International Mountain Day; Facts about the world’s five highest mountain ranges

We all know the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. Most of us might also have heard of Mount K2, the second highest mountain after Everest. But how many of us are actually aware of Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world?

On the occasion of the International Mountain Day, we are going to add to your knowledge by exploring the world’s top five mountain peaks!

You must be living under a rock if you haven’t heard of this one. Mount Everest in the Himalayas is set at an elevation of 8848.86 m above sea level. In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to conquer the highest mountain in the world. Ever since, mankind is drawn to this one particularly. In fact, trekking to the Everest Base Camp itself is insanely popular as well.

The mountain has been attracting tourists and mountaineers from across the globe since decades now. The second highest mountain in the world, K2 is also known as the Savage Mountain. It is considered one of the toughest to climb by pro-mountaineers. The fatality rate is quite high. Fun fact, no one has ever climbed K2 in winters yet.

You’ll be amazed to know that until 1852, people thought that Kangchenjunga was the highest mountain peak in the world. Not because Everest wasn’t discovered, but because of wrong calculations. The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India did more calculations and found that Kanchenjunga is the third highest mountain. The mountain is set on the border of Nepal and India (in Sikkim).

Calling Lhotse the younger but ignored sibling of Everest won’t be incorrect. The way up to Lhotse is the same as the Everest from Everest Base Camp. While Everest takes away all attention, Lhotse sits quietly in a corner. Those who have been here, call it prettier than Everest. In a 2011 Russian expedition, the mountain was scaled for the first time.

Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world and was first scaled in a 1955 French expedition. The expedition went on to be popular as all the 10 members climbed it. It was an achievement of a kind as in those days, only one or two climbers would reach the top. But here, all the members were able to make it to the top, a fact that received global attention.