Mount Everest: Facts, History, Routes, and Culture

Fast Facts About Mount Everest

To grasp the sheer scale of Mount Everest, it helps to start with the numbers. These core statistics provide a quick snapshot of the mountain’s essential characteristics and its history as a climbing destination. They form the foundation of every Everest expedition and story.

Each of these facts tells a story—of geological power, human endurance, and immense risk. The mountain continues to grow by about 4 millimeters each year due to the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Learn more about the science behind Everest on our Science Page.

Where Is Mount Everest?

Mount Everest is located directly on the international border separating Nepal to the south and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north. Its southern face lies within Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its dramatic landscapes and unique Sherpa culture. The northern face is situated in China’s Qomolangma National Nature Preserve.

The mountain is the crown jewel of the Mahalangur Himal, a section of the Great Himalayas that contains four of the world’s six highest peaks. For climbers, the location dictates the entire expedition. The southern approach begins with a flight to Lukla in Nepal, followed by a multi-day trek through the Khumbu Valley. The northern approach, by contrast, is accessible by vehicle up to the Chinese Base Camp in Tibet. The mountain’s name itself reflects its location: “Sagarmatha” in Nepal and “Chomolungma” in Tibet are names deeply tied to the geography and spirituality of these two distinct regions.

How Tall Is Mount Everest?

The official height of Mount Everest is 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet). This figure was announced in December 2020 following a joint survey conducted by Nepal and China, which used modern GPS and ground-penetrating radar to provide the most accurate measurement to date. This settled a long-standing debate over previous measurements.

Measuring the world’s highest mountain has a long history:

• 1856: The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India calculated the height as 8,840 m (29,002 ft), naming it “Peak XV.”
• 1955: An Indian survey produced a widely accepted height of 8,848 m (29,029 ft).
• 1999 & 2005: US and Chinese surveys produced slightly different figures, creating a minor controversy over whether to measure to the rock summit or the top of the snowpack.

The 2020 survey is now the globally accepted standard. Interestingly, the summit of Mount Everest is composed of marine limestone, meaning the rocks at the highest point on Earth were once part of an ancient ocean floor, pushed skyward by immense geological forces.

History in a Nutshell

The history of Mount Everest is a timeline of exploration, tragedy, and human triumph. Long revered by local populations, it entered the Western consciousness in the 19th century and has been a focal point of mountaineering ever since.

The early chapters were defined by British expeditions. In the 1920s, climbers like George Mallory made pioneering attempts from the Tibetan side. When asked why he wanted to climb Everest, Mallory famously replied, “Because it’s there.” He and his partner, Andrew Irvine, disappeared near the summit in 1924, creating one of mountaineering’s greatest mysteries.

The definitive breakthrough came on May 29, 1953, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit via the Southeast Ridge. Their success was a global event, symbolizing a new age of exploration. Since then, Everest has seen numerous milestones:

• 1975: Junko Tabei of Japan became the first woman to summit Mount Everest.
• 1978: Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler made the first ascent without supplemental oxygen, a feat once thought impossible.
• 1980: A Polish team led by Andrzej Zawada completed the first-ever winter ascent.
• 2019: Nirmal “Nims” Purja summited Everest as part of his record-breaking project to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in under seven months.

Dive deeper into the full story of these iconic climbs and forgotten ascents on our History Page.

Everest as a Cultural Icon

For the local Sherpa people, Mount Everest is not a conquest but a sacred entity. Chomolungma is considered the home of Miyolangsangma, a Tibetan Buddhist goddess of prosperity and good fortune. This reverence is a central part of the climbing experience. No expedition begins without a Puja ceremony at Base Camp, where a lama blesses the climbers and their equipment, asking the mountain for safe passage.

This spiritual connection is woven into the fabric of the Khumbu region. Prayer flags, inscribed with mantras, are strung across valleys and on high passes, carrying prayers on the wind. Monasteries like the one in Tengboche are vital community centers, offering spiritual guidance against the backdrop of the world’s highest peaks. Festivals such as Mani Rimdu celebrate Sherpa traditions through masked dances and religious rituals. Understanding this cultural context is essential to truly appreciating Mount Everest. Explore more about Sherpa life and traditions on our Culture Page.

Climbing Mount Everest Today

Climbing Mount Everest is a serious undertaking requiring immense physical and financial commitment. Most climbers today use one of two main routes:

1. The Southeast Ridge (Nepal): The most popular route, pioneered by Hillary and Tenzing. It involves trekking to Base Camp, acclimatizing, and then navigating the treacherous Khumbu Icefall, the Western Cwm, the Lhotse Face, and finally the summit ridge.
2. The Northeast Ridge (Tibet): The route attempted by Mallory. It is considered technically less demanding in parts but involves spending more time at extreme altitudes.

The main climbing season is a narrow window in the pre-monsoon period, from late April to the end of May, when the jet stream moves north, leaving calmer weather. An expedition is a massive logistical operation, and the costs can range from $30,000 to over $100,000. This covers permits, oxygen, high-altitude Sherpa guides, food, gear, and camp logistics. For a detailed breakdown of expenses, visit our Costs Page. For a full guide on what you need, see our page on Gear.

Dangers and Safety on Everest

The allure of Mount Everest is matched only by its dangers. Above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) lies the infamous “death zone,” where oxygen levels are so low that the human body begins to shut down. Most fatalities on Everest occur in this zone, often during the descent when climbers are exhausted.

The primary risks include:

• Altitude Sickness: Ranging from Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) to life-threatening High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE).
• Objective Dangers: Avalanches, collapsing ice seracs (especially in the Khumbu Icefall), rockfalls, and sudden, violent storms.
• Human Factors: Exhaustion, dehydration, frostbite, and judgment errors caused by hypoxia.

While commercial expeditions have improved safety, the overall death rate on Mount Everest hovers around 1% of those who attempt to summit. With a success rate of about 60% for guided climbers, the odds are better than ever, but the mountain always has the final say. Safety depends on impeccable planning, acclimatization, experienced guides, and knowing when to turn back.

Environment & Climate Challenges

Mount Everest faces a growing environmental crisis. The impacts of climate change are profoundly visible on its slopes. The region’s glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate; the South Col Glacier has thinned by over 55 meters in the last 25 years. This melting destabilizes the ice, increasing the risk of avalanches and exposing rock that was once permanently frozen.

The mountain has also struggled with a garbage problem. Decades of expeditions left behind tons of empty oxygen bottles, food wrappers, and abandoned gear. In recent years, however, major clean-up campaigns have been launched. The “Sagarmatha Cleaning Campaign” and other efforts have removed over 20 tons of waste and several bodies from the higher camps. This shift towards sustainable mountaineering is critical for preserving Everest’s fragile high-altitude ecosystem, home to unique Mount Everest animals like the snow leopard and hardy Mount Everest plants like alpine cushion species.

Tools & Games

Ready to plan your own virtual expedition or test your knowledge? Use our interactive tools to get a better sense of what it takes to tackle the world’s highest peak.

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