Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world above sea level. It is found on the border of China and Nepal. It is part of the Mahalangur Himal mountain range, which is found in the larger range of the Himalayas.
We've sourced some of the lesser-known, more interesting facts about this iconic mountain.
The highest mountain in the world doesn't have just one name. It is called "Sagarmartha" in the Nepali language, which means "Peak of Heaven". It is also known as Chomolungma, a Tibetan name meaning "goddess of the valley" or "goddess mother of the world".
Its official name is Mount Everest, and this is the one by which it is most widely recognised. This name was bestowed upon it in 1865 by the Royal Geographical Society. It was put forward by the British general Surveyor of India, Andrew Waugh, who chose the name of the man who had held the post before him: Sir George Everest. This name was officially chosen, despite objections, even from Sir George himself.
Before this, the mountain was known as Peak 5.
In 2005, two Nepalese climbers became the first couple in history to get married on the summit of the world's highest mountain. Moni Mulepati and Pem Dorjee successfully reached in the summit and held a short 10-minute ceremony at the top. They had kept this plan a secret, as their success of reaching the summit was not guaranteed.
In 2017, a couple from California also got married on Everest; however, this ceremony took place at base camp and not on the summit.
For a long time, there was dispute and conflict about the official accurate height of Mount Everest. In 1856, when it was still known as Peak 5, Andrew Waugh declared the height of the mountain to be 8840m. In 1975, a survey by China found that the mountain's height was 8848.11m, while another survey, conducted by Italy, found the height to be 8872m. However, questions were raised about the Italian survey's methods. In 1992, another Italian survey, this time using GPS and laser technology, measured the mountain to be 8846 metres high. However, questions were again raised about the methods used. Several other surveys have been conducted since, and today the official height, recognised by both China and Nepal, is 8848m.
The first people to officially climb Everest and reach its peak were Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay. This feat was accomplished in the year 1953.
Since then, over 4000 people have successfully reached the peak of the world's highest mountain. The number of actual official summits stands at more than 7000.
Two Sherpas, called Apa Sherpa and Phurba Tashi Sherpa, hold the record for climbing Everest the most. They have both reached the top 21 times.
While Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay are famously known for being the first to reach the summit, an interesting event occurred before this. In 1924, two men called George Mallory and Andrew Irvine launched aN attempt to reach the peak. However, their expedition was ill-fated. They were last seen progressing up the mountain, not far from the summit, before disappearing. George Mallory's remains were found 75 years later, while Andrew Irvine's have never been located. It is not known whether they actually reached the summit or not, and this is a topic of much research and debate.
The youngest person to reach the peak of Everest was a boy from the USA called Jordan Romero. He reached the top in 2010, when he was just 13 years old. He was accompanied by his father, stepmother, and three Sherpas.
The oldest person to reach the top of Everest was a climber from Japan called Yuichiro Miura, who was 80 years old when he summitted in 2013. He broke his own record of being the oldest person climb it at 70 years old in 2003. He did this after having two heart surgeries, in 2006 and 2007.
In 1975, Junko Tabei, a woman from China, became the first female climber to summit Everest. She was also the first woman to achieve the feat of climbing the "Seven Summits", the highest peak on each of the world's seven continents.
In 2014, a 13-year-old girl from India became the youngest girl to reach the peak of Everest. She is also the youngest Indian to have reached the top.
Mount Everest has long been held in high religious and cultural regard by the communities of the region. The Sherpa people of Nepal, who are famous for their traditional lifestyle in the mountain's region, have always treated Everest as sacred. They believe that demons and gods reside in the upper regions, while the lower regions are home to the fabled Yeti (also known as the Abominable Snowman). The Sherpas have also built Buddhist monasteries at the base of Everest and raised prayer flags on its slopes.
Another religious belief related to Everest is that Miyolangsangma, a goddess of Tibetan Buddhism, lived at the top of the mountain. Miyolangsangma is the "goddess of inexhaustible giving", and Everest is her palace.
Mount Everest is not a place that is thriving with biodiversity. This is of course due to the extreme climate conditions of the region. However, at 6840 metres, you will find a moss growing, which is believed to hold the record for the plant species found at the highest altitude.
Some bird species have been recorded at various altitudes around Mount Everest- these include the chough and the bar-headed goose.
A famous insect, the black jumping spider, is also found on Everest. Its scientific name is Euophrys omnisuperstes, and it usually seen in small dark spaces. It is also believed to hold a record: that of the "highest non-microscopic permanent resident" on earth. Scientists believe that there may also be more microscopic organisms living at higher altitudes on Everest.
Mount Everest is not just for climbing. Adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers have long used the mountain as a playground for extreme sports and adventure activities. In the 1970s, a man called Yuichiro Miura was the first person to ski down the slopes of Everest. Several others have done so since. In 2001, two men snowboarded on Everest, while in 1986, Steve McKinney was the first person to hang-glide off the mountain. More recently, in 2013, a man called Valery Rozov completed a successful BASE jump off Everest, creating the record for the highest BASE jump in the world.
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