| elevation: |
8,850 metres (29,035 feet) |
| location: |
Nepal–China (Tibet) border |
| range: |
Himalaya |
| coordinates: |
27° 59' 16? N 86° 56' 40? E |
| first ascent: |
May 29, 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay |
 |
Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth above mean
sea level. Its summit ridge marks the border between Nepal and China, but the
summit itself is in China (Tibet).
The mountain was given its English name by Sir Andrew Waugh, the British surveyor-general
of India. Waugh chose to name the mountain after Sir George Everest, first using
the spelling Mont Everest, and then Mount Everest. In Nepal the mountain is
called Sagarmatha (Sanskrit for "Forehead of the Sky"). In Tibetan
it is Chomolangma or Qomolangma ("Mother of the Universe") .
The mountain is approximately 8,850 m (29,035 feet) high, although there is
some variation in the measurements. The 1998 American Everest Expedition installed
a GPS unit on the highest bedrock, computing the elevation of the summit as
8,850 meters. Neither the government of Nepal nor the PRC have officially recognised
this measurement, and still consider the official height of Everest to be 8,848
m.
Mt. Everest has two main climbing routes, the southeast ridge from Nepal and
the northwest ridge from Tibet, as well as 13 other less frequently climbed
routes. Of the two main routes, the southeast ridge is technically easier and
is the most frequently used route. It was the route used by Hillary and Tenzing
in 1953. This was, however, a route decision dictated more by politics than
by design as the Tibetan border was closed to foreigners in 1949.
Most attempts are made during April and May before the summer monsoon season.
A change in the jet stream at this time of year also reduces the average wind
speeds high on the mountain. While attempts are sometimes made after the monsoons
in September and October, the additional snow deposited by the monsoons makes
climbing even more difficult.
Woman, 22, to climb Mount EverestBBC Mar 9 2010 12:07PM GMT
Mountain climber addresses women?s group on eve of second Mount Everest attemptWestern Star Mar 9 2010 8:30AM GMT
Time to scale Mt EverestHills and Valley Messenger Mar 8 2010 10:09PM GMT
Mile posts: Conquering our own EverestsThe Des Moines Register Mar 8 2010 4:23PM GMT
Mar 05, 2010 CLIA's Cruise3sixty to Feature Keynote by Everest ClimberAgent at Home Mar 8 2010 5:18AM GMT
Didcot headteacher raises 4k from Everest base camp trekOxford Mail Mar 7 2010 9:18PM GMT
Didcot headteacher raises £4k from Everest base camp trekDidcot Herald Mar 7 2010 7:49PM GMT
Next up for Lincoln entrepreneur: EverestLincoln Journal Star Mar 7 2010 7:04AM GMT
Challenge8000 team prepares for Mount EverestMalta Star Mar 7 2010 6:27AM GMT
Mountain Photographer Shows Changes Over 50 Years in Mt. Everest RegionRockbridge Weekly Mar 6 2010 11:35AM GMT
|