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.

The Continents A continent is defined as a large unbroken land mass completely surrounded by water, although in some cases continents are (or were in part) connected by land bridges. The seven continents are North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica. The island groups in the Pacific are often called Oceaniabut this name doesnotimply that scientists consider them the remains of a continent. Political considerations have often overridden geographical facts when it came to naming continents. Geographically, Europe, including the British Isles, is a large western peninsula of the continent of Asia; and many geographers, when referring to Europe and Asia, speak of the Eurasian continent. But traditionally, Europe is counted as a separate continent, with the Uraland the Caucasus mountains forming the line of demarcation between Europe and Asia. To the south of Europe, Asia has an odd-shaped peninsula jutting westward, which has a large number of political subdivisions. The northern section is taken up by Turkey; to the south of Turkey there are Syria, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and a number of smaller Arab countries. All these are part of Asia. Traditionally, the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean is also considered to be part of Asia. The Caribbean islands, Central America, and Greenland are considered part of North America.

World Geography Glossary Find the definition of geography terms and phrases. (last part): Tropic of Capricorn A line of latitude located at 23°30' south. The Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn on the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere (Dec. 20 or 21). It marks the southernmost point of the tropics. Arctic Circle A line of latitude located at 66°30' north, delineating the Northern Frigid Zone of the Earth. Antarctic Circle A line of latitude located at 66°30' south, delineating the Southern Frigid Zone of the Earth. globe The most accurate map of the Earth, duplicating its spherical shape and relative size. pole Point at which the earth turns; the north and south poles illustrate the axis on which the earth rotates. map Representation of a physical plane with selective information. Maps represent a definite area and contain detailed geographical information. atlas Combination of maps and charts. An atlas usually includes geographical information, as well as varied non-geographical information (population statistics, sea levels, etc.) about a particular location. compass A directional device that is made of a magnetic needle that synchronizes with the north and south poles. climate maps Give general information about the climate and precipitation (rain and snow) of a region. Cartographers, or mapmakers, use colors to show different climate or precipitation zones. economic or resource maps Feature the type of natural resources or economic activity that dominates an area. Cartographers use symbols to show the locations of natural resources or economic activities. For example, oranges on a map of Florida tell you that oranges are grown there. physical maps Illustrate the physical features of an area, such as the mountains, rivers and lakes. The water is usually shown in blue. Colors are used to show relief-differences in land elevations. Green is typically used at lower elevations, and orange or brown indicate higher elevations. political maps Do not show physical features. Instead, they indicate state and national boundaries and capital and major cities. A capital city is usually marked with a star within a circle. road maps Show major-some minor highways-and roads, airports, railroad tracks, cities and other points of interest in an area. People use road maps to plan trips and for driving directions. topographic maps Include contour lines to show the shape and elevation of an area. Lines that are close together indicate steep terrain, and lines that are far apart indicate flat terrain. map projections Two-dimensional representations of the three-dimensional Earth. Because projections attempt to present the spherical Earth on a flat plane, they inevitably produce distortions. Map projections are numerous and complex (e.g., there are a variety of cylindrical, conic, or azimuthal projections). Each projection has advantages and serves different purposes, and each produces different types of distortions in direction, distance, shape, and relative size of areas. One of the most famous projections is the Mercator, created by Geradus Mercator in 1569. It is a rectangular-shaped map in which all longitude and latitude lines are parallel and intersect at right angles (on a globe, meridians are not parallel, but grow narrower, eventually converging at the poles). Near the equator, the scale of the Mercator is accurate, but the farther one moves toward the poles, the greater the distortion—Antarctica in the far south and Greenland in the far north, for example, appear gigantic. The Mercator projection was used well into the 20th century, but has now been superseded by others, including the widely used Robinson projection. The Robinson projection is an elliptical-shaped map with a flat top and bottom. Developed in 1963 by Arthur H. Robinson, it is an orthophanic (“right appearing”) projection, which attempts to reflect the spherical appearance of the Earth. The meridians, for example, are curved arcs, which gives the flat map a three-dimensional appearance. But to convey the likeness of a curved, three-dimensional globe, the Robinson projection must in fact distort shape, area, scale, and distance. The Albers, Lambert, Mollweide, and Winkel Tripel are some of the other commonly used map projections.