“Because it’s there.”
That was how British mountaineer George Mallory famously retorted when asked why he wanted to climb Everest.
Those three words soon became legend in mountaineering circles. And they’ll likely resonate with anyone who’s passionate about travel too.
Just like mountaineers, travelers also long to go where few (or none) have gone before, to see unusual or extreme places and to overcome great challenges.
We adventure to experience for ourselves, to experience ourselves and to pick up great tales along the way.
While the world is much more accessible for travel today than it was in Mallory’s time (the 1920s), few will ever view, let alone stand on the top and look out from, the world’s most majestic peaks.
So we’ve put together this gallery of the highest mountains on each of the Earth’s continents – collectively known as the Seven Summits.
Everest – Asia
- Height: 29,029 feet
- Country: China (Tibet)/Nepal
- Mountain Range: Himalaya
- First Summitted: 1953
The mountain…
The view from the top…
Aconcagua – South America
- Height: 22,837 feet
- Country: Argentina
- Mountain Range: Andes
- First Summitted: 1897
The mountain…
The view from the top (start at two minutes)…
Mount McKinley (Denali) – North America
- Height: 20,320 feet
- Country: United States
- Mountain Range: Alaska Range
- First Summitted: 1913
The mountain…
View from the top…
Kilimanjaro – Africa
- Height: 19,241 feet
- Country: Tanzania
- Mountain Range: N/A
- First Summitted: 1889
The mountain…
View from the top…
Elbrus – Europe
- Height: 18,510 feet
- Country: Russia
- Mountain Range: Caucasus
- First Summitted: 1874
The mountain…
View from the top…
Vinson Massif – Antarctica
- Height: 16,050 feet
- Country: N/A
- Mountain Range: Ellsworth Mountains
- First Summitted: 1966
The mountain…
Mount Kosciuszko – Australia
- Height: 7,310 feet
- Country: New Guinea
- Mountain Range: Great Dividing Ridge
- First Summitted: 1840
The mountain…
View from the top…
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Main image: jamarmstrong)
