Mount everest post. Why people die on Everest and at what height

Everest is the European name for the mountain, which for a long time was called by the locals, Tibetans, Chomolungma. This name translates as "Divine Mother of Life". The Nepalese, observing the mountain from the southern side, called it "Mother of the Gods", which sounds like "Sagarmatha". The mountain got its name "Everest" after the name of the English surveyor George Everest.

Until the middle of the 19th century, there was no exact data on the height of the mountain, so its title of the highest peak was unofficial. In 1852, an Indian mathematician carried out a series of calculations and determined that Everest is the highest mountain on Earth.

Everest was formed by the collision of two plates - Hindustan and Eurasia. The Indian plate went under the crust in the territory of Tibet, and the mantle was lifted up, as a result, a large mountain range appeared, which still continues to grow due to the slow movement of tectonic plates.

Everest location

The Himalayan Mountains cover a vast territory in the Tibetan and Indo-Ghanaian Plains, separating the desert and mountainous regions of Central Asia and the tropical regions of South Asia. The mountains stretch for almost 3 thousand kilometers in length, and are 350 kilometers wide. The area of ​​the Himalayas is about 650 thousand kilometers, and the average height of the peaks is about 6 thousand meters above sea level.

Everest - the highest Himalayan mountains... The mountain in the form of a triangular pyramid has two peaks: the northern one, 8848 meters high, is located in China, or rather, the Tibetan autonomous region, and the southern one, at 8760, runs right along the China-Nepal border.

On all sides, the summit is surrounded by mountains and ridges of smaller sizes: in the south, Chomolungma connects with the eight-thousanders Lhotse, between them lies the South Saddle Pass; from the north is the North Col, which leads to Mount Changse. On the eastern side of Everest there is a steep impassable wall called Kangashung.

Not far from the mountain are the peaks of Nuptse, Makalu, Chomo Lonzo. Also, the mountain is surrounded by glaciers located at an altitude of five thousand meters: Ronbuk, East Rongbuk. From the north of Everest stretches the gorge of the Rong River.

Partially the mountain is located in the territory of the Nepalese national park Sagarmatha, which consists of gorges, mountain ranges and rugged areas in the Upper Himalayas.

The closest major cities to Everest are

Most people know only one fact about Mount Everest - this is the highest point on the planet, located somewhere in the Himalayas. But the history of the study and conquest of this legendary mountain is associated with many tragic, interesting and incredible facts.

The Vipgeo portal presents 15 amazing facts about the most amazing mountain on the planet.

How to get to Everest?

But first you need to find out exactly - where is Mount Everest? Any guide will answer that the highest point of the planet is located on the border of mountainous Nepal and China, but even here there are subtleties that can become real problems for climbers.

The fact is that all ascents to Everest begin from base camps located on both sides of the political borders of Nepal and China. But the problem is that on the Chinese side, the camp is formally on the side of the Tibetan autonomy, and in order to get there in order to conquer Everest, you need to obtain a special permission from the Chinese authorities, which is not given to everyone, in monstrous terms and for a lot of money.

So, most of climbers prefers to start their personal mountain climbing from the southern base camp, located in Nepal. But here too Russian travelers there will be difficulty - there are no direct flights even from Moscow to Nepal, so you need to fly with transfers - either to the UAE or to India. The transit price will be approximately the same.

Arriving in Kathmandu, tourist groups organized according to the paid program. The hike to the base camp alone takes about 18 days - you have to walk along the rugged paths of the Dudh Kosi River and through several Himalayan passes. The base camp is located at an altitude of 5364 meters.

For most of the participants, the hike ends here. Climbing Mount Everest requires years of preparation and training, not to mention the requisite climbing experience, so the hike to the base camp itself is often a key adventure at the foot of the mountain.

Important: Only groups led by licensed climbers are allowed to climb Everest. In addition, a special permit from the Nepalese authorities must be obtained and the necessary equipment must be available. In total, the conquest of Everest for one participant costs $ 30,000 or more.

15 facts about Everest

When is the best time to go to Everest?

Even to travel to Everest Base Camp in Nepal requires more than just skills hiking and trekking, but also know the optimal time for such an adventure. What month is the best time to go to the foot of Everest? Almost all travelers ask this question.

According to experienced tourists, there are four months a year when you cannot go to Everest, and in general to Nepal - this is June, July, August and September. At this time, the monsoon rains are in full swing, and Kathmandu airport may be completely closed due to unfavorable weather conditions. In the same months, almost all tours associated with the Himalayas stop.

You should also be wary of the May and October weeks - in late spring and early autumn, the rains can still be quite strong. Well, if there is no rain, then almost certainly there will be a thick fog at the foot of Everest, allowing only a few hours to make out the top.

As for earthquakes, due to which dozens of ascents and expeditions were canceled in 2015, here you need to rely only on higher powers. It is impossible to predict cataclysms, and all the conquerors of Everest know about it. Without mortal risk for the most high summit the world cannot rise.

Everest is one of the most fatal peaks, yet every year thousands of people still visit Nepal and Tibet to conquer it. Since 1856, when the mountain was opened for ascents, more than 4,000 climbers have reached its peaks, and today, when money spent on professional equipment and high-tech equipment makes climbing much easier, more than 600 people conquer the peak every year.

After two seasons, when avalanches did not allow any ascent to be made - in 2014 and 2015 - the situation is returning to normal. Climbers are already gathering at base camp, aiming for the peak this season, and we have prepared Interesting Facts about the high mountain on the ground.

1. Its top reaches flight altitude cruise ship- and gets higher

Officially, the height of Everest is 8,848 m, which is only a couple of hundred meters below the altitude of the jet passenger liners... And every year the mountain grows a little more than half a centimeter. It is now about 41 cm taller than it was in 1953, when Edmund Hillary and the Sherpa Tenzing Norgay first reached its summit. This is due to the collision of tectonic plates, which continue to push the giant block of stone up to the heavens.

But, although Everest is recognized as the highest peak above sea level, highest mountain the world, if measured from bottom to top, is Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii. Its height from the base is over 10,200 m, but only 4,200 above sea level.

2. Everest has never seen this mountain

Mount Everest was first discovered during the Great Trigonometric Exploration in the Himalayas in 1841 and was named Peak XV. Andrew Scott Waugh declared it the highest peak in the world in 1856 and gave it a new name in honor of Corporal George Everest, who began the mentioned exploration, but left for the pesia without seeing this mountain.

Many people prefer to call her by traditional names - Tibetan "Chomolungma", which means "Divine Mother of the Universe", or Nepali "Sagarmatha" ("goddess of the sky").

3. Climbing is limited by winds

You can conquer Everest during a period that is, at best, a couple of weeks a year, because most of the time, winds reign at the top, the speed of which reaches more than 320 km / h.

Twice a year, in May and November, the wind blows to the north and the air at the summit calms down, but with temperatures of -30ºC in winter and -20ºC in late spring, most of the ascents take place within a couple of weeks in May.

4. Lifting safety has been greatly improved

By June 2017, Everest has been conquered 8,306 times 4,833 different people, and 288 people died en route to the summit - which gives us approximately 29 successful ascents for each climber killed. In about half of the deaths, avalanches and falls were the cause of death, and altitude sickness was responsible for another 20 percent of deaths.

But improvements in equipment, weather forecasting and climbers' skill have lowered the level of danger, and since 2000, there have been 60 successful ascents for every climber killed.

5. There are 18 routes to the summit - but one of them is still overly popular

There are 18 different routes leading to the summit of Everest, but only two of them, running along the southeastern (Nepalese) and northern (Tibetan) ridges, are used regularly. On these routes, "traffic jams" are even formed on the days of the ascent.

Each year, over 10,000 m of fixed ropes help climbers to ascend the Nepalese route, which has become so popular that one day more than 150 climbers were forced to wait in long lines to reach the summit.

6. One breath at sea level is equal to three at the top

The oxygen content in the air at the summit is three times lower than at sea level, so only a few try to conquer it without additional oxygen - 97.5 percent of all ascents were made with it. Climbers usually start using it on the way to the "death zone", around the 8000 m mark, but given the weight of the canisters, the amount of additional oxygen available is very limited, and it is usually enough to experience the sensations typical of the 7000 m level.

As a result, many suffer from high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), which results in speech difficulties, confusion, decreased coordination, hallucinations, and decreased decision-making ability. All these symptoms are very dangerous in the "death zone".

7. To begin the ascent, you need to receive a blessing

Before heading to the summit, climbers must ask for protection from the mountain gods during a traditional Puja ceremony held at the base camp by a Buddhist lama and two or more monks.

The ceremony begins with the construction of a cairn and the hanging of prayer flags, after which offerings are made to the gods, the equipment is blessed, and handfuls of rice and flour are thrown into the air.

8. The message about the first ascent was coded

The successful 1953 expedition was covered exclusively by The London Times, and for them publishing the report before others was so important that the reporter used the code to convey a message to the editors.

On the day the first conquerors reached the summit, reporter James Morris sent a telegram to the editorial office that read: "Bad snow conditions, advanced base left on 29th awaiting improvement."

In this code, “bad snow conditions” meant “summit reached”, “advanced base abandoned” was “Hillary”, and “awaiting improvement” was “Tenzing”, so it should be interpreted as: “Summit reached on May 29 by Hillary and Tenzing”.

9. Climbing is expensive

Climbing as part of an organized group will cost from 22 to 68 thousand euros - with a foreign guide or, as it happens more often, with a team consisting exclusively of Nepalese (according to the study www.alanarnette.com ). Climbing without a group will require more than 80 thousand euros, and you can also join Dave Khan, who has conquered the summit 15 times, for about 92 thousand euros.

From the first successful ascent in 1953 until the end of the past millennium, they climbed to the summit on average 25 times a year. Between 2000 and 2017, this number was 16 times higher - 415 ascents per season. In 2017, 1,062 people left the base camp on the route, and 648 of them (61 percent) reached the summit. This is only slightly less than the 2013 record, when 658 people conquered Everest.

In recent seasons, there has been a significant increase in the number of climbers from India and China, who have joined the ranks of Americans, Europeans and residents. South-East Asia, with which Everest is traditionally popular. It is expected that the number of people wishing to reach the top will only grow.

11. Hillary and Tenzing are not the only legends in their families

Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay have written their names in history as the first conquerors of Everest, but their successors on the mountaineering path, Peter and Gemling, also deserve recognition.

Peter climbed in 1990, making Hillary the first father and son to climb Mount Everest. Gemling reached the summit six years later, in 1996. The second time they climbed it together in 2002.

About existence highest point Everyone knows Everest from school. Today we will find out about where, in what country is Everest and what interesting facts are connected with the peak.

The mountain has another name - Chomolungma, it is part of the Himalayan mountain system. Since Everest is located right on the border of Nepal with China, then call exact location difficult. A feature of the steepest southern slope of the mountain is the shape of a triangular pyramid. It is believed that the highest peak is located on the territory of the Tibetan autonomous region and belongs to China.

The history of the origin of the name of the mountain

Mount Everest bears the name of an Englishman who studied the geodesy of this area. The second name - Chomolungma - comes from the expression "qomo ma lung", which is used in Tibet, which means "Divine mother of life."

Interestingly, the highest peak on Earth has a third name: Sagarmatha. Translated from the Nepali language, it sounds like "Mother of the Gods". Such names are confirmation that the ancient inhabitants of Nepal and Tibet associated a high mountain with the manifestation of a supreme deity.

By official version the height of Everest, including glacial deposits, is 8848 m above sea level. At the same time, the pure rock rises to 8844 m in height.

The first conquerors

For the first time Everest was conquered by a resident of New Zealand E. Hillary and a Sherpa, local residents environs of Chomolungma T. Norgey. The first ascent took place in 1953. Then the era of numerous records set during the conquest of the highest peak began:

• climbing the most difficult route;
• conquering the summit without oxygen cylinders;
• age records of conquerors, etc.

How to conquer Everest?

Knowing where Everest is, we can conclude: the path to the top is not entirely easy, as it might seem at once. The opportunity to conquer the summit will have to wait several years after preliminary registration in the queue.

The most in a simple way to make your dream come true is the opportunity to join the expedition, which are formed by specialized commercial firms with the organization of training, the provision of special equipment, ensuring safety when climbing to the top.

The authorities of China and Nepal are using the potential conquerors of Everest as a source of good income. For example, the cost of going to the foot of the mountain, followed by permission and climbing Mount Everest, is about 60 thousand dollars.

There are many who want to conquer the highest peak in the world. However, you need to assess your abilities realistically. In fact, it is within the power of people who have special skills and experience in climbing high mountains.

Air

At the top of Everest there is low pressure, so there is 3 times less oxygen there than at normal altitude. Climbers have to take oxygen tanks with them to avoid suffocation. But in 1980, athlete Reinhold Messner managed to climb to the top without them and alone, and then successfully descended back.

Spiders

But the mountain spiders Euophrys omnisuperstes have enough oxygen here. Their other name is Himalayan jumping spiders. They live only here, at an altitude of 6700 meters, and feed on insects that have accidentally got here due to the wind. Only a few species of birds can withstand constantly low pressure and minimal oxygen content.

Garbage

Climbers annually left behind 50 tons of garbage, and practically not decomposing: these are spent oxygen cylinders, and broken climbing equipment, and household waste. Nepal decided to fight this and forced every climber to bring back at least 8 kilograms of waste in exchange for the deposit left earlier - 4,000 dollars.

Locals and climbers

From time to time, conflicts arise between the Nepalese and the conquerors of the mountains. For example, in 2013, it even came to a fight, when the locals said that the ascent could cause an avalanche. The climbers, in turn, denied these claims. It came to death threats, and the military of Nepal had to intervene in the matter, reconciling both sides.

Record

Apa Sherpa has climbed the summit 21 times. He did this not only for the sake of the views from there, but also for the sake of tracking the consequences of global warming. He noted that due to the melting of snow and ice, ascents are becoming more dangerous.

Popularity

May 19, 2012, despite the bad weather, at the foot of the mountain there was a huge queue of people wishing to climb Everest. They had to wait 2 hours before their turn. On that day, 234 people went upstairs and four were killed.

Connection

Kenton Cool was first tweeted from the summit of Mount Everest in 2011. Then he managed to catch a weak 3G signal. And already in 2013, the climber for the first time managed to call from the peak. Later, the Nepalese authorities announced that it was done illegally.

The address: China
First ascent: May 29, 1953
Height: 8848 m
Coordinates: 27 ° 59 "08.8" N 86 ° 55 "32.0" E

Content:

Nepal is known throughout the world as the birthplace of Buddha and as a mountaineering Mecca, on the territory of which 8 of the 14 highest peaks in the world ("eight-thousanders") are located in whole or in part.

View of Everest from the east

But the geographer himself was against this and called the mountain an exclusively Tibetan name - Chomolungma. Before the mountain received its European name, it was also called Chomo-Kankar (Tib. "Queen of snowy whiteness"). The nature of Everest is beautiful and harsh. In a world of rocks, snow and eternal ice frosts prevail down to minus 60 ° C, and strong winds blow at the top of the mountain at a speed of up to 200 km / h. Ice landslides and avalanches- a frequent occurrence here. At an altitude of 7925 meters, the so-called "death zone" begins, where only 30% of the amount of oxygen that is present at sea level is concentrated.

Everest - the mountain of death, or to success over corpses

The conquest of Everest is comparable only to a flight to the moon. It is enough to stand on the top of the mountain for a few minutes to go down in history. In order to see the world from the height of Chomolungma, people are ready to sacrifice their health and risk their lives.

Everest view

Storming Everest, the climber knows that he has a chance not to return. Death can be caused by lack of oxygen, heart failure, frostbite, injury. Fatal accidents lead to death (the valve of the oxygen cylinder is frozen, etc.), and the vain indifference of neighbors. So, in 1996, a group of Japanese climbers while climbing a mountain met with three Indian colleagues who were in a semi-faint state. The Japanese passed by, the Indians were killed. As one of the participants of the Russian Himalayan expedition, Alexander Abramov, said: “At an altitude of more than 8000 meters, one cannot afford the luxury of morality. Above 8000 meters, you are completely occupied with yourself, and in such extreme conditions you have no extra strength to help your comrade. " The tragedy that happened on Everest in May 2006 shocked the whole world: 42 climbers indifferently walked by the slowly freezing Englishman David Sharp, but no one helped him.

One of them was the television crew of the Discovery channel, who tried to interview the dying man and, having photographed him, left him alone.

Everest climbing records

In total, about 4,000 people have conquered Everest to date. The glory of the first ascent belongs to the participants of the English expedition - on May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest for the first time in the history of mankind. Here, at the high-altitude pole of the planet, the climbers stayed for only 15 minutes. After shaking hands, they buried the chocolates in the snow as an offering to the gods and hoisted the flags of Great Britain, Nepal and India, and on top of them - the UN flag. The news of the successful expedition reached Elizabeth II on the day of her coronation, in connection with which a legend appeared that the conquest of Everest was being prepared as a gift to the Queen of England.

View of Everest from the west

In 1978, a new record was recorded - the Italian R. Messner and the German P. Habeler reached the summit without the use of oxygen cylinders.

The "Top of the World" attracts climbers of all ages: the oldest person to climb is 76-year-old Nepalese Min Bahadur Sherkhan, and the youngest is 13-year-old American Jordan Romero. But Mark Inglis deserves special admiration: in 2006, for the first time in history, a man with two amputated legs was able to reach the summit of Everest! Inglis's legs were taken away (both below the knee) after severe frostbite, received during the ascent to Cook Peak (3754 m) - the highest peak in New Zealand.

While climbing Everest, Inglis used prostheses. According to him, he even had advantages over other climbers: "I definitely won't get frostbite on my toes."

View of snow-covered Everest

And here is another example of the greatest fortitude: in 2001, a blind American, Eric Weichenmeier, climbed to the top of Everest, who by that time had already conquered the highest mountains on all 7 continents. In an interview with reporters, Weichenmeier said: "Having climbed the 7 highest peaks of 7 continents, I wanted to show people that unattainable goals are actually achievable." In addition, to make his dream come true, a blind disabled person had to earn a lot of money, since the cost of a commercial ascent is up to 65 thousand US dollars, and the license issued by the authorities of Nepal alone, which gives the right to climb Everest, costs 10 thousand dollars. And taking into account the cost of equipment, provisions, accommodation in the camp and the services of a guide, everyone who wants to conquer Everest spends at least 25 thousand dollars.

Mount Everest

A typical expedition reaches the summit of Chomolungma in 2 months: It takes two weeks to ascend to the base camp at an altitude of 5360 meters, acclimatization takes a month, and only after a person adapts to difficult mountain conditions can the ascent begin. But the ascent to the mountain with a height of 8848 meters is not yet the finish, followed by an equally difficult descent.