List of highest mountains

See also: List of tallest mountains in the Solar System

The following is a list of the world's 100+ highest mountains per height above sea level (>7,200 metres / 23,622 feet), all of which are located in central and southern Asia. Only those summits are included that, by an objective measure, may be considered individual mountains as opposed to subsidiary peaks.

Contents

Considerations

The dividing line between a mountain with multiple peaks and separate mountains is not always clear (see also Highest unclimbed mountain). A popular and intuitive way to distinguish mountains from subsidiary peaks is by their height above the highest saddle connecting it to a higher summit, a measure called topographic prominence or re-ascent (the higher summit is called the "parent peak"). A common definition of a mountain is a summit with 300 m (980 ft) prominence. Alternatively, a relative prominence (prominence/height) is used (usually 7-8%) to reflect that in higher mountain ranges everything is on a larger scale. The table below lists the highest 100 summits with at least 500 m (1,640 ft) prominence, approximating a 7% relative prominence. A drawback of a prominence-based list is that it may exclude well-known or spectacular mountains that are connected via a high ridge to a taller summit, like the Eiger or Nuptse. A few such peaks and mountains with nearly sufficient prominence are included but not numbered in this list.

It is very unlikely that all given heights are correct to the nearest metre; indeed, the sea level is often problematic to define when a mountain is remote from the sea. Different sources often differ by many metres, and the heights given below may well differ from those elsewhere in this encyclopedia. As an extreme example, Ulugh Muztagh on the north Tibetan Plateau is often listed as 7,723 m (25,338 ft) to 7,754 m (25,440 ft), but appears to be only 6,973 m (22,877 ft) to 6,987 m (22,923 ft). Some mountains differ by > 100 m (330 ft) on different maps, while even very thorough current measurements of Mount Everest range from 8,840 m (29,003 ft) to 8,850 m (29,035 ft). These discrepancies serve to emphasize the uncertainties in the listed heights.

Though some parts of the world, especially the most mountainous parts, have never been thoroughly mapped, it is unlikely that any mountains this high have been overlooked, because synthetic aperture radar can and has been used to measure altitudes of most otherwise inaccessible places. Still, heights and/or prominences may be revised, so that the order of the list may change and even "new" mountains could enter the list over time. To be safe, the list has been extended to include all >7,200 m (23,622 ft) peaks.

The highest mountains above sea level are generally not the highest above the surrounding terrain. There is no precise definition of surrounding base, but Mount McKinley, Mount Kilimanjaro and Nanga Parbat are possible candidates for the tallest mountain on land by this measure. The bases of mountain islands are below sea level, and given this consideration Mauna Kea (4,207 m (13,802 ft) above sea level) is the world's tallest mountain and volcano, rising about 10,203 m (33,474 ft) from the Pacific Ocean floor. Ojos del Salado has the greatest rise on Earth— 13,420 m (44,029 ft) from the summit to the bottom of the Atacama Trench about 560 km (350 mi) away, though most of this rise is not part of the mountain.

The highest mountains are also not generally the most voluminous. Mauna Loa (4,169 m (13,678 ft)) is the largest mountain on Earth in terms of base area (about 2,000 sq mi/5,200 km2) and volume (about 10,000 cu mi/42,000 km3), although, due to the intergrade of lava from Kilauea, Hualalai and Mauna Kea, the volume can only be estimated based on surface area and height of the edifice). Mt. Kilimanjaro is the largest non-shield volcano in terms of both base area (245 sq mi/635 km2) and volume (1,150 cu mi/4,793 km3). Mount Logan is the largest non-volcanic mountain in base area (120 sq mi/311 km2).

The highest mountains above sea level are also not those with peaks farthest from the centre of the Earth, because the figure of the Earth is not spherical. Sea level closer to the equator is several miles farther from the centre of the Earth. The summit of Chimborazo, Ecuador's tallest mountain, is usually considered to be the farthest point from the Earth's centre, although the southern summit of Peru's tallest mountain, Huascarán, is another contender.[1] Both have elevations above sea level more than 2km less than that of Everest.

Geographical distribution

Most mountains in the list are located in the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges. In fact, all 7,000 m (23,000 ft) peaks in the world are located in the centre of Asia (East Asia, Central Asia and South Asia) in a rectangle edged by Noshaq (7,492 m (24,580 ft)) on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the West, Peak Jengish Chokusu, (Tuōmù'ěr Fēng) (7,439 m (24,406 ft)) on the Kyrgyzstan - Xinjiang border to the North, Gongga Shan (Minya Konka) (7,556 m (24,790 ft)) in Sichuan to the East, and Kabru (7,412 m (24,318 ft)) on the Sikkim - Nepal border to the South.

The locations of the highest mountains are shown on the composite satellite image of High Asia below. The numbers refer to the ranking in the list. For clarity, lower peaks with labels overlapping higher peaks are left out of the main image. The boxed regions are those with the highest density of summits and are enlarged in two separate images to show all peaks.


The list

Rank Mountain Height (m)[2] Height (ft) Range Coordinates[3] Prominence (m)[4] Parent mountain[5] First ascent Ascents (attempts) bef.2004 [6]
1 Mount Everest/
Sagarmatha /
Chomolungma		 8,848[7] 29,029 Mahalangur Himalaya 8,848 none 1953 >>145 (121)
2 K2 / Qogir /
Godwin Austen		 8,611 28,251 Baltoro Karakoram 4,017 Mount Everest [8] 1954 45 (44)
3 Kangchenjunga 8,586 28,169 Kangchenjunga Himalaya * 3,922 Mount Everest 1955 38 (24)
4 Lhotse 8,516 27,940 Mahalangur Himalaya 610 Mount Everest 1956 26 (26)
5 Makalu 8,485 27,838 Mahalangur Himalaya 2,386 Mount Everest (Lhotse) 1955 45 (52)
6 Cho Oyu 8,188 26,864 Mahalangur Himalaya 2,340 Mount Everest 1954 79 (28)
7 Dhaulagiri I 8,167 26,795 Dhaulagiri Himalaya 3,357 K2 1960 51 (39)
8 Manaslu 8,163 26,781 Manaslu Himalaya 3,092 Cho Oyu 1956 49 (45)
9 Nanga Parbat 8,126 26,660 Nanga Parbat Himalaya 4,608 Dhaulagiri 1953 52 (67)
10 Annapurna I 8,091 26,545 Annapurna Himalaya 2,984 Cho Oyu 1950 36 (47)
11 Gasherbrum I 8,080 26,509 Baltoro Karakoram 2,155 K2 1958 31 (16)
12 Broad Peak 8,051 26,414 Baltoro Karakoram 1,701 Gasherbrum I 1957 39 (19)
13 Gasherbrum II 8,034 26,362 Baltoro Karakoram 1,523 Gasherbrum I 1956 54 (12)
14 Shishapangma 8,027 26,335 Jugal Himalaya 2,897 Cho Oyu 1964 43 (19)
15 Gyachung Kang 7,952 26,089 Mahalangur Himalaya 700 Cho Oyu 1964 5 (3)
Gasherbrum III 7,946 26,070 Baltoro Karakoram 355 Gasherbrum II 1975 2 (2)
16 Annapurna II 7,937 26,040 Annapurna Himalaya 2,437 Annapurna I 1960 6 (19)
17 Gasherbrum IV 7,932 26,024 Baltoro Karakoram 715 Gasherbrum III 1958 4 (11)
18 Himalchuli 7,893 25,896 Manaslu Himalaya * 1,633 Manaslu 1960 6 (12)
19 Distaghil Sar 7,884 25,866 Hispar Karakoram 2,525 K2 1960 3 (5)
20 Ngadi Chuli 7,871 25,823 Manaslu Himalaya 1,020 Manaslu 1970 2 (6)
Nuptse 7,864 25,801 Mahalangur Himalaya 319 Lhotse 1961 5 (12)
21 Khunyang Chhish 7,823 25,666 Hispar Karakoram * 1,765 Distaghil Sar 1971 2 (6)
22 Masherbrum 7,821 25,659 Masherbrum Karakoram 2,457 Gasherbrum I 1960 4 (9)
23 Nanda Devi 7,816 25,643 Garhwal Himalaya 3,139 Dhaulagiri 1936 14 (12)
24 Chomo Lonzo 7,804 25,604 Mahalangur Himalaya 590 Makalu 1954 3 (1)
25 Batura Sar 7,795 25,574 Batura Karakoram 3,118 Distaghil Sar 1976 4 (6)
26 Kanjut Sar 7,790 25,558 Hispar Karakoram 1,690 Khunyang Chhish 1959 2 (1)
27 Rakaposhi 7,788 25,551 Rakaposhi-Haramosh Karakoram 2,818 Khunyang Chhish 1958 8 (13)
28 Namcha Barwa 7,782 25,531 Assam Himalaya 4,106 Kangchenjunga 1992 1 (2)
29 Kamet 7,756 25,446 Garhwal Himalaya * 2,825 Nanda Devi 1931 23 (14)
30 Dhaulagiri II 7,751 25,430 Dhaulagiri Himalaya 2,396 Dhaulagiri 1971 4 (11)
31 Saltoro Kangri 7,742 25,400 Saltoro Karakoram * 2,160 Gasherbrum I 1962 2 (1)
32 Jannu 7,711 25,299 Kangchenjunga Himalaya * 1,036 Kangchenjunga 1962 17 (12)
33 Tirich Mir 7,708 25,289 Hindu Kush * 3,910 Batura Sar 1950 20 (11)
Molamenqing 7,703 25,272 Langtang Himalaya 430 Shishapangma 1981 1 (0)
34 Gurla Mandhata 7,694 25,243 Nalakankar Himalaya 2,788 Dhaulagiri 1985 6 (4)
35 Saser Kangri I 7,672 25,171 Saser Karakoram 2,304 Gasherbrum I 1973 6 (4)
36 Chogolisa 7,665 25,148 Masherbrum Karakoram 1,624 Masherbrum 1975 4 (2)
Dhaulagiri IV 7,661 25,135 Dhaulagiri Himalaya 469 Dhaulagiri II 1975 2 (10)
37 Kongur Tagh 7,649 25,095 Kongur Shan Kunlun 3,585 Distaghil Sar 1981 2 (4)
Dhaulagiri V 7,618 24,993 Dhaulagiri Himalaya * 340 Dhaulagiri IV 1975 2 (3)
38 Shispare 7,611 24,970 Batura Karakoram 1,240 Batura Sar 1974 3 (1)
39 Trivor 7,577 24,859 Hispar Karakoram * 980 Distaghil Sar 1960 2 (5)
40 Gangkhar Puensum 7,570 24,836 Kula Kangri Himalaya * 2,995 Kangchenjunga unclimbed 0 (3)
41 Gongga Shan/
Minya Konka		 7,556 24,790 Daxue Shan 3,642 Mount Everest 1932 6 (7)
42 Annapurna III 7,555 24,787 Annapurna Himalaya 703 Annapurna I 1961 10 (17)
43 Muztagh Ata 7,546 24,757 Muztagata Kunlun 2,735 Kongur Tagh 1956 many
44 Skyang Kangri 7,545 24,754 Baltoro Karakoram 1,085 K2 1976 1 (2)
45 Changtse 7,543 24,747 Mahalangur Himalaya 520 Mount Everest 1982 9 (9)
46 Kula Kangri 7,538 24,731 Kula Kangri Himalaya 1,650 Gangkhar Puensum 1986 3 (2)
47 Kongur Tiube 7,530 24,705 Kongur Shan Kunlun 840 Kongur Tagh 1956 2 (3)
48 Mamostong Kangri 7,516 24,659 Rimo Karakoram 1,803 Gasherbrum I 1984 5 (0)
49 Saser Kangri II E 7,513 24,649 Saser Karakoram 1,450 Saser Kangri I 2011 0 (0)[9]
50 Ismail Samani Peak 7,495 24,590 Pamir (Akademiya Nauk Range) 3,402 Muztagh Ata 1933
51 Saser Kangri III 7,495 24,590 Saser Karakoram 850 Saser Kangri I 1986 1 (0)
52 Noshaq 7,492 24,580 Hindu Kush 2,024 Tirich Mir 1960 33 (3)
53 Pumari Chhish 7,492 24,580 Hispar Karakoram 890 Khunyang Chhish 1979 1 (2)
54 Pasu Sar 7,476 24,528 Batura Karakoram 645 Batura Sar 1994 1 (0)
55 Yukshin Gardan Sar 7,469 24,505 Hispar Karakoram 1,313 Pumari Chhish 1984 4 (1)
56 Teram Kangri I 7,462 24,482 Siachen Karakoram 1,702 Gasherbrum I 1975 2 (0)
57 Jongsong Peak 7,462 24,482 Kangchenjunga Himalaya 1,298 Kangchenjunga 1930 2 (3)
58 Malubiting 7,458 24,469 Rakaposhi-Haramosh Karakoram 2,193 Rakaposhi 1971 2 (6)
59 Gangapurna 7,455 24,459 Annapurna Himalaya 563 Annapurna III 1965 8 (13)
60 Jengish Chokusu
Tömür		 7,439 24,406 Tian Shan 4,148 Ismail Samani Peak 1938
61 K12 7,428 24,370 Saltoro Karakoram 1,978 Saltoro Kangri 1974 4 (2)
62 Yangra/
Ganesh I		 7,422 24,350 Ganesh Himalaya 2,352 Manaslu 1955 1 (6)
63 Sia Kangri 7,422 24,350 Siachen Karakoram 640 Gasherbrum I 1934 6 (0)
64 Momhil Sar 7,414 24,324 Hispar Karakoram * 980 Trivor 1964 2 (6)
65 Kabru N 7,412 24,318 Kangchenjunga Himalaya 780 Kangchenjunga 1994 1 (2)[10]
66 Skil Brum 7,410 24,311 Baltoro Karakoram 1,152 K2 1957 2 (1)
67 Haramosh 7,409 24,308 Rakaposhi Karakoram 2,277 Malubiting 1958 4 (3)
68 Istor-o-Nal 7,403 24,288 Hindu Kush 1,040 Noshaq 1969 4 (5)
69 Ghent Kangri 7,401 24,281 Saltoro Karakoram 1,493 Saltoro Kangri 1961 4 (0)
70 Ultar Sar 7,388 24,239 Batura Karakoram 700 Shispare 1996 2 (5)
71 Rimo I 7,385 24,229 Rimo Karakoram 1,438 Teram Kangri I 1988 1 (3)
72 Churen Himal 7,385 24,229 Dhaulagiri Himalaya 600 Dhaulagiri IV 1970 3 (0)
73 Teram Kangri III 7,382 24,219 Siachen Karakoram 520 Teram Kangri I 1979 1 (0)
74 Sherpi Kangri 7,380 24,213 Saltoro Karakoram * 1,000 Ghent Kangri 1976 1 (1)
75 Labuche Kang 7,367 24,170 Labuche Himalaya 1,957 Cho Oyu 1987 1 (0)
76 Kirat Chuli 7,362 24,153 Kangchenjunga Himalaya 1,168 Kangchenjunga 1939 1 (6)
Abi Gamin 7,355 24,131 Garhwal Himalaya 217 Kamet 1950 17 (2)
77 Nangpai Gosum 7,350 24,114 Mahalangur Himalaya 500 Cho Oyu 1996 3 (1)
Gimmigela/
The Twins		 7,350 24,114 Kangchenjunga Himalaya 432 Kangchenjunga 1994 3 (1)
78 Saraghrar 7,349 24,111 Hindu Kush 1,979 Noshaq 1959 2 (3)
79 Jomolhari 7,326 24,035 Jomolhari Himalaya * 2,077 Gangkhar Puensum 1937 4 (0)
80 Chamlang 7,321 24,019 Mahalangur Himalaya 1,240 Lhotse 1961 7 (1)
81 Chongtar 7,315 23,999 Baltoro Karakoram 1,300 Skil Brum 1994 1 (1)
82 Baltoro Kangri 7,312 23,990 Masherbrum Karakoram 1,200 Chogolisa 1976 1 (0)
83 Siguang Ri 7,309 23,980 Mahalangur Himalaya 650 Cho Oyu 1989 2 (1)
84 The Crown/
Huang Guan		 7,295 23,934 Yengisogat Karakoram 1,919 Skil Brum (K2) 1993 1 (3)
85 Gyala Peri 7,294 23,930 Assam Himalaya 2,942 Mount Everest 1986 1 (0)
86 Porong Ri 7,292 23,924 Langtang Himalaya 520 Shisha Pangma 1982 5 (0)
87 Baintha Brakk/
The Ogre		 7,285 23,901 Panmah Karakoram * 1,891 Kanjut Sar 1977 3 (13)
88 Yutmaru Sar 7,283 23,894 Hispar Karakoram 620 Yukshin Gardan Sar 1980 1 (1)
89 Baltistan Peak/
K6		 7,282 23,891 Masherbrum Karakoram 1,962 Chogolisa 1970 1 (3)
90 Kangpenqing/
Gang Benchhen		 7,281 23,888 Baiku Himalaya 1,340 Shisha Pangma 1982 1 (1)
91 Muztagh Tower 7,276 23,871 Baltoro Karakoram 1,710 Skil Brum 1956 4 (2)
92 Mana 7,272 23,858 Garhwal Himalaya 730 Kamet 1937 7 (3)
Dhaulagiri VI 7,268 23,845 Dhaulagiri Himalaya 485 Dhaulagiri IV 1970 5 (0)
93 Diran 7,266 23,839 Rakaposhi-Haramosh Karakoram 1,325 Malubiting 1968 12 (8)
94 Labuche Kang III / East[11] 7,250 23,786 Labuche Himalaya 570 Labuche Kang unclimbed 0 (0)
95 Putha Hiunchuli 7,246 23,773 Dhaulagiri Himalaya 1,151 Churen Himal 1954 11 (5)
96 Apsarasas Kangri 7,245 23,770 Siachen Karakoram 635 Teram Kangri I 1976 2 (0)
97 Mukut Parbat 7,242 23,760 Garhwal Himalaya 840 Kamet 1951 2 (1)
98 Rimo III 7,233 23,730 Rimo Karakoram 615 Rimo I 1985 1 (0)
99 Langtang Lirung 7,227 23,711 Langtang Himalaya 1,525 Shisha Pangma 1978 14 (13)
100 Karjiang 7,221 23,691 Kula Kangri Himalaya 880 Kula Kangri unclimbed 0 (2)
101 Annapurna Dakshin 7,219 23,684 Annapurna Himalaya 775 Annapurna 1964 10 (16)
102 Khartaphu 7,213 23,665 Mahalangur Himalaya 712 Mount Everest 1935 1 (0)
103 Tongshanjiabu[12] 7,207 23,645 Lunana Himalaya 1,757 Gangkar Puensum unclimbed 0 (0)
104 Malangutti Sar 7,207 23,645 Hispar Karakoram 515 Distaghil Sar 1985 1 (0)
105 Noijin Kangsang /
Norin Kang		 7,206 23,642 Nagarze Himalaya 2,160 Tongshanjiabu 1986 4 (1)
106 Langtang Ri 7,205 23,638 Langtang Himalaya 650 Porong Ri 1981 4 (0)
107 Kangphu Kang 7,204 23,635 Lunana Himalaya 1,200 Tongshanjiabu 2002 1 (0)
108 Singhi Kangri 7,202 23,629 Siachen Karakoram 790 Teram Kangri III 1976 2 (0)
109 Lupghar Sar 7,200 23,622 Hispar Karakoram * 730 Momhil Sar 1979 1 (0)

Stem and leaf plot

The following is a stem and leaf plot of the above data. The two digits to the left of the line are the first two digits of the mountain's height, and each digit to the right of the line represents the third digit of the mountain's height. Each number on the right is linked to the corresponding mountain's article. For example, the height of one of the mountains (namely Mount Everest) is 884x metres. Also, it is apparent that there are only 5 mountains above 8,200 metres.

88 | 4
87 |
86 | 1
85 | 8 1
84 | 8
83 |
82 |
81 | 8 6 6 2
80 | 9 8 5 3 2
79 | 5 4 3 3
78 | 9 8 7 6 2 2 1 0
77 | 9 9 8 8 5 5 4 1 0 0
76 | 9 7 6 6 4 1 1
75 | 7 7 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 1 1
74 | 9 9 9 9 7 6 6 6 5 5 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 0
73 | 8 8 8 8 8 6 6 5 5 5 4 2 1 1 1 0
72 | 9 9 9 8 8 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 4 4 4 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Notes

  1. ^ Krulwich, Robert (April 7, 2007). "The 'Highest' Spot on Earth?". http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9428163. Retrieved 21 March 2009. 
  2. ^ For Nepal, the heights indicated on the Nepal Topographic Maps are followed. For China and the Baltoro Karakoram, the heights are those of "The Maps of Snow Mountains in China". For the Hispar Karakoram the heights on a Russian 1:100,000 topo map [1] seem to be more accurate than the customarily quoted heights probably based on US army maps from the 50s [2]. Elsewhere, unless otherwise indicated, heights are those in Jill Neate's "High Asia".
  3. ^ Coordinates were established by comparing topographical maps with satellite images and SRTM-derived terrain maps. The terrain maps and satellite images often don't match exactly. An asterisk (*) indicates that the map and image are shifted by more than 100 m (4") and/or that the landscapes around the summit don't match.
  4. ^ The prominence data were extracted from a combination of maps and computer aided analysis of NASA's 3" SRTM data. Prominences over 1,450 m were copied from this website.
  5. ^ Here defined as the first higher mountain beyond the key saddle with at least 500 m prominence itself.
  6. ^ The number of ascents and failed attempts up to 2004 is extracted from the Alpine Club Himalayan index. These are the number of expeditions (not individuals) that announced their ascent or attempt in a journal. They are probably quite accurate for the rarely climbed peaks (though omissions were noted), but greatly underestimate the number of ascending parties on the easier and/or more popular mountains, like most eight-thousanders. For instance, Mt Everest has been scaled 2,251 times by individuals up to 2004 [3].
  7. ^ Given the large differences between multiple "final" measurements of Mt Everest, the traditional 8,848 m is listed. For more information, see Mount Everest#Measurement.
  8. ^ Everest IS parent to K2 by the definition of topographic prominence. See also, the discussion page.
  9. ^ The highest (Eastern) summit of Saser Kangri II has just recently been climbed, August 24th, 2011 [4]. The lower West peak, 2.5 km away, has been climbed in 1984 and twice since.
  10. ^ According to the 1996 Himalayan Journal (pp.29-36), the highest point of the Kabru massif (the North summit) was climbed by an Indian Army team in May 1994
  11. ^ The height is unknown, but over 7,200 meters on both Chinese and Russian maps of the area.
  12. ^ The name and information about this summit was extracted from the May 2003 edition of Japanese Alpine News.

See also

External links

Sources