Mount Everest Has the Highest Elevation of Any Point on Earth

The first ever ascent occurred back in 1953, when a British expedition led by John Hunt culminated in one of its climbing pairs, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, reaching the summit. In recent years, hundreds of people have managed to make it to the summit of Everest due to advances in equipment, technology, and climbing techniques, but even with these aids, getting to the top is only limited to a select group of people, many of whom undergo extreme training in preparation for their ascent.

Elevation is the term given to the height of a location above sea level. Mount Everest has the highest elevation of any point on Earth, with Everest's peak being 29,029 feet (8,848 m) above sea level. This is the highest elevation of any mountain on the planet, surpassing K2, which has an elevation of 28,251 feet (8,611 m) and is located on the border between China and Pakistan, and Kangchenjunga, which has an elevation of 28,169 feet (8,586 m) and is located in the Himalayas, not too far from Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and India.

The official elevation of Mount Everest was first established through an Indian survey way back in 1955. A separate Chinese survey was carried out in 1975 and found the Indian results to be accurate. However, in 2005, Chinese experts measured Mount Everest at 29,017.16 feet (8844.43 m). China argued that the original measurement had taken into account the snow on top of the mountain, and that the official reading should be to the highest point of the rock that actually makes up the mountain. A dispute occurred over this issue, but it is now widely agreed-upon and recognized that the official elevation of Mount Everest is 29,029 feet (8,848 m).

There are various camps and points along the ascent of Mount Everest than many climbers and mountaineers will be familiar with. If you ever plan a trip to Mount Everest, it's vital to know about these key locations. First of all, Everest has two base camps, one on each side. The South Base Camp is located in Nepal and has an elevation of 17,598 feet (5,364 m), while the North Base Camp can be found in Tibet and stands at an elevation of 16,900 feet (5,150 m). The South Base Camp tends to be the most popular, with thousands of trekkers and climbers gathering here each year.

Most routes up Mount Everest from the South Base Camp have to pass through the Khumbu Icefall, which stands at an elevation of 17,999 feet (5,486 m). This is one of the most dangerous areas of Everest. After this point, there are four key camps to stop at along the way to the summit of Mount Everest. Camp 1 has an elevation of 20,000 feet (6,100 m), Camp 2 is situated at an elevation of 21,000 feet (6,400 m), Camp 3 has an elevation of 22,300 feet (6,800 m), and finally Camp 4 on Mount Everest has an elevation of 26,000 feet (8,000 m).

Recent statistics show that almost 300 people have died while attempting to climb Mount Everest, with many of those deaths occurring due to frostbite, avalanches, falls, or various health problems brought on by the physical stress of climbing such a huge mountain and the incredibly dangerous conditions near the peak. Every single year, deaths are reported on Mount Everest, with 1977 being the more recent year without any deaths.

The mountain is so high that parts of it are included in what mountaineers call the 'death zone', which the term is given to all elevations of around 26,000 feet (8,000 m) above sea level. At this height, the level of oxygen is extremely low and it can become very difficult for people to breathe or survive for long periods without oxygen tanks. In spite of its dangerous side, Mount Everest is one of the true natural wonders of the world and represents an amazing achievement for anyone strong enough to reach the top.