Where is Mount Everest?
Mount Everest is located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas. Mount Everest overlaps the continental boundary between the Indian tectonic plate (Nepal) and the Eurasian tectonic plate (Tibetan Plateau), right along the Nepal-Tibet (China) border, situated at the ridge of the Himalayan mountain chain.
More specifically:
- The Nepali side of Mount Everest lies within Sagarmatha National Park, in the Solu-Khumbu district. Nepal's side of face is popularly known as the South Face.
- On the Tibetan side, Mount Everest is located within Chomolungma or Qomolangma National Nature Preserve, which falls under the administration of Dingri County, Shigatse. This side of the face is popularly known as the North Face.
The precise summit coordinates of Mount Everest are:
27°59′17′′N 86°55′31′′E
- 27°59′17′′N - This indicates the mountain is located at 27.98806 degrees North latitude.
- 86°55′31′′E - This longitude of 86.92528 degrees East means it lies towards the eastern side of Nepal and the country's border with China.
For centuries, people in Nepal and Tibet worshipped MOUNT EVEREST as a sacred abode for deities. Scientists and geographers were for so long in the quest to discover the world's highest point. In 1856, Everest was officially designated the highest mountain in the world after years of painstaking trigonometrical surveys across the Himalayas.
After that, brave adventurers from around the world were fascinated by the mighty summit of Everest and went on their quest to conquer it. These adventurers risked their lives to stand on its summit and witness the experience, the feeling of being on the highest point on Earth.
Over 300 people have died trying. Today, thanks to advanced equipment and commercial guiding operations, hundreds now reach the top annually during narrow weather windows in April/May. However, the mountain retains an air of mystery and danger.
Birth of Mount Everest: How Everest Came into Existence?
Mount Everest, which is a part of the Himalayan Mountain Range, formed through a very fascinating geological process that took place millions of years ago. The history of Everest begins with the collision of continents.
Let us first understand TECTONIC PLATES. These are in simple, large moving pieces that float beneath the Earth's crust. So, 50-60 million years ago, the Indian tectonic plate, which is now India, collided with the Eurasian tectonic plate to the North, which now includes much of Asia.
With profound force, when the Indian Plate pushed the Eurasian Plate, it crumbled and folded, crafting the Himalayan Mountain Range, the planet’s youngest, highest mountain range. To explain, Mount Everest was actually a part of the ancient ocean floor, but under the rising pressure of this collision, it pushed, lifted, and metamorphosed into a towering peak.
It is said that Mount Everest is primarily made of Limestone and metamorphic rocks. The geologists have even found marine fossils, which show that Everest was once underwater. Furthermore, it is also believed that there is an ongoing movement among the tectonic plates that is pushing the Himalayas upwards, which may increase the height by a tiny level.
Everest's permanent snow line is at 26,000 feet. With peak temperatures below -30° F and jet stream winds exceeding 100 mph, it hosts an intensely sub-zero, inhospitable environment.
Discovery of Mount Everest and its Naming: How was Peak XV named Everest?
For centuries, Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak, remained in mystery since its soaring summit remained unseen to the mortal eye. Towering somewhere high in the Himalayas, this unnamed titan fascinated explorers and mapmakers.
In the early 1800s, the British Colonial administration extended its territory into India and further to the Himalayas. It was during this time that the Imperial British started to survey the Indian subcontinent. During that time, uncovering the HIGHEST POINT ON EARTH became an irresistible challenge due to its remoteness. They spent years obsessively hunting altitudes, calculating angles, and plotting coordinate points.
However, Everest was identified as the world's highest through the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India. In1841, British surveyor Sir George Everest calculated the Himalayas’ tallest peaks and labeled notable peaks with numbers. During this significant survey, Everest was given the number PEAK XV (Peak Fifteen).
There have been a few confusions and inaccuracies regarding the highest point on earth in the early 1800s. Like for example, Mt. Dhaulagiri, 8167 meters, was briefly considered the highest, which is now the 7th highest mountain in the world. Moreover, for a time being Mt. Kanchanjunga was taken as the highest due to its prominent visibility.
Eventually, in 1852, an Indian mathematician, Radhanath Sikdar, working for the survey, discovered PEAK XV to be the highest point on earth. The height of PEAK 15 at that point reported was 29,002 feet, very close to the currently accepted measurement.
Until then, Everest was popularly known as Chomolungma (Goddess Mother of Mountains) in Tibet and Sagarmatha (Goddess of the Sky) in Nepal. After the demise of Sir George Everest, the Royal Geographical Society officially named it after him as 'EVEREST' despite his objections. In 1865, after careful surveys, Everest was confirmed as Earth’s highest point.
The religious significance of Mount Everest: The Ancient Belief:
For centuries, Mount Everest has been worshipped by local Tibetan and Nepali people as a sacred mountain. In Tibetan culture, it carries the name 'CHHOMOLUNGMA,' meaning 'Goddess Mother of the World'. The people of Nepal call it 'SAGARMATHA,' referring to the 'Goddess of the Sky'. These names reflect the divine symbolism surrounding the mountain peak.
In the Buddhist and Bon religions, it is believed that, as part of the Himalayan range, Everest links heaven and earth like a bridge. In Tibet, Mt. Chomolungma is believed to be the sacred dwelling place of the goddess Miyo Langsangma, who is considered the protector of the region.
Mount Everest has long been viewed as a holy and spiritual place for female deities and mother goddesses to reside. The mountain has served as a refuge where these maternal divine beings find sanctuary to dwell and are worshipped by people.
As such, Mount Everest has always been worshipped with devotion both in Nepal and Tibet. It is said that Everest is a divine realm and was never meant for human conquest. For generations, there have been tales passed down, speaking of Everest being the sacred dwelling place of the divine.
According to ancient wisdom carried in the hearts of the Himalayan communities, a person would inevitably face the mountain's wrath if he/she chose to dare to step on the holy slopes. This wisdom doesn’t just talk about Everest but any high mountains.
They also believed that climbing Everest would disturb the harmony between heaven and earth since it’s like intruding upon the realm where only the divine should dwell.
Due to this ancient belief, even today, all local guides and mountaineers offer prayers and offerings asking for guidance and forgiveness before climbing any mountains.
When outsiders, for the first time, arrived in the 1900s seeking to conquer these holy mountains, the locals were skeptical about their intrusion. There were tensions and commotion between the believers who worship Everest as their God and the modern crowds of climbers who wanted to conquer Everest for glory.
Famous peaks surrounding Mount Everest:
Some of the most famous peaks surrounding Mount Everest include:
- Mt. Lhotse: The 4th highest mountain in the world at 8,516 meters (27,940 feet), Lhotse is connected to Everest by the South Col pass.
- Mt. Makalu: The 5th highest mountain at 8,485 meters (27,762 feet), Makalu lies just 12 miles southeast of Everest on the Nepal/Tibet border. It is considered one of the most difficult 8000-meter peaks to climb.
- Mt. Cho Oyu: At 8,201 meters (26,907 feet), Cho Oyu is the 6th-tallest mountain and is often described as the "easiest" 8000-meter peak due to a gentler slope.
- Mt. Pumori: Although just 7,161 meters (23,494 ft), Pumori is known as Everest's 'daughter peak'. Pumori is a stunningly beautiful peak but a notoriously difficult climb.
- Nuptse: Adjacent to Everest's Western Cwm route, Nuptse has several small summits, the highest reaching 7,861 meters (25,791 feet).
- Changtse: At 24,870 feet (7,580 m), Changtse is a popular acclimatization climb for Everest aspirants. Linked to Everest by the North Col, climbers traverse Changtse to prepare for Everest's extreme elevation.
- Ama Dablam: Known as the Matterhorn of Nepal, it stands at 6,812 meters (22,349 feet), considered one of the most technical peak in the Himalayas.
Pioneering Expeditions: Early Everest Attempts:
In 1921, Britain's Mount Everest Committee launched a Mount Everest reconnaissance expedition to find routes to the summit. British climber George Mallory was part of the early British expeditions in 1921, 1922, and 1924 that attempted to be the first to reach Mount Everest's summit. As a skilled alpinist, Mallory was chosen to lead the first-ever climbing attempts on Mount Everest.
In 1922, Armed with primitive oxygen tanks and clothing, Mallory, with his 3 other climbing associates, managed to get to the height of 26,985 feet / 8,225 meters. Due to adverse weather, they had to return from 26,985 feet. However, this still was the biggest breakthrough, which was indeed the highest elevation ever reached by humans in the history of mountaineering.
Driven by his burning desire to conquer Everest, Mallory returned in 1924 with climbing partner Andrew Irvine. Thus, the famous 1924 British Mount Everest Expedition set out to make history. On June 6th, fellow expedition member Noel Odell spotted them climbing high on Everest's Northeast Ridge.
Unfortunately, there was a change in the weather, and then the clouds rolled in and the climbers vanished, never to be seen alive again. Mallory’s body was discovered in 1999 at 26,700 feet. With this discovery, there were speculations that Mallory and Irvine may have been the first to summit Everest 29 years before the official first ascent.
When it comes to the first ascent of Everest, Mallory's 1924 expedition becomes a hot topic with speculations and theories. However, whether Mallory and Irvine made it to the summit of the highest peak on Earth is still a mystery.
After seven failed attempts, the British Expedition once again set out on their quest for Everest in 1953. Finally, on May 29, 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa made the first verified ascent via the South Face Route from Nepal. This face was also the first attempted route in 1992.
In the course of time, all the previous Everest attempts from Mallory to Hillary inspired many for the Himalayan quest. Everest became a symbolic attraction for mountaineers from around the world who are willing to risk everything for glory. Thousands have summited Everest by now. The record of a successful Everest summit in 2024 shows around 7,269 climbers since the first ascent of 1953. If you account for repeated climbs by some individuals, the total number of successful ascents can reach around 12,884.
Tales from the Death Zone:
Where does the Death Zone lie on Everest? From Camp IV and above, the oxygen-deprived altitude from 8,000 meters / 26,247 feet is Everest’s DEATH ZONE. This is the dangerous zone where the air is so thin that it only has one-third of oxygen, the chill factor is extreme, and where the wind blows at 200 km/h / 124 mph.
Our body starts to break down and react in a different way, where conditions like Hypoxia and extreme exhaustion develop. From 8000m and above, climbers have reported hallucinating and a state of confusion. Due to insufficient oxygen, the Everest climbers have to deal with extreme life situations where their brains and lungs swell, Hypothermia and frostbite become too extreme. It also affects the normal brain functions, where clear thinking becomes difficult.
There is a saying by famous mountaineers that the DEATH ZONE while climbing Everest, starts from the Base Camp itself. In 1996, Mount Everest witnessed its deadliest day, when eight lives were lost to a fierce blizzard, as told in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air. This incident was considered a TRAGIC MOMENT in the history of the Everest Expedition. Over time, hundreds of climbers have perished on the unforgiving slopes, their bodies buried in ice where they met their end.
There are ample, simple stone graves now built in the region over the names of those who lost their lives while attempting to conquer Everest. All these tombs are a simple reminder that beautiful Everest indeed hides a lethal danger for the mortals who are unprepared for its wrath. However, it is very surprising to witness how Everest spellbinds these mortals that climbers still return each year.
However, hundreds of people have perished on Everest, about 4.5% of all who tried. Dangers include avalanches, blizzards, high winds, altitude sickness, and falls given difficult terrain. There are lots of unforeseen hazards before us while climbing Everest, and it is certainly a DEATH ZONE. A serious risk assessment is crucial before you risk your life and set out on your quest to summit this giant.
Mount Everest Dead Bodies:
Mount Everest has rightly been termed as the Grave of the Sky, or some call it a Widow's Peak. It has claimed the lives of many since the expeditions began in the 1920s, from Mallory to date. When climbers meet with their tragic end in the course of climbing Everest, their bodies often remain on the slopes where they took their last breath.
Retrieving dead bodies from this bitter, high-altitude environment presents huge challenges, so they are left in the mountains for good. There are a few rare occasions when someone's body has been retrieved with the help of the climbing professionals. Additionally, the local mountaineers consider removing bodies from the 'Icy graveyard' of Everest as disrespectful.
The Sub-Zero temperatures and high winds of Everest essentially mummify corpses lying on its slopes and within ice crevasses. Temperatures never rise above freezing, which preserves the body for decades from decomposing. However, there are high chances of it being withered due to the high jet stream winds.
Bodies like that of the 'Green Boots (1996)' climber or the 'Sleeping Beauty' were so well preserved that they were recognizable for decades. Melting glaciers may eventually eject bodies, but most get preserved and appear as uncanny landmarks over the climbing routes. This is indeed a generous reminder of Everest to all those who test their limits here seeking glory and fame.
Mount Everest Today
In addition to independent climbers pursuing their dreams, today commercial guiding operations take as many as 1,000 clients up the mountain each spring. The cost of climbing Everest ranges from $35,000 to $130,000 due to extensive staff support, supplies, and oxygen. Nepal and China try to limit the permits to avoid dangerous overcrowding although numbers topped 800 in 2019.
However, still, many more attain the goal of stepping on the head of Everest, thanks to all the support teams. In all of these expeditions, we always have Behind the Scene Heros, the Mountain PORTERS, without whom nothing is possible in the wilderness.
Nevertheless, Everest remains a symbol of human endurance and determination. It symbolizes human perseverance, where we push our limits with courage and overcome the impossible. It has also become the symbol of human glory where humans risk their lives but only the most ambitious and capable ever reach.
It is believed that as a home to deities Mount Everest is not to be disturbed. This mountain was never there for conquest. Today many lament the over-commercialization of Mount Everest as opposed to Chomolungma's divine status for centuries.
Tragic Losses on Mount Everest: Greatest Tragedy:
1. 1996 Mount Everest Disaster (May 10–11, 1996)
In the year 1996, a severe blizzard struck climbers, leading to one of the tragic events on Everest. The blizzard affected multiple expeditions, notably the Adventure Consultants team led by Rob Hall and the Mountain Madness team led by Scott Fischer.
It is said that 12 climbers died, making it the Tragic Everest Event until beaten in 2014 and 2015. But in the main 1996 expedition, 8 people died, which occurred during the May 10–11 storm, as detailed in Into Thin Air.
This tragic event is recounted in Jon Krakauer’s book ‘INTO THIN AIR'.
Fatalities
- Rob Hall: 35, New Zealand, Adventure Consultants leader.
- Scott Fischer: 40, USA, Mountain Madness leader.
- Doug Hansen: 46, USA, Adventure Consultants client.
- Yasuko Namba: 47, Japan, Adventure Consultants client.
- Andy Harris: 31, New Zealand, Adventure Consultants guide.
- Tsewang Paljor: 28, India, Indo-Tibetan Border Police): believed to be 'Green Boots', a notable landmark until 2014.
- Dorje Morup: 47, India, Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
- Tsewang Smanla: India, Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
2. Mount Everest Avalanche (April 18, 2014)
In the Spring of 2014, one of the biggest avalanches in the Khumbu icefall killed 16 Sherpas. This was one of the deadliest incidents on Everest after the 1996 tragedy. After this tragic disaster, all the climbing Sherpas boycotted the 2014 Everest Expedition season to honor their dead Sherpa colleagues and demanded compensation.
3. Nepal Earthquake and Everest Avalanches (April 25, 2015)
In the year 2015, Nepal was struck by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which triggered avalanches on Everest. This monster avalanche swept through Everest Base Camp, killing at least 22 people. This is now considered one of the deadliest days in Everest Expedition History. Much like in 2014, this disaster once again halted the Everest climbing for the season.
Fatalities:
- 10 Nepali Sherpas.
- 5 foreign climbers: 2 Americans, 1 Chinese, 1 Australian, and 1 Japanese.
- 4 unidentified victims.
Is Everest Still Growing?
Yes, Mount Everest is said to be growing with more or less 2 cm every year. While exact measurements vary year to year, Everest is still growing due to the tectonic action. The Indian plate continues plunging northward, pushing the Eurasian plate and folding the Himalayas ever higher.
As technology improves, calculations of Mount Everest’s elevation using GPS and satellite data are refining its summit’s exact position and height down to the centimeter.
In summary, Mount Everest remains the ultimate test for climbers seeking to stand atop the world. Since the first verified summit 70 years ago, more than 330 have died in pursuit of this dangerous yet profoundly pleasing goal.
For cultures that have long worshipped their sacred peaks, Mount Everest or Chomolungma remains a timeless protector with spiritual power.
Famous treks in the Everest Region:
Everest Base Camp
Everest High Passes Trek
Everest Base Camp and Island Peak
Gokyo Lake
Ama Dablam Base Camp
