Majestic Everest: 31 Interesting Facts
The mighty Everest has already been conquered many times by brave climbers, but this does not diminish its greatness in the least. The peak, which rises for many kilometers, is composed of ancient rocks, as if looking down on the tiny people bustling at its foot. The feeling that comes over a person looking at the highest mountain in the world is difficult to describe in words - it must be experienced.
Interesting facts about Everest
1. Everest, also known as Jomolungma, is the tallest mountain on Earth.
2. Its height, 8,848 meters, fluctuates due to tectonic forces.
3. Atmospheric pressure at the top of Mount Everest is only a third of normal, and the vast majority of people there would die from lack of oxygen. However, some climbers conquered this peak without an oxygen mask.
4. Hurricane-force winds of up to 200 km/h are common at the summit.
5. Climbers ascend Everest from Nepal or China, via the Tibetan Plateau.
6. On average, one climb to Everest, taking into account all costs, equipment and support, costs a climber from $30,000 to $85,000.
7. Among all the mountains in the world, Everest is the highest peak, but not the most dangerous. Another Himalayan peak, Annapurna, is far more dangerous in climbing statistics. More than 30% of attempts to conquer it end in the death of the climber. The death rate when conquering Everest hovers around the 10% mark.
8. Reinhold Messner was the first to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen in 1980.
9. Since 1969, the only year in which no climber died on the slopes of Everest was 1977.
10. Winter temperatures at Everest can drop to -60°C.
11. Named after British geodesist George Everest.
12. The youngest climber was 13; the oldest, 80.
13. It is impossible to evacuate the bodies of dead climbers down, so they remain right there, on the slopes, and often serve as landmarks for other conquerors of mountains. Many of them disappear under the snow and in mountain gorges.
14. Everest's peak rises approximately 4 mm annually due to tectonic forces.
15. Bear Grylls was the first to fly a powered paraglider above Everest.
16. Climbers typically spend two months ascending Everest, losing 10-15 kg during the journey.
17. Since 1974, the peak of Everest has been conquered annually.
18. Permits to climb Everest cost $10,000-$12,000, levied by the Nepalese government.
19. Everest was once the ocean floor. By geological standards, the mountain is quite young - it is about 60 million years old. At a height of up to 4 kilometers on its slopes, fossilized remains of sea creatures are still sometimes found.
20. According to the law, every climber must bring at least 8 kg of garbage with him when descending from Everest. If he has less of his own garbage, he must collect someone else's, which, unfortunately, is more than enough on the mountain slopes. Otherwise, you will have to pay another 4 thousand dollars.
21. Over 200 climbers have summited Everest without supplemental oxygen.
22. Many residents of Nepal and Tibet consider Everest a sacred mountain, and treat it with awe.
23. The first man summited Everest in 1953, and the first woman in 1975.
24. Appa Tenzing, one of the local guides who accompany tourists for a fee, has been to the top of Everest more times than anyone else. He reached the peak 21 times, and he never used oxygen tanks or masks.
25. In 2001, blind climber Erik Weihenmayer reached Everest's peak.
26. The largest Everest climbing group consisted of 410 Chinese climbers.
27. Nepalese and Sherpas call Everest "Sagarmatha."
28. Jumping spiders live on Everest up to 6.8 km above sea level, where little other life exists.
29. Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano, measured from base to summit, is taller than Everest.
