Famous Mountains
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Introduction
Mountains have a huge attraction for many different sorts of travellers. Experienced and adventurous travellers may want to climb a mountain, while less experienced travellers can still climb many of the world's most famous mountains. And although the highest of them all, Mount Everest, may be the most famous one, a few of the better known mountains might just be several hundreds of metres high with a cable car leading to the top. Below you will find a selection of the most famous mountains on our planet.
Africa
Kilimanjaro
- Where - Border Tanzania and Kenya
- Height - 5895 meters
- Climb - Physically in good condition, no experience needed
The Kilimanjaro, at 5895 metres (Uhuru Peak), is the highest peak in Africa. It also has the distinction of being the tallest free-standing mountain (i.e., not in a mountain range) and the tallest "walkable" mountain in the world. But don't think that it is an easy walk. It will take many days and you need to be in a good physical condition to reach the top. The risk of getting altitude sickness should not be underestimated and can occur on heights of 3000 meters or more, although usually most people will be fine up to 4000 meters.
For those who are fine with just seeing the mountain, your best bet would be heading towards Kenya for a visit of Amboseli National Park. From this flat and dusty park you will have chances of seeing lots of wildlife and the elephants, giraffes and zebras with in the background the Kilimanjaro might just be the highlight of your trip.
Recently, snow levels at the top have been retreating much faster and it is estimated that there will be no snow at all before the year 2050.
Table Mountain
- Where - Cape Town, South Africa
- Height - 1086 meters
- Climb - Not necessary, just take the cable car
Like the 1000 or so geysers on the world which are named after the Icelandic Geysir, the Cape Town Table Mountain is the grandfather of all table mountains in the world. It is located in the Table Mountain National Park and towers above the city, while Devil's Peak and Lion's Head tower above the mountain itself. The flat top is about 3 kilometers wide and offers tremendous views over the city and the ocean. There are only small differences in height on this flat, with the cable car station only 19 meters lower than the highest point. Although in 2 to 3 hours you are able to climb (walk) up to the top, the Table Mountain Cableway takes passengers up and down the mountain, ascending over 700 meters from Table Mountain Road.
Asia
Mount Everest
The highest mountain of all, the Mount Everest or Chomolungma in the local language, is on every climber's list to do. But this mountain is not without risks and many people die when climbing or descending (!) the mountain. About 2500 people have reached the top and over 200 deaths have been recorded. The mountain is part of the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas.
It is internationally recognized that the mountain was first climbed and successfully descended by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953, although controversy still exists about the question whether George Mallory and/or Andrew Irvine had climbed the mountain 29 years earlier! Unfortunately, neither of them survived their early expedition. More recently, questions about the commercialization have come up as more and more climbers make the climb. Even a double-amputee (Mark Inglis) and a helicopter have made it to the top during the last year, although both did so with risk.
K2
- Where - The border between Pakistan and China
- Height - 8611 metres
- Climb - Yes, even experienced climbers need luck
The second highest mountain in the world is the K2, which is only one of the few mountains that has kept the name the Great Trigonometric Survey team gave it, after the first discovery. Normally, these letter-number combinations are replaced by a local name, but in the case of K2, there was no local name to be found. Probably because it can't be seen from any settlement or village.
The mountain is famous for its difficult ascent and terrible weather conditions. Besides that the K2 is also notorious because of the high rate of casualties among the climbers attempting to summit. The first successful summit attempt was in 1954, after that 23 years passed before some else put a foot on the top. The mountain also got some extra attention with the release of the film K2 in 1992, and Vertical Limit in 2000.
Mount Kailash
- Where - Far Western Tibet
- Height - 6638 metres
- Climb - No one has climbed Mount Kailash and it is off limits to climbers due to the religious importance of the mountain.
Mount Kailash is one of the holiest mountains in the world! Since it is a holy mountain for Buddhist, Hindu, Jainist and Bon traditions, thousands of pilgrims make the journey every year to this remote mountain on the edge of the world. The Hindus consider Mount Kailash to be the home of Lord Shiva, a principle Hindu deity. These pilgrims come to do a kora, spiritual walk, around the mountain. It is believe that one kora around the mountain will wash away a lifetime of sins. It can take several days to complete the kora around Mount Kailash, and some pilgrims complete it multiple times.
The other amazing fact about this mountain is the number of rivers that start from it. The Indus, Sutlej and Brahmaputra rivers find their sources from the different sides of this mountain. Many of the other rivers coming from this mountain feed into the Mekong, Ganges and Yellow rivers. Getting to Mount Kailash is very difficult and expensive, as it requires arranging a tour from Lhasa with a Land Rover. The standard tour, including transportation time and a kora around the mountain, takes 10 days. Some tours include visiting ancient cities beyond Mount Kailash, but this adds about 5 more days.
Mount Kinabalu
- Where - Sabah, Malaysia
- Height - 4095 metres
- Climb - Yes, you can walk up to the summit and back in two days
Mount Kinabalu is located in Kinabalu National Park in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo. It is the tallest mountain in Malaysia and on the island of Borneo, as well as one of the tallest in Southeast Asia, trailing Hkakabo Razi of Myanmar and, depending on where the boundary of Southeast Asia is drawn, Puncak Jaya and Puncak Trikora of New Guinea.
It has been long documented that Low's peak, the summit, has an elevation of 4101 metres. A survey in 1997 used satellite technology and corrected it to be about six metres lower at 4095 metres.
Mount Kinabalu, known to be a highly accessible mountain, requires no mountaineering equipment or specialised skill to summit. Nevertheless, sufficient stamina is important for a successful ascent. The hike can be quite intense for many as the air gets thinner all the way up.
Mount Fuji
- Where - Chubu, Honshu, Japan (west of Tokyo)
- Height - 3776 metres
- Climb - Yes, walkable and can be done in a day trip
Mount Fuji is one of the best known natural features of Japan and is conveniently located west of the capital Tokyo.
Mount Fuji has an exceptionally symmetrical cone which is a recognisable symbol of this East Asian country. Over 200,000 people climb the mountain yearly and most of them climb in the 1 July - 27 August season when huts and most other facilities in and around the mountain and nearby villages are open. It is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and although it hasn't erupted for about 300 years, it is indeed a volcano. It also is surrounded by five lakes, among which are Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka and Lake Motosu. From these lakes and Lake Ashi (which is a little further away) people who do not want to climb the mountain can have excellent views of the mountain when the weather is clear. In winter, the summit is covered in snow.
Mount Ararat
- Where - Eastern Turkey, close to the border with Armenia
- Height - 5137 metres
- Climb - Yes, but climbing experience needed
Mount Ararat is the highest mountain of Turkey and is located in the far east of the country, not far from the border of Armenia, which claims that the mountain should actually be on Armenian grounds. This dormant volcano has a snow-capped cone year-round, so you really need crampons, an axe and some climbing experience to make it to the top.
The mountain has long been subject in debates but since 1923 with the Treaty of Kars, the mountain is on Turkish grounds, much to the dislike of Armenia. Ararat has been revered by the Armenians since ancient times as their spiritual home. Today, it is the national symbol of Armenia and on clear days the views from the capital Yerevan are tremendous. An even better view is possible from the monastery Khor Virap, a little bit more south just across the border from Turkey.
Caribbean
Soufriere Hills
- Where - Montserrat
- Height - 915 metres
- Climb - Technically possible but certainly not advised (area is off limits to travellers)
Soufriere Hills is an active volcano on the island of Montserrat, located in the central Caribbean. Soufriere means sulphur in French and many volcanoes on other islands in the region (e.g. Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Lucia) have names like this as well. The volcano on Montserrat is the most active one during recent years and probably the most famous as well.
In 1995, the volcano became active again after a long period of dormancy. It has since been active up until now although the main eruptions and resulting pyroclastic flows occurred during the second-half of the 1990s. The southern part of the island was abandoned during this period, including the former capital Plymouth. From then it was a relatively period of rest until 2008, when a devastating eruption again took place with pyroclastic flows towards the former capital and surroundings. Again, people were evacuated and the small part in between the safe zone and exclusion zone, that used to be open during the day, again was closed and became part of the exclusion zone. Apart from researchers and several other authorised people, no one is allowed to enter this exclusion zone.
There are excellent viewpoints of the volcano and its surroundings, on both the western and eastern part of the island. On the eastside, one can see the former airport, while from the west the former capital, an extraordinary and breathtaking view and experience. One of the best views of the volcano itself though is at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, in the west of the island.
Central America
Arenal Volcano
- Where - Alajuela province, Costa Rica; about 100 kilometres north-west of San José
- Height - 1670 metres
- Climb - No, prohibited because of safety reasons
The Arenal Volcano is one of the best known volcanoes throughout the Central American region and is located in north-western Costa Rica. Together with Lake Arenal, they form part of the Arenal Volcano National Park and is popular with landscape and nature enthusiasts. The viewing of the lava flow at night is one of the most fantastic activities here.
The volcano was dormant until 1968 when a first eruption killed 87 people and destroyed much of the crops and livestock. Up until now it has been active almost continuously but it is a relatively safe area to go, as long as you don't go beyond the safety perimeter. The last major eruption was in 2000. You have to be a little lucky to see the volcano in full glory as mostly there are clouds around the top. The park itself has more to offer though, including hiking through the rainforests and meeting the local wildlife up-close and personal.
Europe
Ben Nevis
- Where - Scottish Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Height - 1344 metres
- Climb - Yes, and you will not be alone.
Ben Nevis, the best-known and highest mountain in the British Isles, can be found in Scotland, near Fort William, at the western end of the Grampian Mountains. For mountaineers the most challenging part of the mountain is the North side, with its 700-metre-high cliffs. Most of the 100,000 people climbing Ben Nevis every year take a more careful approach and use the Pony Track.
There are three starting points for the ascent over the 1883 Pony Track, also known as the Tourist Route. You can start from the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, Achintee Farm, and from the parking lot at Glen Nevis visitors centre. The total distance to the top is 13 kilometres. For an average tourist, the summit can be reached within five hours, and getting back down takes another 2.5 hours. Bear in mind that the conditions on the mountain can be bad on any day of the year. Be prepared for rain, strong winds, mist and snow – even on summer days.
Matterhorn
- Where - On the border of Switzerland and Italy
- Height - 4478 metres
- Climb - Yes, but experienced climbers only!
Although it is not the highest mountain in the Alps, the Matterhorn is considered to be one of the landmarks on this mountain range. The distinct pyramid-like summit is its claim to fame. It is part of the Pennine Alps and it overlooks the towns of Zermatt (in Switzerland) and Cervinia (in Italy). However, it is the image from the north side that is most well-known to the world.
The Matterhorn is one of the hardest mountains to climb in the Alps because of its steep ascent and the weather conditions. In the last 150 years, over 500 climbers have lost their lives on this mountain. For tourists, it is probably better to enjoy the view from the top of the Gornergrat Railway that leads up to a height of 3089 metres, or from the top of the Klein Matterhorn cable car lift at 3820 metres. The cable car is the highest in Europe.
Jungfrau
- Where - Swiss Alps, Switzerland
- Height - 4158 metres
- Climb - Yes, but experienced climbers only!
The Jungfrau is located in central Switzerland, in the Berner Oberland and is one of the best known mountains in the country, along with the Matterhorn. It is the highest mountain of the massif which has the same name, the other mountains in the vicinity are the Eiger and Mönch.
The Jungfrau Railway is the highest in Europe and brings you to a height of 3454 metres above sea level. It is not cheap but it makes for one of the highlights of a trip to the Swiss Alps.
Mont Blanc
- Where - On the border of France and Italy
- Height - 4810 metres
- Climb - Yes, but experienced climbers only!
Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps, and sometimes mistakenly named as the highest mountain in Europe (which is the Elbruss). It is the highest mountain of the Mont Blanc massif. If you are in good shape, and have experience in mountaineering you can climb under the supervision of a guide to the top of the mountain. From Charmonix it's a two day tour that starts at the highest point the cable car can reach. For most people a visit to the panorama point at the highest station of the cable car does just fine.
Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius is a volcano that earned its place in the history books in 79 AD, when an eruption covered the town of Pompeii under a layer of lava. It also caused huge destruction to the town of Hercalaneum. The stratovolcano, considered one of the most dangerous in its class, could do a lot of harm to the city of Naples. The last eruption of the mountain was in 1944. Today, the volcano and its slopes are a national park. There are a number of paths leading up the mountain, and there is even parking space at 200 metres below the summit. The rest of the climb has to be done by foot.
Mount Etna
- Where - the island of Sicily, Italy
- Height - 3329 metres (but varies due to eruptions)
- Climb - Yes, when not active.
Mount Etna is the largest of the three active volcanoes in Italy, and also one of the most active in the world. It is situated on the eastern part of the island of Sicily, near the city of Catania. The mountain is almost always in a state of eruption the last couple of years.
The best way to get onto the mountain is from the south, via a road that leads up to the mountain. At an altitude of 1900 metres, there is a parking lot. There used to be a cable-car going up the mountain, but this was destroyed and hasn't yet been rebuilt. From the parking lot most trails lead to the Valley of Oxes (Valle del Bove). The first of the four active craters is not that far away. There are buses going up the mountain until the parking lot, and there are a couple of tour agencies in Toarmina offering tours to the mountain.
North America
Mount McKinley
- Where - Alaska, USA
- Height - 6194 metres
- Climb - Yes, but it's a technical climb and not without dangers
Mount McKinley is the highest mountain in North America and is situated in the central part of Alaska. It's the showpiece of the Denali National Park, one of the most popular national parks in this northern state.
Although Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level, Mount McKinley has the highest rise from its base at about 5500 metres up to the summit, compared to Mount Everest's rise of about 3700 metres from its base which is already 5200 metres above sea level. While Mount McKinley is not as high as the ones in the Himalaya or even Andes Mountains, it's a very tough climb. Only about half of the expeditions made it to the top and over 100 lives have been taken by it. It is a technical climb but the main drawbacks are the cold weather at the top and the lack of oxygen – so much lower compared to a mountain of similar height at the equator (almost 50% less!). Both the temperatures and lack of oxygen are a direct result of its latitude.
For non-climbers, the view of the mountain when there is clear weather in Denali National Park is fantastic already, especially in late winter and early spring when most of the mountain is still covered in snow and conditions are good with blue skies and less rain (or snow).
Mount St. Helens
- Where - Skamania County, Washington, USA
- Height - 2550 metres
- Climb - Yes
Mount St. Helens is best known for its catastrophic eruption on May 18, 1980, which caused 57 deaths and many homes, roads, bridges and railroads were destroyed. This volcanic event also caused the summit to shrink by no less than 400 metres. After that eruption, the summit has been replaced by a 1500-meter-wide volcanic crater. The mountain is located between the cities of Seattle and Portland.
Mount St. Helens is located on the Cascade Range (of which Mount Rainier at 4392 metres is the highest), which is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire – the most volcanic active part of the world. The volcano is well known for its ash explosions and pyroclastic flows.
Popocatépetl
- Where - Central Mexico, near Mexico City
- Height - 5426 metres
- Climb - Yes, but some experience is needed
Popocatépetl is an active volcano located in the heart of Mexico, about 70 kilometres southeast of the capital Mexico City. The mountain has been climbed since a long time ago. The Tecuanipas tribe is said to have climbed it in 1289, followed by the Spanish in the 16th century. Literally meaning the 'smoking mountain', it is the second highest peak in the country and on one of those rare clear days it can be seen from the higher parts of Mexico City.
Popocatépetl has had over 20 eruptions in modern history, with the eruptions of 1994, 1996, 2004 and 2005 (still continuing as at 2009)[1] being the most recent ones. In the 1996 eruption, tens of thousands of people were evacuated by the government based on the warnings of scientists. The volcano then experienced its worst eruption in thousands of years.
Popocatépetl is one of the only three mountains in Mexico that has glaciers near the summit.
Mount Rainier
- Where - Washington, USA
- Height - 4392 metres
- Climb - Yes, but experience is needed
Mount Rainier is an active Volcano in the state of Washington, 87 kilometres southeast of Seattle. It is the heighets peak of the Cascade Range with 4.392 metres. Mount Rainier and the surrounding area were declared a national park which is known under the name: the Mount Rainier National Park. With 26 major glaciers Mount Rainier is the most heavily glaciated peak in the USA, if you would exclude Alaska. In the past large scaled mudflows caused devestation in the area of the vulcano. The last major eruption was in 1854.. A trip to the top of the mountain can only be made by people that have experience is climbing on glaciers and snowfields. The ascent takes 2 or 3 days. On clear days the mountain can be seen from as far as Portland and Seattle.
Mount Thor
- Where - Baffin Island, Canada
- Height - 1675 metres
- Climb - Yes, but experience is required and conditions are tough
Mount Thor might be very unknown to regular travellers, it is a very popular mountain among experienced climbers. The main feature and the claim for being famous is the fact that is has the greatest purely vertical drop at 1250 metres. The average angle of the drop is 105 degrees. Thor Mountain is located in the Auyuittuq National Park, on Baffin Island, Canada. It's part of the Baffin Mountains, which is again part of the Arctic Cordillera.
Pangnirtung is the nearest settlement, 46 kilometres away and with about 1300 inhabitants. It can be reached by plane from Iqaluit, the capital and largest town on Baffin Island, reached in turn from other Canadian cities like Montreal and Ottawa.
Oceania
Uluru
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- Where - Northern Territory, Australia
- Height - 863 metres (although from the ground it's only 348 metres)
- Climb - Yes, but the Anangu prefer you don't. [2]
Uluru also known as Ayers Rock, is one of the landmarks of Australia, and has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. It is visited by around 400,000 visitors every year. The mountain and the surrounding area, including the rock formations Kata Tjuta have been declared a National Park. When entering the park, a 25 AUD fee has to be paid to enter the National Park (children until 16 enter for free).
Uluru has a huge spiritual meaning for the indigenous Anunga people. They do not climb the mountain, and ask visitors to do the same. Despite this request many people climb the mountain, and not without dangers. Due to the location in the desert, conditions are extreme, and you need to be in good condition to reach the top. A nearby visitors/cultural centre can give you more information about the mountain.
Mount Cook
- Where - South Island, New Zealand
- Height - 3754 metres
- Climb - Yes, but it is a technical one
Mount Cook, or Aoraki (cloud piercer), was first climbed in 1894 by New Zealand climbers George Graham, Tom Fyffe and Jack Clarke. It is part of the Southern Alps of New Zealand and is the highest mountain in New Zealand. The mountain is situated between the Westland and Mount Cook national parks (together forming a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to the south of Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. The Tasman Glacier and Hooker Glacier flow down the southern and eastern slopes of the mountain. Mount Cook Village has a visitor centre which provides detailed information on the area and there are numerous walks of varying difficulty starting from here. You can either choose to walk or climb the mountain but in the latter case, be prepared and better: take a guide.
Mount Ngauruhoe (aka. Mount Doom)
- Where - North Island, New Zealand
- Height - 2,291 metres
- Climb - Yes
Mount Ngauruhoe would not have made this list had it not been for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, in which the active volcano became famous as Mount Doom. Mount Ngauruhoe is situated between Mount Tongariro and Mount Ruapehu on North Island, New Zealand. Many people hike up it on the Tongariro Crossing, which is considered one of the ten best walks in the world. The first ascent of the volcano was made in 1839 by John C. Bidwill.
Along with Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro, Mt Ngaurohoe is part of a line of volcanoes known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, stretching across the Pacific Ocean. Although the volcano erupts on average every 9 years, the last major eruption was in 1975.
Mount Taranaki / Mount Egmont
- Where - Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand
- Height - 2518 metres
- Climb - Yes
The Mount Taranaki is the second highest mountain on the North Island of New Zealand. It's an active volcano, but not as active as others. The last major eruption was around 1655, although a piece of the top of the mountain came down in 1855/1856. A second volcano crater has been forming at the southern flank of the mountain. Whilst from the other side it looks like an almost perfect symmetrical mountain. Due to the similarity to Mount Fuji, it was used as a backdrop in the film the Last Samurai. Since 1881 the mountain and the surrounding forest are a national park.
You don't need to be an experienced climber to reach the summit in summer, but prepare the trip well and be prepared for the changing weather conditions of the mountain. The climb from the Stratfort Plateau and return are about 9-10 hours of walking and climbing.
Mauna Kea
- Where - Big Island, Hawaii, USA
- Height - 4,207 metres
- Climb - Yes
Mauna Kea is by some measures the tallest mountain in the world. It is located in the state of Hawaii on the Big Island. When measured from the base of the mountain on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, it rises 10,203 m to its peak, taller than Mount Everest if using the same measurement. It is a dormant volcano, with its last eruption dating back to about 2500 BC.
In the Hawaiian language, Mauna Kea means "white mountain", so named because its summit is regularly covered with snow in winter. The mountain's summit is one of the best astronomical sites in the world and several leading observatories can be found there as a result.
South America
Aconcagua
- Where - The province of Mendoza, Argentina
- Height - 6962 meters
- Climb - Yes, but some experience needed
The Aconcagua is the highest mountain of the Andes, and the highest mountain outside of Asia, making it the highest peak on the Western and Southern Hemisphere. There is some debate whether the ancient Inca's have climbed the mountain or not. Remains of a guanaco were found on a ridge between the south and north summit, and it seems unlikely that the animal got up the mountain that far on it's own. It is however proven that the Inca's climbed other mountains in the same region. The first modern successful climb of the mountain was done in 1897 by the Swiss Matthias Zurbriggen. For climbers the altitude of the mountain is the biggest opponent as the climb itself is not as technical as on other mountains.
Cerro Chaltén / Monte Fitz Roy
- Where - Patagonia, on the border between Chile and Argentina
- Height - 3375 metres
- Climb - Yes, but only very experienced climbers, and they need to be lucky.
The Monte Fitz Roy, also known as the Cerro Chaltén (meaning smoking mountain) lies on the border of Chile and Argentina. It became known as the Monte or Cerro Fitz Roy, named after the captain of the Beagle, Robert Fitz Roy. The mountain was first climbed by a the French duo Lionel Terray and Guido Magnone. Despite the low height of the mountain it is listed as one of the most technical climbs in the world, because of the almost vertical granite faces. There are years that none of the expeditions that attempt to summit, actually makes it.
Cotopaxi
The Cotopaxi volcano in the Andes mountains is located just 75 kilometers from Quito and on a clear day you can see the mountain from the capital. It is part of the chain of volcanoes around the Pacific plate known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. It is the second highest mountain of Ecuador and although it claims to be the highest active volcano in the world, actually Llullaillaco volcano, on the border of Chile and Argentina is considerably higher at over 6700 meters and is considered active as well. Nevertheless, the Cotopaxi is much more famous and active with over 50 eruptions during the last 370 years or so. Cotopaxi has an almost symmetrical cone and also has one of few equatorial glaciers in the world, at about 5000 meters and up.
References
- 1 Eruptive History – Popocatépetl – Global Volcanism Program. Natural Museum of Natural History. Smothsonian Institute. Retrieved on 2009–08–02.
- 2 http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru/visitor-activities/do-not-climb.html
This is version 93. Last edited at 23:48 on Sep 29, 09 by Peter (+24). 8 articles link to this page.
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