“Because it’s there.”
That was how British mountaineer George Mallory famously retorted when asked why he wanted to climb Everest.
Those three words soon became legend in mountaineering circles. And they’ll likely resonate with anyone who’s passionate about travel too.
Just like mountaineers, travellers also long to go where few (or none) have gone before … to see unusual or extreme places … to overcome great challenges…
We adventure to experience for ourselves … to experience ourselves … and to pick up great tales along the way.
Sadly, while the world today is much more accessible for travel than it was in Mallory’s time (the 1920s), few will ever view, let alone stand on the top and view out from, the world’s most majestic peaks.
So we’ve put together this gallery of the highest mountains on each of the Earth’s continents – collectively known as the Seven Summits.
Our amazing featured image is by topgold.
Everest – Asia
• Height: 8,848 m / 29,029 ft
• Country: China (Tibet) / Nepal
• Mountain Range: Himalaya
• First Summitted: 1953
The mountain…
View from the top…
Aconcagua – South America
• Height: 6,961 m / 22,837 ft
• Country: Argentina
• Mountain Range: Andes
• First Summitted: 1897
The mountain …
View from the top (start at 2.00)…
Mount McKinley (Denali) – North America
• Height: 6,194 m / 20,320 ft
• Country: USA
• Mountain Range: Alaska Range
• First Summitted: 1913
The mountain …
View from the top …
Kilimanjaro – Africa
• Height: 5,895 m / 19,241 ft
• Country: Tanzania
• Mountain Range: N/A
• First Summitted: 1889
The mountain …
View from the top …
Elbrus – Europe
• Height: 5,642 m / 18,510
• Country: Russia
• Mountain Range: Caucasus
• First Summitted: 1874
The mountain …
View from the top …
Vinson Massif – Antarctica
• Height: 4,892 m / 16,050 fit
• Country: N/A
• Mountain Range: Ellsworth Mountains
• First Summitted: 1966
The mountain …
View from the top …
Warning, there’s some bad language in this clip:
Mount Kosciuszko – Australia
• Height: 2,228 m / 7,310 ft
• Country: New Guinea
• Mountain Range: Great Dividing Ridge
• First Summitted: 1840
The mountain …
View from the top …
The featured image is by jamarmstrong
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
