Climbing the Seven Summits About 350 mountaineers have climbed all "Seven Summits"—the highest peak on each of the seven continents. The first was Dick Bass, an American businessman, on April 30, 1985. ContinentMountainCountry and/or locationHeight FeetMeters AsiaMt. EverestTibet-Nepal29,0358,850 South AmericaMt. AconcaguaArgentina22,8346,960 North AmericaMt. McKinley (Denali)United States, Alaska20,3206,194 AfricaMt. KilimanjaroTanzania19,3405,995 EuropeElbrusRussia/Georgia18,5105,642 AntarcticaVinson MassifEllsworth Mts.16,0664,897 Australia1KosciuskoAustralia7,3102,228 1. Some climbers believe that the true Seven Summits should include Carstensz Pyramid (16,023 ft.) in Irian Jaya, Indonesia, rather than Australia's Kosciusko. Carstensz is the highest summit in Australia/Oceania, but strictly speaking, Oceania is not a continent.

Highest Mountain Peaks of the World The following table lists the highest mountain peaks of the world including mountain name, mountain range, vertical height, and location, according to the National Geographic Society. See Named Summits in the U.S. Over 14,000 Feet Above Sea Levelfor U.S. Peaks. See also Climbing the World's 14 8,000- meter Peaks, The Seven Summits, Mortals on Mount Olympus: A History of Climbing Everest, and the Everest Almanac. Mountain peakRangeLocationHeight ft.m Everest1 HimalayasNepal/Tibet29,0358,850 K2 (Godwin Austen) KarakoramPakistan/China28,2508,611 KanchenjungaHimalayasIndia/Nepal28,1698,586 Lhotse IHimalayasNepal/Tibet27,9408,516 Makalu IHimalayasNepal/Tibet27,7668,463 Cho OyuHimalayasNepal/Tibet26,9068,201 DhaulagiriHimalayasNepal26,7958,167 Manaslu IHimalayasNepal26,7818,163 Nanga ParbatHimalayasPakistan26,6608,125 AnnapurnaHimalayasNepal26,5458,091 Gasherbrum IKarakoramPakistan/China26,4708,068 Broad PeakKarakoramPakistan/China26,4008,047 Gasherbrum IIKarakoramPakistan/China26,3608,035 Shishma Pangma (Gosainthan)HimalayasTibet26,2898,013 Annapurna IIHimalayasNepal26,0417,937 Gyachung KangHimalayasNepal25,9107,897 Disteghil SarKarakoramPakistan25,8587,882 HimalchuliHimalayasNepal25,8017,864 NuptseHimalayasNepal25,7267,841 Nanda DeviHimalayasIndia25,6637,824 MasherbrumKarakoramKashmir225,6607,821 RakaposhiKarakoramPakistan25,5517,788 Kanjut SarKarakoramPakistan25,4617,761 KametHimalayasIndia/Tibet25,4467,756 Namcha BarwaHimalayasTibet25,4457,756 Gurla MandhataHimalayasTibet25,3557,728 Ulugh Muztagh KunlunTibet25,3407,723 KungurMuztagh AtaChina25,3257,719 Tirich Mir Hindu KushPakistan25,2307,690 Saser KangriKarakoramIndia25,1727,672 Makalu IIHimalayasNepal25,1207,657 Minya Konka (Gongga Shan)Daxue ShanChina24,9007,590 Kula KangriHimalayasBhutan24,7837,554 Chang-tzuHimalayasTibet24,7807,553 Muztagh AtaMuztagh AtaChina24,7577,546 Skyang KangriHimalayasKashmir24,7507,544 Ismail Samani Peak(formerly Communism Peak) PamirsTajikistan24,5907,495 Jongsong PeakHimalayasNepal24,4727,459 Pobeda Peak Tien ShanKyrgyzstan24,4067,439 Sia KangriHimalayasKashmir24,3507,422 Haramosh PeakKarakoramPakistan24,2707,397 Istoro NalHindu KushPakistan24,2407,388 Tent PeakHimalayasNepal24,1657,365 Chomo LhariHimalayasTibet/Bhutan24,0407,327 ChamlangHimalayasNepal24,0127,319 KabruHimalayasNepal24,0027,316 Alung GangriHimalayasTibet24,0007,315 Baltoro KangriHimalayasKashmir23,9907,312 Muztagh Ata (K-5)KunlunChina23,8907,282 ManaHimalayasIndia23,8607,273 BaruntseHimalayasNepal23,6887,220 Nepal PeakHimalayasNepal23,5007,163 Amne MachinKunlunChina23,4907,160 Gauri SankarHimalayasNepal/Tibet23,4407,145 BadrinathHimalayasIndia23,4207,138 NunkunHimalayasKashmir23,4107,135 Lenin PeakPamirsTajikistan/Kyrgyzstan23,4057,134 PyramidHimalayasNepal23,4007,132 ApiHimalayasNepal23,3997,132 PauhunriHimalayasIndia/China23,3857,128 TrisulHimalayasIndia23,3607,120 Korzhenevski PeakPamirsTajikistan23,3107,105 KangtoHimalayasTibet23,2607,090 NyainqentanglhaNyainqentanglha ShanChina23,2557,088 TrisuliHimalayasIndia23,2107,074 DunagiriHimalayasIndia23,1847,066 Revolution PeakPamirsTajikistan22,8806,974 Aconcagua AndesArgentina22,8346,960 Ojos del SaladoAndesArgentina/Chile22,6646,908 BoneteAndesArgentina/Chile22,5466,872 Ama DablamHimalayasNepal22,4946,856 TupungatoAndesArgentina/Chile22,3106,800 Moscow PeakPamirsTajikistan22,2606,785 PissisAndesArgentina22,2416,779 MercedarioAndesArgentina/Chile22,2116,770 HuascaránAndesPeru22,2056,768 LlullaillacoAndesArgentina/Chile22,0576,723 El LibertadorAndesArgentina22,0476,720 CachiAndesArgentina22,0476,720 KailasHimalayasTibet22,0276,714 IncahuasiAndesArgentina/Chile21,7206,620 YerupajaAndesPeru21,7096,617 KurumdaPamirsTajikistan21,6866,610 GalanAndesArgentina21,6546,600 El MuertoAndesArgentina/Chile21,4636,542 SajamaAndesBolivia21,3916,520 NacimientoAndesArgentina21,3026,493 IllampuAndesBolivia21,2766,485 IllimaniAndesBolivia21,2016,462 CoropunaAndesPeru21,0836,426 LaudoAndesArgentina20,9976,400 AncohumaAndesBolivia20,9586,388 CuzcoAndesPeru20,9456,384 (Ausangate) Toro AndesArgentina/Chile20,9326,380 Tres CrucesAndesArgentina/Chile20,8536,356 HuandoyAndesPeru20,8526,356 ParinacotaAndesBolivia/Chile20,7686,330 TortolasAndesArgentina/Chile20,7456,323 ChimborazoAndesEcuador20,7026,310 AmpatoAndesPeru20,7026,310 El CondorAndesArgentina20,6696,300 SalcantayAndesPeru20,5746,271 HuancarhuasAndesPeru20,5316,258 FamatinaAndesArgentina20,5056,250 PumasilloAndesPeru20,4926,246 SoloAndesArgentina20,4926,246 PollerasAndesArgentina20,4566,235 PularAndesChile20,4236,225 ChañiAndesArgentina20,3416,200 McKinley (Denali)AlaskaAlaska20,3206,194 AucanquilchaAndesChile20,2956,186 JuncalAndesArgentina/Chile20,2766,180 NegroAndesArgentina20,1846,152 QuelaAndesArgentina20,1286,135 CondoririAndesBolivia20,0956,125

The World's 14 Highest Mountain Peaks (above 8,000 meters)All 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks are located in the Himalaya or the Karakoram ranges in Asia. According to E verestnews.com, only 17 climbers have reached the summits of all 14: Reinhold Messner (Italy) was first, followed by Jerzy Kukuczka (Poland), Ehardt Loretan (Switzerland), Carlos Carsolio (Mexico), Krzysztof Wielicki (Poland), Juan Oiarzabal (Spain), Sergio Martini (Italy), Park Young Seok (Korea), Hang-Gil Um (Korea), Alberto Inurrategui (Spain), Han Wang Yong (Korea), Ed Viesturs (U.S.), Alan Hinkes (British), and Silvio Mondinelli (Italy), Ivan Vallejo (Ecuador), Denis Urubko (Kazakhstan), Andrew Lock (Australia). MountainLocationHeightFirst to summit (nationality)Date MetersFeet 1. Everest 1Nepal/Tibet8,85029,035Edmund Hillary (New Zealander, UK), Tenzing Norgay (Nepalese)May 29, 1953 2. K2 (Godwin Austen)Pakistan/China8,61128,250A. Compagnoni, L. Lacedelli (Italian)July 31, 1954 3. Kangchenjunga Nepal/India8,58628,169G. Band, J. Brown, N. Hardie, S. Streather (UK)May 25, 1955 4. Lhotse Nepal/Tibet8,51627,940F. Luchsinger, E. Reiss (Swiss)May 18, 1956 5. Makalu Nepal/Tibet8,46327,766J. Couzy, L. Terray, J. Franco, G. Magnone-Gialtsen, J. Bouier, S. Coupé, P. Leroux, A. Vialatte (French)May 15, 1955 6. Cho Oyu Nepal/Tibet8,20126,906H. Tichy, S. Jöchler (Austrian), Pasang Dawa Lama (Nepalese)Oct. 19, 1954 7. Dhaulagiri Nepal8,16726,795A. Schelbert, E. Forrer, K. Diemberger, P. Diener (Swiss), Nyima Dorji, Nawang Dorji (Nepalese)May 13, 1960 8. Manaslu Nepal8,16326,781T. Imamishi, K. Kato, M. Higeta, (Japanese) G. Norbu (Nepalese)May 9, 1956 9. Nanga Parbat Pakistan8,12526,660Hermann Buhl (Austrian)July 3, 1953 10. AnnapurnaNepal8,09126,545M. Herzog, L. Lachenal (French)June 3, 1950 11. Gasherbrum IPakistan/China8,06826,470P. K. Schoeing, A. J. KauffmanJuly 4, 1958 12. Broad PeakPakistan/China8,04726,400M. Schmuck, F. Wintersteller, K. Diemberger, H. Buhl (Austrian)June 9, 1957 13. Gasherbrum IIPakistan/China8,03526,360F. Moravec, S. Larch, H. Willenpart (Austrian)July 7, 1956 14. Shisha PangmaTibet8,01326,289Hsu Ching and team of 9 (Chinese)May 2, 1964 1. The 1955 elevation of Everest, 29,028 ft. (8,848 m), was revised on Nov. 11, 1999, and now stands at 29,035 ft. (8,850 m). See Named Summits in the U.S. Over 14,000 Feet Above Sea Levelfor U.S. Peaks. See also Climbing the World's 14 8,000- meter Peaks, The Seven Summits, Mortals on Mount Olympus: A History of Climbing Everest, and the Everest Almanac.

World Land Areas and Elevations The following table lists the approximate land area, highest elevation, and lowest elevation of the world's continents, including Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America, according to the World Atlas. AreaApproximate land area sq. kmApproximate land area sq. mi.Percentage of total land areaElevation, feet and meters HighestLowest WORLD148,647,00057,393,000100.0%Mt. Everest, Tibet-Nepal, 29,035 ft. (8,850 m)1Dead Sea, Israel-Jordan, 1,349 ft. below sea level (–411 m) AFRICA30,065,00011,608,00020.2Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, 19,340 ft. (5,895 m)Lake Assal, Djibouti, 512 ft. below sea level (–156 m) ANTARCTICA13,209,0005,100,0008.9Vinson Massif, Ellsworth Mts., 16,066 ft. (4,897 m)Lowest land point hidden within Bentley Subglacial Trench2 ASIA(includes the Middle East)44,579,00017,212,00030.0Mt. Everest, Tibet-Nepal, 29,035 ft. (8,850 m)Dead Sea, Israel-Jordan, 1,349 ft. below sea level (–411 m) AUSTRALIA (includes Oceania)8,112,0003,132,0005.3Mt. Kosciusko, Australia, 7,310 ft. (2,228 m)Lake Eyre, Australia, 52 ft. below sea level (–12 m) EUROPE(the Ural Mountains in Russia form the boundary between Europe and Asia)9,938,0003,837,0006.7Mt. Elbrus, Russia/Georgia, 18,510 ft. (5,642 m)Caspian Sea, Russia/Kazakhstan 92 ft. below sea level (–28 m) NORTH AMERICA(includes Central America and the Caribbean)24,474,0009,449,00016.5Mt. McKinley, Alaska, 20,320 ft. (6,194 m)Death Valley, Calif., 282 ft. below sea level (–86 m) SOUTH AMERICA17,819,0006,879,00012.0Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina, 22,834 ft. (6,960 m)Valdes Peninsula, Argentina 131 ft. below sea level (–40 m) 1. The 1954 elevation of Everest, 29,028 ft. (8,848 m) was revised on Nov. 11, 1999, and now stands at 29,035 ft. (8,850 m). 2. Bentley Subglacial Trench itself (ice, not land) is –8,327 ft. below sea level (–2,538 m). Source: WorldAtlas.com.

Continental Drift and Plate-Tectonics Theory Source:U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Geological Survey According to the theory of continental drift, the world was made up of a single continent through most of geologic time. That continent eventually separated and drifted apart, forming into the seven continents we have today. The first comprehensive theory of continental drift was suggested by the German meteorologist Alfred Wegenerin 1912. The hypothesis asserts that the continents consist of lighter rocks that rest on heavier crustal material—similar to the manner in which icebergs float on water. Wegener contended that the relative positions of the continents are not rigidly fixed but are slowly moving—at a rate of about one yard per century. According to the generally accepted plate-tectonics theory, scientists believe that Earth's surface is broken into a number of shifting slabs or plates, which average about 50 miles in thickness. These plates move relative to one another above a hotter, deeper, more mobile zone at average rates as great as a few inches per year. Most of the world's active volcanoes are located along or near the boundaries between shifting plates and are called plate-boundary volcanoes. The peripheral areas of the Pacific Ocean Basin, containing the boundaries of several plates, are dotted with many active volcanoes that form the so-called Ring of Fire. The Ring provides excellent examples of plate-boundary volcanoes, including Mount St. Helens. However, some active volcanoes are not associated with plate boundaries, and many of these so-called intra-plate volcanoes form roughly linear chains in the interior of some oceanic plates. The Hawaiian Islands provide perhaps the best example of an intra-plate volcanic chain, developed by the northwest-moving Pacific plate passing over an inferred “hot spot” that initiates the magma-generation and volcano-formation process. Plate-Tectonics Theory—The Lithosphere Plates of Earth This figure shows the boundaries of lithosphere plates that are active at present. The double lines indicate zones of spreading from which plates are moving apart. The lines with barbs show zones of underthrusting (subduction), where one plate is sliding beneath another. The barbs on the lines indicate the overriding plate. The single line defines a strike-slip fault along which plates are sliding horizontally past one another. The stippled areas indicate a part of a continent, exclusive of that along a plate boundary, which is undergoing active extensional, compressional, or strike-slip faulting. Source:U.S. Geological Survey.