MOUNT EVEREST: 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Mount Everest is known worldwide for being the highest mountain in the world. Located in the Himalayas and marking the border between China and Nepal, it is a destination that only the bravest dare to discover. It is the dream of any climber, but due to its danger, this challenge is suitable only for a privileged few. An enclave of stunning beauty, this place hides secrets that you probably don't know. We are going to tell you 10 things you should know about Mount Everest:
1. WHY IS IT CALLED SO?
In western countries we know this mountain as “Everest”, although being located on the border between China and Nepal it has different names, depending on the country. In China she is called Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng, in Nepal Sagarmāthā (“front of heaven”) and in Tibet, Chomolungma (“Mountain Mother Goddess” ). Everest was named after George Everest, a British geographer and surveyor who, studying the meridian arc from southern India to Nepal, discovered this mountain.
2. IS EVEREST THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD?
Your 8.At 848.43 meters high, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. It has a shape that reminds us a bit of a pyramid. Although now you are going to get a surprise when you read this: itit is the highest mountain in the world, but not the highest. When calculating the height of a mountain, the base of the mountain submerged in the sea is also taken into account. If we analyze it like this, the highest mountain in the world is actually the Mauna Kea of Hawaii, whose height reaches 10.210 meters. So that you yourself can see the aesthetic differences between the two mountains, we attach Everest below, and Mauna Kea below.
3. THE HEIGHT OF EVEREST GROWS EVERY YEAR
Don't worry, the mountain has no life of its own. What happens is that India pushes the plate that supports Nepal and China and forces it to move up. This movement makes the mountain grow by 4 mm every year; If we calculate it, the mountain would only grow half a meter every 100 years. Sometimes it also decreases, when an earthquake occurs, for example. In 2015, due to the earthquake in Nepal, the mountain was reduced by 2.4 cm.
4. WHO WAS THE PIONEER TO CLIMB EVEREST?
Have you ever wondered who was the first person to climb Everest? Here we have the answer. At 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953, the top of Everest met its first two guests: New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. In case you don't know, the Sherpas are Nepalese mountain dwellers who, given their experience in the environment, accompany the mountaineers and carry their heaviest packages. From that moment, the lives of these two took a 360 degree turn. The New Zealand climber known as Sir Ed went from being a humble beekeeper to becoming the most famous climber in the world, and his name would go down in history. Today, more than 4.000 climbers have reached the summit, in total about 6.000 occasions.
5. “AGE DOESN'T MATTER”
How old do you think the oldest person who climbed Everest was? You won't believe it: 80 years old. It seems impossible, but it is not. In 2013, Yuichiro Miura became the oldest climber to reach the top of the world's highest mountain. however, this was not his first time; 10 years ago she had already climbed it. He wanted to repeat the experience a third time, at the age of 85. Sadly, in his last attempt to say goodbye to the mountain, the Japanese veteran passed away.
And the youngest climber? At the other end of the scale is the Californian Jordan Romero. At just 13 years old, in 2010 he became the youngest person to reach the top of the world. Of course he was not alone, his father, his partner and 3 sherpas accompanied him. The youngster broke the previous record for a 16-year-old Nepali.
6. THE RISKS OF DEATH OF CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST
The peak of Everest is one of the most spectacular sites on our planet. We know that the idea of imagining yourself on the top is tremendously attractive. However, face the truth: it is also one of the most dangerous places. Unfortunately, many of the mountain lovers who dare to climb it lose their lives in this expedition. More than 291 fans have died risking their lives to see the top of the planet. Its rocky cliffs, the risk of avalanches, hypothermia, hunger... make it an extremely demanding environment. Only up to 5.400 meters there are doctors and from 7.500 meters begins the so-called “ zone of death ”. In this area the body can no longer acclimatize, the lungs do not get enough oxygen, nausea and vomiting arrive, hallucinations...
Although it is somewhat macabre, at the top of Everest there are 50 corpses that could not be rescued and serve as a guide for new climbers. Due to the frigid temperatures, the bodies remain intact. The best known are “The Greeter” and “Botas verdes”. The first one has been there since 1997, it was Tsewang Paljor and it was named like that because of the position it is in, with open arms. "Green boots" is how another mountaineer is known who died in May 1996 due to a snow storm, at about 8.500 meters high.
7. EXTREME TEMPERATURES ON MOUNT EVEREST
The weather conditions on Mount Everest are terrifying, a factor that claims so many lives each year. The temperatures are extreme, the average temperature at the top is -35°, dropping at night to -60°. In July, the hottest, or rather “less cold” month, temperatures are close to -20°. The highest temperature ever recorded is -6°. Until the body gets used to the temperature of these heights, it takes about 40 days. It goes without saying that to go on an expedition to Everest you have to prepare yourself with specialized clothing.
8. EVEREST, THE DIRTIEST MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD
Everest is the dirtiest mountain in the world. A number of climbers visit it every year and, although we believe that they will be super-respectful people with the environment, this is not the reality. In total, 50 tons of garbage have been collected. In fact, this mountain has earned the nickname of "the highest garbage dump in the world" To reverse this situation, new measures have been implemented. Each climber who goes up must come down with 8 kilos of garbage.
9. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO CLIMB EVEREST?
To climb Everest you not only need to be in the best physical condition and have experience in the mountains, you also have to pay to enjoy this experience. We warn you: it is not cheap. The minimum price is 30.000 bucks, going on your own. If you prefer a guided expedition and hire a travel company, the price is around 60.000 dollars There is also the VIP expedition, which offers Internet access and constant telephone service for 90.000 dollars You also have to take into account the equipment required for the mountain, which is tremendously expensive.
10. JUMP TO THE BIG SCREEN
Kilian Jornet, a Spanish reference in mountain sports, served as an inspiration for the cinema. As a child he made a list of all the mountains he would one day climb. In May 2017, a double climb of Everest was marked alone. The film Killian Jornet: Path to Everest (2018) shows Kilian Jornet's expedition climbing Mount Everest, shows us his most personal side, reveals his fears, his motivations, what inspires him to face new challenges...
These are the 10 curiosities about the highest peak in the world. It is, without a doubt, one of the most spectacular places on the planet.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- WHERE IS MOUNT EVEREST?
Mount Everest is located on the Asian continent, in the Himalayas range. It is the point that marks the border between China and Nepal.
- HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CLIMB EVEREST?
It takes an average of 40 days to climb Everest, as the body needs this time to adapt to the conditions of the mountain.
- WHO WAS THE FIRST TO REACH EVEREST?
The first person to reach the top of the world was in 1953 the New Zealander Edmund Hillary, accompanied by the Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
- HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED ON EVEREST?
Recorded deaths on Everest are 291, counting from 1953. However, we must add the number of corpses that could not be found.
- HOW MANY PEOPLE CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF EVEREST?
Data remain to be confirmed, but if we count the registered climbers it can be said that 4.000 people have climbed to the top of the mountain.
- HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO CLIMB EVEREST?
The price varies depending on how you organize the trip. It does not cost the same if you hire an agency that organizes everything for you than if you do it on your own. The minimum price is 40.000 dollars and can go up to 90.000 dollars, in the case of the VIP expedition.
