Top 10 Tallest Mountains in the World

1. Mount Everest (8,848 m)

Mount Everest tops the list of the world's peaks at 8,848m. This mountain is part of the Khumbu Himalayas, situated between Nepal and Tibet, China. The temperature at the summit ranges from -20 ºC to -35 ºC, with wind speeds reaching up to 174 mph (280 km/h). Everest has two main climbing routes, one from the Southeast in Nepal and one from the Northeast in Tibet. The Southeast route is technically easier and therefore more commonly used. Everest was first conquered in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

Mount Everest lies on the border between Nepal and Tibet atop the world's roof, the Himalayas. Known as Sagarmatha in Nepali and Chomolungma in Tibetan, it was named after Sir George Everest, the leader of the survey team of this mountain in 1841. Although reaching the world's highest peak is a challenging and life-threatening journey due to altitude sickness, avalanches, and other dangers, many mountaineers are determined to conquer the world's summit.

At 8,848m, the oxygen level around the Everest peak is only one-third that at sea level, making climbers breathless due to insufficient oxygen. According to scientists, the human body cannot withstand altitudes above 6,000 meters. The higher you climb, the less oxygen there is, exposing the body to many risks, including pulmonary and cerebral edema, and blood clots. Moreover, cold-related injuries increase rapidly because the heart has to work harder to circulate oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Internal organs take precedence over extremities, and fingers and toes are the last to receive blood flow, so when exposed to cold, frostbite occurs, leading climbers to amputate their fingers and toes. Therefore, attempting to conquer this rooftop is not advisable.

2. Kangchenjunga, Himalaya (8,586m)

Kangchenjunga stands as the third highest mountain in the world (after Everest and K2), towering at 8,586 meters (28,169 feet). Kangchenjunga translates to 'The Five Treasures of Snow,' as it boasts five peaks, four of which exceed 8,450 meters. These treasures symbolize the five repositories of God, comprising gold, silver, gemstones, grains, and holy books.

Three of the five peaks (main, central, and southern) straddle the border of Sikkim district, India, and Taplejung district of Nepal, while the remaining two peaks lie entirely within Taplejung district. Nepal hosts a conservation project for Kangchenjunga led by the World Wildlife Fund in collaboration with the Government of Nepal. This conservation area is home to red pandas and other mountain fauna, birds, and flora. India's portion of Kangchenjunga also features a protected national park known as the Khangchendzonga National Park. Scaling the third tallest mountain in the world, Kangchenjunga, presents numerous challenges, particularly seasonal avalanches. The weather conditions en route to the summit are extremely harsh, with no direct ascent route, making the path steep and slippery.

It ranks third among the tallest mountains globally. Kanchenjunga's peak harbors an incredibly diverse ecosystem, serving as a sanctuary for many rare and endangered species, most notably the red panda.

Karakoram or Karakorum is a large mountain range spanning the borders of Pakistan, India, and China, located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region (Pakistan), Ladakh (India), and Xinjiang region (China). It is one of the major mountain ranges in Asia, part of a larger Himalayan range while actually lying north of the Himalayas. This mountain range stretches about 500 km and is the most glaciated region in the world outside of the polar regions. The Siachen Glacier, measuring 70 km in length, and the Biafo Glacier, 63 km long, are the second and third-longest glaciers outside the polar regions.

Karakoram is home to the highest concentration of peaks over 5 miles (8,047 meters) in height, including K2, the second-highest peak in the world at 8,611 meters. This mountain is surrounded by the Tarim Basin deposits to the north and the Himalayas to the south. K2 is also known as the Savage Mountain due to its formidable ascent and is the second-highest peak over 8,000 meters with a high fatality rate. The mountain was first summited by Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli in 1954.

K2 was first conquered by an Italian expedition led by Ardito Desio. His team, including Lino Laceselli and Achille Compagnoni, successfully reached the summit of K2 (8611m) via the Abruzzi Spur route on July 31, 1954.

Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world with an altitude of 8,481m, located in the Mahalangur Himalaya range on the border of Nepal and Tibet, China. This mountain resembles a four-sided pyramid shape and is one of the most challenging peaks to conquer above 8,000m. In 1955, Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy were the first to summit the peak.

Makalu, also the sibling of Lhotse and Everest, is part of the Himalayas range. Makalu has a pentagonal pyramid shape. The mountain features small ridges that climbers can follow to reach the summit. As altitude increases, the climate becomes colder and drier. The mountain was first summited by an expedition in 1955. Besides the Andes mountain range, Makalu is also part of this list.

Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy were the first to reach this summit, while Franco, Magnone, Bouvier, Coupe, Leroux, Vialatte, and Sardar Gyaltsen Norbu summoned two people later. There are several other notable French climbers, Yannick Seigneur and Bernard Mellet, climbed the West Pillar in 1971. In 1988, Marc Batard climbed the West Face in 24 hours. A year later, Pierre Beghin soloed the Yugoslav route on the South Face. Sadly, in January 2006, Jean-Christophe Lafaille disappeared while attempting the first winter ascent. As of 2009, 323 mountaineers have reached the Makalu summit, including 20 French climbers.

Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain in the world, stands at 8,516m. It is connected to Everest via the South Col and lies on the border between Tibet, China, and the Khumbu region of Nepal. Additionally, Lhotse has two subsidiary peaks: Lhotse Middle at 8,414m and Lhotse Shar at 8,363m. In 1956, Fritz Luchsinger and Ernst Reiss were the first to conquer this mountain. Later, in the winter of 1988, Krzysztof Wielicki also set foot on the summit of Lhotse.

While everyone knows Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, there's another mountain in the Himalayas with similar height that not everyone knows about - Lhotse. Lhotse is like the forgotten twin sibling of Everest, almost a different version of Everest with its own challenges and difficulties.

The first attempts to conquer Lhotse's summit were part of the 1955 International Himalayan Expedition led by Norman Dyhrenfurth. International mountaineers were supported by 200 local porters and several Sherpa climbers. The main summit of Lhotse was first reached on May 18, 1956, by a Swiss team consisting of Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger. On May 12, 1970, Austrian climbers Sepp Mayerl and Rolf Walter were the first to ascend Lhotse Shar. For a long time, Lhotse Middle remained the highest unclimbed point on Earth. On May 23, 2001, the first team of Russian climbers including Eugeny Vinogradsky, Sergei Timofeev, Alexei Bolotov, and Petr Kuznetsov reached this summit.

The Dhaulagiri mountain range in Nepal stretches 120 km (70 miles) from the Kaligandaki River in the west to the Bheri River. This mountain range is bordered to the north and southwest by tributaries of the Bheri River and to the southeast by the Myagdi Khola. Dhaulagiri I is the seventh highest mountain in the world at 8,167m above sea level. It was first summited on May 13, 1960, by an international expedition consisting of Swiss, Austrian, and Nepali climbers.

Dhaulagiri I is approximately 34 km east of Dhaulagiri I. The Kali Gandaki River flows between the two in the Kaligandaki Gorge, considered the deepest river gorge in the world. The town of Pokhara lies to the south of the Annapurnas, a major regional hub and gateway for trekkers and mountaineers visiting both ranges as well as a tourist destination in its own right.

The mountains are covered in brilliant white snow and stand out with their smooth peaks and gentle slopes against the backdrop of the azure sky. The mountains are separated by the deepest gorges in the world. This area is considered an exciting exploration destination and a mountain of breathtaking scenery, providing excitement and exhilaration for those seeking to conquer it. A special feature of exploring Dhaulagiri is the horizon view. Therefore, this mountain is also considered one of the most beautiful, aesthetically pleasing mountains.

Cho Oyu is the sixth highest mountain in the world, standing at 8,188m, located in the Mahalangur Himalayas, Himalayas, along the border of Nepal and Tibet, China. It is one of the easiest mountains to climb among those over 8,000m. Cho Oyu was first summited in 1954 by an Austrian expedition: Pasang Dawa Lama, Herbert Tichy, and Joseph Jochler. Cho Oyu means 'Turquoise Goddess' in Tibetan. The mountain is the westernmost major peak of the Khumbu sub-section of the Mahalangur Himalayas, 20 km west of Mount Everest.

Just a few kilometers west of Cho Oyu is Nangpa La (5,716m), a frozen pass serving as the main trade route between Tibetans and the Khumbu Sherpas. This pass separates the Khumbu and Rolwaling Himalayas. Due to its proximity to this pass and the moderate slopes often found on the northwestern standard route, Cho Oyu is considered the easiest high mountain to climb. It is a popular target for professional guiding outfits.

Furthermore, Cho Oyu is also known as the 'Turquoise Goddess' in Tibetan. The climbing route is considered the most approachable and friendly compared to other mountains. The gentle and easy-going slopes make it suitable for trekking, but climbing this mountain takes more time than others.

Nanga Parbat stands as the ninth tallest mountain in the world, reaching 8,126 meters in height. It belongs to the Nanga Parbat Himalayas in Pakistan, famously dubbed as the 'killer mountain.' This mountain boasts some of the highest rock walls in the world and has witnessed numerous tragedies burying mountaineers in its snow. The year 1953 marked a milestone as the mountain was first conquered by Hermann Buhl.

This mountain is also known by other names such as the 'Man-Eater' or the 'Killer Mountain.' It has seen numerous tragedies burying mountaineers in its snow. Here, some of the world's tallest rock walls rise, especially the southern side featuring a 4,600-meter-high wall. The first attempts to scale an 8000-meter peak were recorded during an expedition by Albert F. Mummery and J. Norman Collie, who attempted Nanga Parbat in Kashmir (now Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan) in 1895, but this endeavor failed as Mummery and two Gurkhas, Ragobir and Goman Singh, perished in an avalanche.

At the foot of the mountain, Nanga Parbat is surrounded by lush green hills, pine forests, and gentle valleys. It is an ideal destination for those seeking to conquer new heights due to its beautiful terrain and stunning landscapes. Nanga Parbat is known for its beauty but also for its danger, with its sheer rock walls making climbing and holding on extremely challenging.

Manaslu, also known as Kutang, stands as the eighth tallest mountain in the world at 8,163m (26,781 ft) above sea level. It lies in the Mansiri Himal, a part of the Nepalese Himalayas, in the west-central part of Nepal. Its name, meaning 'Mountain of the Spirit,' derives from the Sanskrit word Manasa, meaning 'intellect' or 'soul.'

Manaslu was first summited on May 9, 1956, by Japanese climbers Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu, members of a Japanese expedition team. It's said that 'while the British view Everest as their mountain, Manaslu has always been considered a Japanese mountain.'

Despite being the eighth tallest mountain in the world, Manaslu's summit is considered to have terrain as treacherous as any other peak. Avalanches are particularly common in this area, posing a significant danger to mountaineers. The climbing routes are long and steep, requiring mountaineers to invest a considerable amount of time to conquer the summit. Assessing Manaslu's route assumes that its terrain is similar to Everest's, but it faces more adverse weather conditions. You must carry necessary mountaineering equipment to support your journey.

Ranked last on the list of the world's 10 'roof of the world' is Annapurna I. This mountain stands at 8,091m, part of the Annapurna Himalayas in Nepal. Annapurna I is known as one of the most dangerous mountains in the world for those aspiring to conquer its heights. The year 1950 marked the first successful ascent by French expedition members Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal.

Historically, the Annapurna peaks have been among the deadliest mountains to climb, although in more recent history, Kangchenjunga has had a higher fatality rate, using data only from 1990 onwards. As of March 2012, there have been 191 successful ascents of Annapurna I Main with 61 fatalities on the mountain. The death rate to summit ratio (32%) is the highest of any eight-thousand-meter mountain. In particular, the southern face ascent is considered one of the most challenging climbs in all of mountaineering. In October 2014, at least 43 people died in snowstorms and avalanches around Annapurna, Nepal's worst mountaineering disaster.

Along the way, mountaineers who have conquered Annapurna's summit bring back experiences of breathtaking scenery and enjoy ideal skies at ideal altitudes. Despite ranking 10th, this place is perilous due to its mountainous terrain, steep slopes, making it very challenging for many mountaineers to conquer.