Top 10 Highest Mountain Peaks on Earth

Mountains are the land features that rise above the surrounding area in the form of peaks. Mountains are formed when tectonic plates in the Earth’s crust and mantle collide with each other. Volcanic force inside the Earth can also create mountains. A hill is also a similar feature but it much smaller and less steeper than a mountain. We all know that mountains are synonymous with height — so people often wonder which are the highest mountain peaks in the world. Everybody knows about the highest peak — Mount Everest. But which peaks come after Everest? Let’s look at some of the highest mountains in the world.

1. Mount Everest

That Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world, is probably among the best known facts all around. The peak is located in the Mahalangur range in Himalayas and lies within the boundaries of Nepal and China. Every mountain climbing enthusiast sees a dream of scaling the 8,848 meters high Mount Everest one day. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first people to climb the Mount Everest. They achieved this feat on 29 May 1953.

2. K2

At 8,611 meters, K2 is the second highest mountain in the world. K2 is also known as the Savage Mountain because it is one of the deadliest mountains in the world. About 20% climbers die while trying to scale the K2. Because it is so difficult to climb on it, the K2 is also known as The King of Mountains and The Mountaineers’ Mountain. Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni were the first people to scale K2 in 1954.

3. Kangchenjunga

Kangchenjunga’s height of 8,586 meters was first climbed by Joe Brown and George Band clime on 25 May 1955. Before 1856, Kangchenjunga was assumed to be the highest mountain in the world. But the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India found that Kangchenjunga was actually the third highest mountain, behind Everest and K2. This peaks lies in Nepal and the state of Sikkim in India.

4. Lhotse

In Tibetan language Lhotse means the “South Peak”. At 8,516 meters, Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain in the world. This is also the part of the same range as that of the Everest, i.e. Mahalangur Himalaya. Fritz Luchsinger, Ernst Reiss became the first humans to climb Lhotse on 18 May 1956.

5. Makalu

The Makalu peak lies in Nepal and China and at 8,485 meters this is the fifth highest peak in the world. On 15 May 1955, French mountaineers Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy made the first successful ascent on the Makalu. Makalu is also the part of Mahalangur Himalaya range.

6. Cho Oyu

Mount Cho Oyu lies on the border of China and Nepal. In Tibetan, Cho Oyu means the Turquois Goddess. On 19 October 1954, Herbert Tichy, Joseph Jöchler and Pasang Dawa Lama scaled the Cho Oyu’s height of 8,188 meters. Cho Oyu is considered to be the easiest to climb among the 8000+ meter peaks.

7. Dhaulagiri

Mount Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters) lies completely within the borders of Nepal. Dhaulagiri is the highest peak in Nepal and its name means the White Beautiful Mountain. The Kaligandaki river flows between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna peaks forming the Kaligandaki gorge — the world’s deepest gorge. Dhaulagir was first climbed by Kurt Diemberger, A. Schelbert, E. Forrer, Nawang Dorje and Nyima Dorje on 13 May 1960.

8. Manaslu

Another mountain within the in borders of Nepal, the name of Manaslu means the Mountain of Spirits. Height of Manaslu is 8,163 meters. Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu, mountaineers from Japan, were the first humans to climb the Mansalu on 09 May 1956.

9. Nanga Parbat

The Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters) is the ninth highest peak in the world and the highest mountain in Pakistan. Nanga Parbat means the Naked Mountain. Mountain climber Hermann Buhl (Germany) scaled the Nanga Parvat on 03 July 1953.

10. Annapurna I Main

The Annapurna I peak (8,091 meters) of the Annapurna Himalaya range rounds of the ten highest mountains in the world. Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal from France became the first humans to climb the Annapurna I on 03 June 1950. This feat was special because it was the first ascent on any of the 8000+ meters peaks. Also, this the was the only 8,000 meter-peak to be conquered on the first try.

Top 10 Highest Mountain Peaks on Earth

List of 10 Highest Mountain Peaks on Earth

Mountain Name	Height (m)	Height (ft)	Prominence	Range	Country
Mount Everest / Sagarmatha / Chomolungma	8,848	29,029	8,848	Mahalangur Himalaya	Nepal and China
K2	8,611	28,251	4,020	Baltoro Karakoram	Pakistan and China
Kangchenjunga	8,586	28,169	3,922	Kangchenjunga Himalaya	Nepal and India
Lhotse	8,516	27,940	610	Mahalangur Himalaya	Nepal and China
Makalu	8,485	27,838	2,378	Mahalangur Himalaya	Nepal and China
Cho Oyu	8,188	26,864	2,340	Mahalangur Himalaya	Nepal and China
Dhaulagiri	8,167	26,795	3,357	Dhaulagiri Himalaya	Nepal
Manaslu	8,163	26,781	3,092	Manaslu Himalaya	Nepal
Nanga Parbat	8,126	26,660	4,608	Nanga Parbat Himalaya	Pakistan
Annapurna I Main	8,091	26,545	2,984	Annapurna Himalaya	Nepal