Las montañas más altas del mundo
Formed millions of years ago at the collision of tectonic plates, mountains are the sky-kissing titans of our world. Their size and natural beauty inspire fear and wonder in the hearts of aspiring alpinists. Yet some rocky giants make even the most seasoned mountaineer tremble. So, put on your crampons and clip in your carabiner as we explore the tallest mountains on Earth.
How do you measure the size of a mountain? That depends on where you’re measuring from!
¿Cuál es la montaña más alta del mundo?
The highest mountain is defined by the highest peak elevation above sea level. By this definition, the highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest, located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas in Asia. In total, it measures a colossal 8,849 metres high. Considering 2,500m is the usual height for high altitude illness (HAI), we can see why climbing Mount Everest requires years of mountaineering experience and training. Not to mention a very strong resolve.
Read our article Lo que aprendí escalando el Everest, to see how David Radford-Wilson faced this challenge.
What is the Tallest Mountain in the World?
The tallest mountain is defined by the greatest distance from base to peak. The actual crown for the tallest mountain in the world goes to the lesser-known Hawaiian mountain, Mauna Kea. In its entirety, it measures a staggering 10,205m from base to peak, with 6,000 metres of it below sea level. Mauna Kea is also an inactive volcano, having last erupted some 4,500 years ago and completely safe to visit today.
What is the Largest Mountain in the World?
When measured by mass, Mauna Kea also wins the title of the world’s largest mountain, with a cubic volume of 32,000 km3. It is so massive, it depresses the ocean floor by 6 kilometres!
¿Cuáles son los picos más altos del mundo?
The tallest peaks in the world overall can mostly be found in the Himalayas of Nepal. Here are the top five highest peaks after Mount Everest:
- Mount K2, Pakistan – 8,611 m
- Mount Kangchenjunga, Nepal – 8,586 m
- Mount Lhotse, Nepal – 8,516 m
- Mount Makalu, Nepal – 8,481 m
- Mount Cho Oyu, Nepal – 8,201 m
¿Qué son las Siete Cumbres?
We now know that, above sea level, Everest is the highest peak in the world, and many experienced climbers make it their life’s mission to conquer it. However, six other mountains often make it onto a motivated hiker’s bucket list. These seven summits make up the highest mountains on each of the seven continents.
Aconcagua, Sudamérica
Aconcagua is the tallest mountain outside of Asia, measuring 6,960m. Situated at the heart of the Andes in Argentina, Aconcagua has multiple base camps. It’s popular amongst seasoned climbers testing their endurance, because it does not necessarily require any technical skills, like navigating glaciers. For beginners’ intent on embarking on the Seven Summits, experts recommend trying Kilimanjaro or Elbrus first.
Denali, Norteamérica
Denali is the tallest mountain in North America, and measures 6,914m. It is considered an incredibly treacherous trek amongst climbers. Those wishing to climb this mountain need specialist glacier and team rope travel skills. Additionally, the weather on Denali can be extremely unstable, so it is recommended to travel during North America’s summer months to decrease the chance of freak weather. Denali is home to lots of wildlife, including plenty of Dall sheep, which can be spotted at very high altitudes. Their cloven hooves give them extraordinary balance!
El Capitan is worth a special mention here. While it is not one of the tallest mountains in the world, it is famous for its overhanging vertical granite cliff face which is nearly 1 kilometre tall, and is one of the world’s most famous, and most difficult, climbs. Despite this, Ella Kirkpatrick climbed El Capitan at only 13 years old. Read about her experience in our article What I Learnt Climbing El Capitan.
Kilimanjaro, África
Kilimanjaro is the tallest and most famous mountain in Africa. Despite its impressive size, Kilimanjaro is popular among beginner climbers as no specialist skills are required, plus, the Tanzanian weather is usually consistent. That being said, experts still recommend a vigorous training routine before attempting this climb because, at 5,895m, Kilimanjaro is no small feat! This mountain is a popular charity hike destination with National Army Cadet Ambassador, Jordan Wylie, completing the trek barefoot!
Elbrus, Europa
Mount Elbrus is the tallest mountain in Europe at 5,642m tall. It is located in Russia’s Caucasus Mountains. Its snowy and icy terrain makes Elbrus a challenging endeavour, especially with the added weight of heavy boots and crampons. It is recommended to attempt this climb in Russia’s summer months to avoid an unforgiving and potentially deadly winter. To add to the mountain’s mystique, climbers may spot evidence of its volcanic history, apparent as sulphurous gases emanate from its eastern slopes.
Macizo de Vinson, Antártida
Vinson Massif is the tallest mountain in Antarctica, standing at 4,892m. Due to its isolation and late discovery, Vinson Massif was first summited in 1966, over ten years after Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed Everest. This climb must only be attempted during Antarctica’s summer months, which occur between December and January. Summiting Vinson Massif requires extensive experience in both mountaineering and enduring the coldest climates. Despite being the second smallest of the Seven Summits, Vinson Massif is often one of the last climbs people do before attempting Everest.
Pirámide de Carstensz, Oceanía
Carstensz Pyramid, also known as Puncak Jaya, can be found on the island of Papua New Guinea and stands 4,884m tall. Reaching base camp will involve a trek through remote and exotic jungles, a stark contrast to the snowy contours of the mountain peaks.
Table of the Tallest Mountains in the World
| Mountain | País | Mountain Range | Height above sea level (metres) | Height above sea level (feet) | First Climbed |
| Mount Everest | Nepal/China | Himalayas | 8,849 | 29,032 | 1953 |
| K2 | Pakistan/China | Karakoram | 8,611 | 28,251 | 1954 |
| Kangchenjunga | Nepal/India | Himalayas | 8,586 | 28,169 | 1955 |
| Lhotse | Nepal/China | Himalayas | 8,516 | 27,940 | 1956 |
| Makalu | Nepal/China | Himalayas | 8,484 | 27,838 | 1955 |
| Cho Oyu | Nepal/China | Himalayas | 8,188 | 26,864 | 1954 |
| Aconcagua | Argentina | Andes | 6,961 | 22,837 | 1897 |
| Denali | USA | Alaska Range | 6,190 | 20,310 | 1913 |
| Kilimanjaro | Tanzania | Ninguno | 5,895 | 19,341 | 1889 |
| Mount Elbrus | Rusia | Caucasus | 5,642 | 18,510 | 1874 |
| Vinson Massif | Antarctica | Sentinal Range | 4,892 | 16,050 | 1966 |
| Carstensz Pyramid | Indonedia | Sudirman Range | 4,884 | 16,024 | 1962 |
| Mauna Kea | Hawaii | Hawaii | 4,207 | 13,803* | Unrecorded |
| Ben Nevis | Scotland | Grampian Mountains | 1,345 | 4,413 | 1787 |
The Tallest Mountain in the UK – Ben Nevis
While climbing the Seven Summits may seem far-fetched to the inexperienced climber, some alpine treks are much more achievable. In Britain, we have our very own mountains that are popular tourist destinations. The biggest mountain in the world may be in Nepal, but we have its itsy-bitsy cousin right here in the UK.
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain, standing at 1,345m, and located in the Grampian Mountain Range in Scotland. Summiting this mountain will take roughly 6-9 hours and reaching its peak will reward you with panoramic views of the Scottish Highlands. It might be a small mountain compared to others on our list, but it is mighty!
Experts recommend wrapping up in waterproof and windproof clothing and bringing along plenty of high-energy snacks like dried fruit and biscuits before attempting this trek. Over 150,000 visitors climb Ben Nevis each year, so while it is a big achievement to climb, it is well within reach.
Ben Nevis is also part of the famous Three Peaks Challenge, which includes Snowdon (1,085 metres tall) in Wales, and Scafell Pike (978 metres tall) in England.
¿Cuál es la cordillera más larga de la Tierra?
Los Andes, en Sudamérica, ostentan el título de cadena montañosa más larga sobre el nivel del mar, con más de 6.000 kilómetros. Sin embargo, sumergida bajo el océano, la dorsal oceánica da la vuelta al globo a lo largo de nada menos que 40.389 millas.
What is the Tallest Mountain in the Solar System?
We’ve discussed the tallest, highest, and largest mountains on Earth, but the biggest mountain in the solar system, by any measure, is actually on Mars. Olympus Mons is over 21,000 kilometres high, making it 2.5 times higher than Mount Everest above sea level. Like Hawaii’s Mauna Kea, Olympus Mons also used to be an active volcano but given that it last erupted 25 million years ago, and is on another planet, we probably have nothing to worry about.
The Army Cadets can’t take you to Mars, but you can read more about some amazing unexplored places on Earth.
Go Further with Army Cadets
Even the tallest mountains in the world are within your reach. The Army Cadets Adventurous Training prepares Cadets with the skills and experiences to take them as far as they want. We provide specialist climbing qualifications provided by expert instructors. To get involved, encuentre su destacamento más cercano hoy.
Image credit
Ben Nevis: Photo by Migle Siauciulyte en Unsplash