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The world's highest mountains: the 14 eight-thousanders
How would the world change if mountains did not exist? Earthly travel would undoubtedly be easier, but without mountains, for example, so many natural boundaries that have divided peoples for centuries would disappear, helping them also to define their own culture and, not secondary, to defend themselves against enemies.
Although the number of mountains in the world is virtually incalculable, only 14 exceed 8,000 meters, and they have been a land of conquest for the most fearless climbers in recent decades.
But what are these 14 magnificent 8,000-meter peaks? And where in the world are they located? Let's find out together, referring to measurements made by the magazine Focus.
Everest (8,848 meters)
Everest is the world's highest peak, located in the Himalaya range between China and Nepal. It was first ascended on May 29, 1953, by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and sherpa Tenzing Norgay , who climbed it from the South Col and up to the Southeast Ridge.
K2 (8,611 meters)
The second highest peak in the world. On July 31, 1954, an Italian expedition led by geologist Ardito Desio reached the peak (it is in fact also known as the "mountain of the Italians," a year after the conquest of the Everest.
Aaron Ostrovsky - Wikipedia.org
Kangchenjunga (8,586 meters)
It is the highest peak in all of India and the easternmost peak in the entire range of Himalaya. The first ascent of the main summit was made on May 25, 1955 by George Band and Joe Brown, part of a British expedition led by Charles Evans, for the southwest face.
Uwe Gille - Wikipedia.org
Lhotse (8,516 meters)
This peak is directly connected toEverest, part of the same mountain range, via the so-called South Col. The first ascent was made in 1956 by a Swiss expedition led by Albert Eggler and consisting of Wolfgang Diel, Hans Grimm, Hansrudolf Von Gunten, Eduard Leuthold, Fritz Luchsinher, Jürg Marmet, Fritz Müller, Ernest Reiss, Adolf Reist ed Ernst Schmied, as well as 22 sherpa.
Ben Tubby - Wikipedia.org
Makalu (8,462 meters)
This peak, the fifth highest in the entire world, is on the border between Nepal and Tibet, and is about 22km from Everest. The summit of Makalu was conquered on May 15, 1955 by Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy, belonging to a French expedition led by Jean Franco, Guido Magnone and Sirdar Gyaltsen Norbu who reached it the following day, followed by Bouvier, from S. Coupe, da Leroux and A. Vialatte.
Uwe Gille - Wikipedia.org
Cho Oyu (8,201 meters)
This was the fifth Eight-Thousander to be officially climbed, on the Nepal-China border and 20km from Everest. The first ascent was made on October 19, 1954 by the Austrians Herbert Tichy, Joseph Jöchler and sherpa Pasang Dawa Lama, along the northwest face. This ascent, contrary to what was happening at that time, was accomplished in "alpine style," that is, without oxygen tanks.
Sergey Ashmarin - Wikipedia.org
Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters)
According to "1001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die", this peak, discovered in the early 1800s, was considered the world's highest mountain 30 years later. The first ascent was made on May 13, 1960 by a Swiss/Austrian expedition led by Max Eiselin, along with Kurt Diemberger, Peter Diener, Ernst Forrer, Albin Schelbert, Nyima Dorji and Nawang Dorji.
Ben Tubby - Wikipedia.org
Manaslu (8,163 meters)
Besides being the eighth highest mountain in the world, it also has two other peaks: the East Pinnacle (7,992 m) and the North Pinnacle (7,157 m). The first ascent was completed on May 9, 1956 by the Japanese Toshio Imanishi and the Nepalese Gyalzen Norbu, part of a Japanese expedition led by Yuko Maki, along the northeast slope by the current normal route.
Imrankhakwani - Wikipedia.org
Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters)
Also called Diamir (Mountain of the Gods), it is located in Pakistan. Because of its unique location on the sul side of the Indus Valley, it is considered the only eight-thousand-meter peak in Kashmir. The first ascent was made on July 3, 1953 by Austrian mountaineer Hermann Buhl with an Austrian-German expedition led by Karl Maria Herrligkoffer.
Vyacheslav Argenberg - Wikipedia.org
Annapurna (8,091 meters)
It was the first Eight-Thousander in history to be conquered, in 1950, by a French-led expedition Maurice Herzog.
Gasherbrum I (8,068 meters)
Also called Hidden Peak, it is the 11th highest mountain in the world. The first ascent was made on July 5, 1958 by Pete Schoening and Andy Kauffman, members of the U.S. expedition led by Nicholas B. Clinch.
Syed Hasan Shabbar - Wikipedia.org
Broad Peak (8,047 meters)
Also known as K3, it is located on the border between China and Pakistan. The first ascent was made on June 9, 1957 by the Austrian expedition consisting of Marcus Schmuck, Fritz Wintersteller, Kurt Diemberger and Hermann Buhl. On this occasion, neither oxygen tanks nor high altitude porters were used.
Gasherbrum II (8,035 meters)
Also known as K4, it is the second highest peak in the Gasherbrum massif . The first ascent was made on July 8, 1956 by Fritz Moravec, Josef Larch and Hans Willenpart, members of an Austrian expedition.
Shisha Pangma (8,027 meters)
By definition, this therefore is the lowest peak of the 14 Eight-Thousanders. It is the only one located in China, and it was the last to be conquered partly because of the obvious restrictions dl the Beijing government. The first ascent of Shisha Pangma was made on May 2, 1964 by a Chinese expedition led by Xǔ Jìng.
Iamthanes - Wikipedia.org
Nirmal Purja, King of the Eight-Thousanders
Hero of the Eight-Thousanders is currently Nirmal Purja, a Nepalese climber, who in 2019 won the record for climbing all 14 Eight-Thousanders in the same season, taking only 189 days, just over six months, thanks in part to his project "Project Possibile", which also became a documentary on Netflix.
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Home page
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