit, Mount Kanchenjunga, 8586 meters high, occupied the championship.

Everest is located in the Himalayan mountains in southern Asia. The exact location cannot be formulated, since the extent of the mountain occupies the territory of two bordering countries: China and Nepal.

The summit, which is located on the north side, is located in China. The second peak, a little less than 8760 meters high, is located on the demarcation line between Tibet and Nepal.

Air temperature at the top and bottom

The climate and temperature regime of Everest is harsh and unpredictable, and sometimes even extreme. The temperatures at the foot and at the top differ sharply from each other. At the foot, this is usually a positive temperature, which decreases by 6.5 degrees with every thousand meters.

The temperature depends on the season, but never goes above 0 degrees. The most favorable climatic conditions are in the summer months of the year, the average July temperature 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 the winter and spring period of the year, westerly winds “walk”, and in winter - southwest winds, the speed of which can reach 280 kilometers per hour. In the summer and autumn months, monsoons blow from the Indian Ocean, with the arrival of which a large amount of precipitation falls.

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

Atmosphere pressure

Every 10-12 meters atmospheric pressure decreases by 1 mmHg. With a simple mathematical calculation, the estimated height at the top of Everest is about 23 millimeters of mercury, while the norm, as at the foot of the mountain, is 760 millimeters. The actual atmospheric pressure at the summit is considered to be 3 times lower than normal.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW! The drop in atmospheric pressure is directly related to the occurrence of mountain sickness (oxygen deficiency) in climbers. As a consequence, hypoxia, pulmonary edema and heart failure may develop. Therefore, when the first signs of a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen occur, it is necessary to drop altitude as soon as possible and go down.

Flora and fauna

The flora and fauna of Everest are not very diverse. At the foot you can find some varieties of low-growing shrubs, individual bunches of grass, some conifers, mosses and lichens. But with every kilometer up, this meager flora disappears. On the slopes of Chomolungma you can find a shrub called snow rhododendron. This is the only plant whose life is possible at an altitude of over 5000 meters at constant sub-zero temperatures.

Among living creatures, you can find Himalayan jumping spiders, some types of grasshoppers. Mountain ducks, alpine jackdaws and some other species of birds that can live at high altitude live on the top of the mountain.

INTERESTING! There is a legend about the phenomenon on the slopes of the famous bigfoot - Yeti. But so far, only huge footprints in the snow have been found, according to local residents, belonging to this unique creature. But the fact of its existence has not yet been proven, although many scientists and climbers are looking for this miracle.

Video information

How and who conquered Everest

The first who managed to accomplish the feat and conquer the world's highest peak with a height of 8848 meters were the climber Edmund Hillary and the 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 expeditionary group led by Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luxinger.
In 1963, the first American expedition to Everest was organized, Jim Whittaker became the conqueror. The American was accompanied by Sherpa Nawang Gombu, who later in 1965 climbed the summit for the second time as part of an Indian expedition and became the first person who was lucky enough to conquer the peak twice.
In 1975, the first conqueror of Everest, among the beautiful half of humanity, was the Japanese Junko Tabei.
In 1982, the first Soviet expedition took place, reaching 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 mankind, among which are people of different generations and nationalities. At the end of 2017, the total number of people who reached the peak was 8306 people.

Video plot

Useful information and interesting facts

The highest peak in the world was named after the scientist George Everest, who first managed to determine the location and height of the mountain range. The second name "Chomolungma" was given by the locals, which means "Mother Goddess of the Earth".
Everest's height increases by about 4 millimeters every year.
The ascent takes approximately 2 months, taking into account the time for adaptation and acclimatization.
In 2004, on the summit of Everest, a couple from Nepal became husband and wife.
Climbing is an expensive pleasure, the price is at least 50-60 thousand dollars.
Due to the large amount of garbage that climbers leave on the slopes, the Nepalese government obliges each person on the expedition to collect at least 8 kg of garbage or pay 4,000 dollars.
The oldest conqueror of Everest is 80-year-old Japanese Yuichiro Miura.
The youngest is Jordan Romero, he was 13 years old.
Statistics say that for every 10 successful ascents, there is 1 death.
The frozen bodies of climbers are not evacuated from the slopes of Everest. Moreover, the corpses of people serve as identification marks of a certain place or height.

Whatever the attractive place of Everest, there is a downside, sometimes scary and cruel. Every step with every hundred meters is given with great difficulty. And no one is safe from altitude sickness and death from hypoxia, pulmonary edema or frostbite, even the most trained athletes. But still, there are extreme people who put their lives on the line in order to conquer Everest and, feeling euphoria, enjoy the beauty of the world from its highest point.

Nepal is lucky to have unusual sights. Not only is the country known as the birthplace of the Buddha; here is the majority of the highest peaks of the world, 8 of the 14 "eight-thousanders". Among them is the highest mountain on the planet - Everest.

She is also known under the name "Chomolungma": translated from Tibetan - "Divine Mother of Life". The international name "Everest" was given to the mountain in honor of the head of the British India Geodetic Survey, 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 .

True, with the height of Everest, not everything is so obvious. Indian mathematician and topographer Radhanat Sikdar (an employee of the same service), based on trigonometric calculations and being 240 kilometers from Chomolungma, only suggested that this is the highest peak in the world. Practical calculations made 4 years later gave a figure of 29,002 feet (8840 meters), proving the theory.

And then Everest was measured repeatedly, and from time to time it "increased" - up to 8872 meters, depending on the methods. Currently, the officially recognized mark is 8848 meters above sea level, of which four meters fall on the snow cap.

Here, in the world of rocks, snow and eternal ice, frosts down to minus 60 ° C prevail, and strong winds blow at the top at a speed of up to 200 km / h. At an altitude of 7925 meters, the so-called "death zone" begins, where only 30% of oxygen is concentrated. Add to this constant ice collapses and snow avalanches - and it becomes obvious why no one could climb to the top for a long time. And now, despite the progress and all kinds of technologies, the ascent takes an average of two months, since it is done in stages: with the installation of an acclimatization camp.

Another difficulty in conquering Chomolungma was that the mountain lies on the border of Nepal and China (Tibet). From time to time, then Nepal, then China, or even both states at the same time, were closed to foreigners. One way or another, the first ascent was made on May 29, 1953 by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillar, after a numerous series of failures of previous expeditions.

The mountain has several names. The most common is Everest, assigned to the mountain in honor of the Englishman John Everest, who led the Survey of British India from 1830 to 1843. In Tibet, the peak is usually called Chomolungma, which means "divine" in translation. In Nepal, the name Sagarmatha, meaning "Mother of the Gods", was fixed.

In total, approximately 4,000 people have conquered Everest to date - we are talking about those who have reached the top. It is not possible to count the number of tourists with their shortened tours. Many of those who reached the very "roof of the world" set various kinds of records. This includes climbing without oxygen tanks, staying without oxygen for almost a day, and skiing down Everest ... In 2001, a blind American Eric Weihenmayer climbed to the top of Everest, in 2006 - Mark Inglis, a climber with two amputated legs. And the first woman to conquer Chomolungma was in 1976 the Japanese Junko Tabei.

Expeditions to Everest were planned by the British since 1893, but due to various reasons, the trip was postponed year after year. Only in 1921 was the first group equipped. The start was taken from Darjeeling. The purpose of the expedition was to explore the ways to climb the northern slope. In subsequent years, the British repeatedly made attempts to conquer the main peak of the world, but weather conditions and lack of experience in climbing did not allow them to conquer Everest. The result of these attempts was only the death of several people, the mountain still remained impregnable ...

The desire to conquer the "divine", after a series of similar unsuccessful campaigns, was repulsed by the British for a long time, and only after the Second World War did the person again turn his gaze to the top of the recalcitrant mountain. Again, a number of preliminary expeditions were carried out, the purpose of which was to deliver equipment to the slopes of Everest. These were the preparations for the main group's push. And on May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgam and Edmund Hillary ascended to the top of the world ...

However, Everest is, in the full sense of the word, the mountain of death. Storming this height, the climber knows that he has a chance of not returning. Death can be caused by a lack of oxygen, heart failure, frostbite or injury. Fatal accidents also lead to death, such as a frozen valve of an oxygen cylinder. Moreover, the path to the summit is so difficult that, as Alexander Abramov, one of the participants in the Russian Himalayan expedition, said, “at an altitude of more than 8000 meters you cannot afford the luxury of morality. Above 8000 meters you are completely occupied with yourself, and in such extreme conditions you do not have extra strength to help a friend. The tragedy that happened on Everest in May 2006 shocked the whole world: 42 climbers passed by the slowly freezing Englishman David Sharpe, but no one helped him. One of them was the television people of the Discovery channel, who tried to interview the dying man and, having photographed him, left him alone ...

During all these years of climbing Everest, more than 200 people died, and only the bodies of a few were lowered from the top. The rest are buried in meter-long snow or are exposed by the winds and "meet" other climbers on the way to the top. These are the laws of Everest: the higher the height, the less humanity remains in people. More than once it happened that the rising group could help those in trouble, but to help means to complete the campaign, to abandon the dream. Many passed by, and when they walked back, help was no longer required.

Vladimir Vysotsky has a song “Only mountains can be better than mountains”, and this is true. The only exception is Chomolungma. What is experienced by a climber who has conquered the main peak in his life? Joy or disappointment, from the fact that the main goal has been achieved, and then there will be “smaller” mountains?!

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 the “XV” peak (Dhualagiri was the leader in this list). And only after the second survey (1845-1850) everything fell into place. Based on intelligence data, the British, under the leadership of Mallory, stormed the summit in 1922, but the monsoon, snowfall and lack of experience in high-altitude ascents did not give them the opportunity to climb. In 1924, 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 a height of 8527 m, but was forced to return. A few days later, a second attempt was made to storm the northeast ridge (a bunch of Mallory, Irvine using oxygen cylinders), the climbers did not return, there is still an opinion that they could be on top of the Chomolungma. Subsequent pre-war expeditions to the area did not bring new results. In 1952, a Swiss expedition launched an assault on Everest from the south. Twice in 1952, Lambert and Norgay Tenzing climbed above 8000 meters, but in both cases the weather forced them to turn. was E. Hillary, they were supposed to help the British get over the Khumbu icefall, the Sherpa Norgay Tenzing was included in the assault group. There is a legend that the conquest of Everest was prepared as a gift to Queen Elizabeth II on the day of the coronation. On May 27, the first two - the British Evans and Bourdillon reached the southern peak, where they left oxygen and a tent for the next assault group. And on May 29, 1953, Sherp Norgay Tenzing and New Zealander Edmund Hillary reached the summit. On May 8, 1978, R. Messner and P. Habeler made what was considered impossible - the first ascent of Everest without oxygen. Messner described his feelings as follows: “In a state of spiritual abstraction, I no longer belonged to myself, to my vision. I am nothing more than a lone panting lung floating above mists and peaks. On May 16, 1975, the first woman climbed Everest, it was Junko Tabei (Japan). The first ascent of Soviet climbers to the highest peak of the Earth took place in May 1982. The Soviet team of 9 people climbed to the top of Everest, along a very difficult, previously untraveled route along the southwestern wall.

You probably paid attention to such information that Everest is, in the full sense of the word, the mountain of death. Storming this height, the climber knows that he has a chance of not returning. Death can be caused by a lack of oxygen, heart failure, frostbite or injury. Fatal accidents also lead to death, such as a frozen valve of an oxygen cylinder. Moreover, the path to the summit is so difficult that, as Alexander Abramov, one of the participants in the Russian Himalayan expedition, said, “at an altitude of more than 8000 meters you cannot afford the luxury of morality. Above 8000 meters you are completely occupied with yourself, and in such extreme conditions you do not have extra strength to help a friend.

Chomolungma (Everest) - the highest peak of the Earth (8848 m above sea level).

Geography of Everest

It is located in the Himalayas, in the Mahalangur Himal range (in the part called 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 on the territory of China.

Everest has the shape of a trihedral 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 Northeast shoulder is 8393 m. The height from the foot to the top is about 3550 m. The summit consists mainly of sedimentary deposits.

From the south, Everest is connected by the South Col Pass (7906 m) with Lhotse (8516 m), sometimes called the South Peak. From the north, the steeply sharply sharpened North Col (7020 m) connects Everest with the North Peak - Changze (7543 m). The impenetrable eastern wall of Kangashung (3350 m) abruptly breaks off to the east. Glaciers flow down 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 the Chomolungma, there are strong winds blowing at speeds 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 an object of mountaineering

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

Climbing to the top takes about 2 months - with acclimatization and setting up camps. Weight loss per ascent - an average of 10-15 kg. The countries on whose territory the approaches to the summit are located charge not only for climbing it, but also for a number of obligatory services (transport, liaison officer, translator, etc.) The order of climbing expeditions is also established. Tibet (PRC) along the classical route from the north.

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

A significant part of the ascents is organized by specialized firms and performed as part of commercial groups. The clients of these firms pay for the services of guides who provide the necessary training, provide equipment and, to the extent possible, ensure safety along the way. The cost of climbing is up to 85 thousand US dollars, and the climbing permit alone, issued by the government of Nepal, costs 10 thousand dollars.

In the 21st century, thanks to the development of tourism infrastructure, there has been a significant increase in annual ascents, so 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 the equipment of the travelers. Climbing Chomolungma continues to be a serious test for everyone, regardless of their level of preparation. An essential role is played by acclimatization before climbing Everest. A typical expedition from the south side takes up to two weeks to climb from Kathmandu to the base camp at an altitude of 5364 m, and takes about a month to acclimatize to the height before the first attempt is made to the summit.

The hardest part of climbing Everest is the last 300m, nicknamed by mountain climbers "the longest mile on Earth". To successfully pass this section, you need to overcome the steepest smooth stone slope covered with powdered snow.

Difficulties

Climbing Everest in order to reach the highest point of the mountain is characterized by exceptional difficulty and sometimes ends in the death of both the climbers and the Sherpas accompanying them. This difficulty is due to the particularly unfavorable climatic conditions of the top zone of the mountain due to the significant height of its position. Among these climatic factors unfavorable for the human body: the high rarefaction of the atmosphere and, as a result, the extremely low oxygen content in it, bordering on a deadly 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 temperatures down to minus 100-120 degrees and can lead to extremely quickly occurring thermal injury; of considerable importance is the intense solar radiation at such heights. These features are complemented by the "standard" dangers of mountaineering, inherent in much less high peaks: avalanches, cliffs from steep slopes, falling into crevices in the relief.

Air temperature at the top and bottom

How and who conquered Everest

The first who managed to accomplish the feat and conquer the world's highest peak with a height of 8848 meters were the climber Edmund Hillary and the 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 expeditionary group led by Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luxinger.
In 1963, the first American expedition to Everest was organized, Jim Whittaker became the conqueror. The American was accompanied by Sherpa Nawang Gombu, who later in 1965 climbed the summit for the second time as part of an Indian expedition and became the first person who was lucky enough to conquer the peak twice.
In 1975, the first conqueror of Everest among the beautiful half of humanity was the Japanese Junko Tabei.
In 1982, the first Soviet expedition took place, reaching the top of the world. It consisted of 25 people, the leaders of the group were Vladimir Balyberdin and Eduard Myslovsky.

The magnificent landscapes of Mount Chomolungma are 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 mountains constantly attracts risk-takers, climbers, rock climbers and ordinary travelers who love real wildlife.

The highest mountain in the 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.

mountain queen

The intricate name "Chomolungma" 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 Chzhamma. 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 has the highest height in the region.

On our planet, pristine places are destroyed every year. 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 in different years, does not change its appearance.

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

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

Mount Everest consists of sandy deposits and limestone, which used to be the bottom of the Tethys Ocean. It is impossible to believe, but scientists have proven that the peak used to be hidden under water. On Chomolungma, shells and other residual rocks of the seabed are still found. 60 million years ago, the mainland began to move, the tectonic plates split, and the Indian lithospheric plate moved north. Upon collision with the Eurasian plate, a deformation was formed, due to which most of the ocean went underground. A stone barrier was formed, on which mountains are now located, including Everest. The Himalayas are still growing because the geological processes have not yet stopped.

Due to their ancient history, the climate of the mountains is quite unstable. In the warmest month of July, the peak is -19 C. In winter, the temperature can reach -60 C. Above zero is never here. The monsoon winds in summer bring a lot of precipitation and snowstorms, so this time is not the best for climbing.

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

Sacred Mountain of the Sherpas

Among the indigenous population of Tibet, you can meet Sherpas. This is a backgammon that emigrated from China five centuries ago to the south side of the Himalayas. 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 climbs Mount Everest the fastest. The opponent could not defeat the old man, and left the drum on the mountainside. Now, whenever an avalanche descends from the mountains, the locals beat the ritual drum to exorcise the spirits.

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

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

Story

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

The conquest of Everest is an event that has become proverbial. As soon as people learned that this is 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. Tenzing were able to conquer Everest. From that moment on, climbing Mount Chomolungma has become a mandatory program for every climber. This is a difficult path, which can often end tragically. On the way, oxygen deficiency, low temperatures, heavy winds, and frostbite await professionals. This is a dangerous extreme sport, which is often abandoned after the first halt 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 against nature. There was also a new kind of record - the first ascent at night. The path to Everest, the mountain, the height and slope directly affect the difficulty of the ascent, the Soviet athletes did along their previously untraveled path - on the southwestern slope. One of the members of the expedition made the ascent without an oxygen tank, which is equivalent 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 the figure of 8848 meters. I must say that in 1998 other data appeared. American scientists using a navigation system have determined that Everest is 2 meters higher than previously thought. Italian surveyors generally tend to consider the height of Everest equal to 8872 meters, that is, 11 m higher than the original assumptions. Modern science accepts the Chinese point of view.

Whatever the true height of the years of Chomolungma, not everyone succeeds in conquering its peak. The last few hundred meters are considered especially difficult. On this stretch of the path, most climbers give up, having changed their minds about risking their health. The retreat, of course, is insulting, 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 people have not yet reached the local nature, in recent years a reserve has opened around the mountain. Anyone who does not have the opportunity to climb the highest point in the world can visit the Sagarmatha National Park. It is also very beautiful here.

For 50 years, almost 3,000 climbers from different parts of our planet have been at the top of Everest. Mount Chomolungma is insidious, during the ascent, many people were hit by an avalanche, they 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.

Nowadays, this type of extreme tourism is gaining more and more 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 yourself, fighting your own fears - that is the main motive of climbing. Those who climb the mountain out of sheer vanity will not succeed. Climbers say the mountains sense intent and respond with proud challenges.

It is worth noting that the inhabitants of Nepal earn good money thanks to the tourism sector, but they treat new people with a considerable amount of distrust. They realize that the sacred mountain can kill anyone, but still rejoice in the flow of tourists. And people are attracted by the desire to test themselves for strength.

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Chomolungma(Tibetan name) or Everest(English) or Sagarmatha(Nepalese) - the highest mountain in the world (8848 m), located in the Mahalangur Himal range in the Himalayas, on the border of Nepal and China (Tibet Autonomous Region), but the peak itself lies on the territory of China.

Everest has the shape of a trihedral pyramid, the southern slope is steeper. Glaciers flow down from the massif in all directions, ending at an altitude of about 5 km.

Chomolungma is partly part of the Nepalese Sagarmatha National Park.

Climate

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

The air temperature at night drops to -60°

Etymology

Translated from Tibetan, "Chomolungma" means "Divine (qomo) Mother (ma) of life (lung - wind or life force)", named after the Bon goddess Sherab Chzhamma.

In Nepalese, the name of the peak "Sagarmatha" means "Mother of the Gods".

The English name "Everest" (Mount Everest) was given in honor of Sir George Everest, the head of the Survey of British India in 1830-1843. This name was proposed in 1856 by George Everest's successor Andrew Waugh, at the same time as the publication of the results of his collaborator Radhanath Sikdar, who in 1852 first measured the height of "Peak XV" and showed that it is the highest in the whole world.

Climbing stories

The first ascent of Chomolungma was made on May 29, 1953 by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary through the South Col. The climbers used oxygen devices.

In subsequent years, climbers from different countries of the world joined the conquest of the mountain - China, the USA, India, Japan, Italy.

In the spring of 1975, Everest was first stormed by a women's expedition. The first woman to conquer Chomolungma was the Japanese climber Junko Tabei (1976). The first Polish woman and the first European to reach the summit was Wanda Rutkiewicz (1978). The first Russian woman to reach the summit was Ekaterina Ivanova (1990).

In May 1982, 11 members of the Soviet expedition of climbers conquered Everest, climbing the southwestern slope that was previously considered impassable, and 2 ascents were made at night. Prior to this, none of the climbers who were part of the expedition had climbed above 7.6 km.

In subsequent years, climbers from Great Britain, Nepal, the USA, South Korea, Austria and other countries again climb Everest along the classic path of pioneers.

As a rule, all climbers climb Everest in oxygen masks. At an altitude of 8 km, the air is rarefied, and it is very difficult to breathe. The first to reach the summit without oxygen were the Italian Reinhold Messner and the German Peter Habeler in 1978.

Flying over the top

In 2001, a French couple, Bertrand and Claire Bernier, flew down from the summit in a tandem glider.

In May 2004, the Italian Angelo D'Arrigo for the first time in the history of aeronautics made a hang glider flight over the top of the highest mountain in the world.

On May 14, 2005, test pilot Didier Delsalle successfully landed a Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil helicopter on top of the mountain. It was the first such landing.

In 2008, 3 skydivers landed on the summit by jumping from an airplane flying at an altitude of just under 9 km (142 m above the highest point of the mountain).

Ski slopes

The first attempt to descend from the summit through alpine skiing was made in 1969 by the Japanese Miura. It didn't end the way he planned; Miura almost fell into the abyss, but miraculously managed to escape and survived.

In 1992, a French skier, Pierre Tardevel, skied down the slope of Everest. He left the southern peak, located at an altitude of 8571 m, and covered 3 km in 3 hours.

After 4 years, the Italian skier Hans Kammerlander descended from a height of 6400 m along the northern slope.

In 1998, the Frenchman Cyril Desremo made the first descent from the summit on a snowboard.

In 2000, Slovenian Davo Karnicar left Chomolungma on skis.

Climbing now

From the moment of the first ascent to the summit (1953) to the present (2011), more than 200 people have died on its slopes. The bodies of the dead often remain on the slopes of the mountain due to the difficulties associated with their evacuation. Some of them serve as a guide for climbers. The most common causes of death: lack of oxygen, heart failure, frostbite, avalanches.

Even the most expensive and modern equipment does not always guarantee a successful ascent to the highest peak in the world. However, every year about 500 people try to conquer Chomolungma. In total, by the end of 2010, approximately 3,150 climbers had climbed the mountain.

Climbing to the top takes about 2 months - with acclimatization and setting up camps. Weight loss after climbing - an average of 10-15 kg. The main climbing season is spring and autumn, as there are no monsoons at this time. The most suitable season for climbing the southern and northern slopes is spring. In autumn you can climb only from the south.

At present, a significant part of ascents is organized by specialized firms and performed as part of commercial groups. The clients of these firms pay for the services of guides who provide the necessary training, equipment and, as far as possible, ensure safety along the way.

The cost of an all-inclusive climb (equipment, transport, guides, porters, etc.) averages between $40,000 and $80,000, with the climbing permit alone issued by the government of Nepal costing between $10,000 and $25,000 per person. (depending on group size). The cheapest way to conquer Chomolungma is from Tibet.

A significant proportion of travelers reaching the summit are now wealthy tourists with minimal mountaineering experience.

According to experts, the success of the expedition directly depends on the weather and the equipment of the travelers. Climbing the highest peak in the world continues to be a serious challenge for everyone, regardless of their level of preparation.

An essential role is played by acclimatization before climbing Everest. A typical expedition from the south side takes up to two weeks to climb from Kathmandu to the base camp at an altitude of 5364 m, and takes about a month to acclimatize to the height before the first attempt is made to the summit.

Ecology

The number of tourists visiting the mountain (not the summit) from Nepal and Tibet over the past ten years has been in the hundreds of thousands. The volume of garbage accumulated on the slopes of the mountain is so great that Everest is called "the highest mountain dump in the world."

According to ecologists, after tourists there is an average of 3 kg of garbage for each.