The Highest Mountains in Nepal – Everest is the highest mountain in the world and more than half of the 8,000+ measuring mountains on Earth are located in Nepal, entirely or shared with India or China. Nepal has numerous mountains and mountain ranges, including the remarkable Himalayan mountain ranges. These mountains have contributed significantly to the unique ecosystem present in Nepal and other countries in the region.
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Mount Everest – The Highest Mountains in Nepal
Nepal is home to Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world at an altitude of 29,029 feet. The mountain is located on the border of Nepal and Tibet and is part of the largest mountain ranges in the Himalayas. The first measurement of mountain height was recorded in 1856, but it was inaccurate due to Nepal’s refusal to allow foreigners to enter the country. The accepted height was recorded in 1955 by an Indian survey and confirmed in 1975 by Chinese measurements.
The Tibetans had considered the mountain as holy for centuries, attributing the title of ‘Holy Mother’ or Chomolungma. The mountain was first climbed on May 29, 1953, by two climbers from New Zealand and Nepal. The mountain admits a great variety of fauna in the lower elevations, such as the Himalayan tahr, the snow leopard, the musk deer and more species of birds 100. The snow prevents flora and fauna from thriving at 20,000 feet, except in the Himalayan jumping spider, whose presence has been observed by climbers along with some birds. The mountain is part of the Sagarmatha National Park.
Since the exploration of the mountain began, it has been subject to pollution, mainly garbage used by climbers and tourists. The government of Nepal has put measures to combat the situation, placing garbage containers along the climbing routes to the mountain and demanding climbers to return to climb with all their equipment. Climbing the mount. Everest is highly regulated, due to the risks involved, such as altitude sickness and snowstorms. Everest Base Camp Trek is renowned all over the world which is done in the same region.
Mount Kanchenjunga
Kanchenjunga Mountain is the second-highest mountain in Nepal, at an altitude of 28,169 feet. The mountain is located on the border of Nepal and Sikkim, India. Kanchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world and is part of the largest Himalayan mountain ranges. The name Kanchenjunga means ‘five snow treasure houses’ an ode to its five peaks. The five treasures are gold, silver, precious stones, grain, and sacred books according to the native myth.
The first successful ascent was made by two British climbers, George Band and Joe Brown in 1955, who had to stop a few meters before the summit, to respect the local tradition that states that the mountain is sacred, and its peak is unconquerable. The mountain is, however, difficult to climb and often results in fatal accidents. A variety of flora and fauna thrives at the lowest elevations, most of which have been conserved in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. The wildlife includes the snow leopard, the Bengal tiger, the Himalayan black bear, the red panda, the Himalayan musk deer, and the Himalayan tahr. Settlements at the foot of the mountain have caused deforestation and land transformation,
Mount Lhotse
Lhotse Mountain is the third highest mountain in Nepal with an elevation of 27,940 feet. The mountain has the title of the fourth highest mountain in the world. The first successful expedition to the mountain was made by two Swiss climbers, Ernest Reiss, and Fritz Luchsinger. The mountain is on the border of Nepal and Tibet. Lhotse is sometimes confused with a peak at Everest, due to the proximity of the two mountain giants. Lhotse is remarkably known for its southern face that rises to 3.2 km at a horizontal distance of 2.25, which makes it the steepest global face of this size. The mountain is steep and represents a potentially dangerous ascent for mountaineers.
Mount Makalu
Makalu Mountain has a height of 27,766 feet and is the fourth largest mountain in Nepal and the fifth highest mountain in the world. The mountain is part of the Mahalangur Himalayas and is located on the border with China. At the base of the mountain is a unique valley ecosystem, preserved in the Makalu-Barun National Park. Enclosed in the park are 3,128 different species of flowering plants, over 80 species of mammals and almost 440 species of birds.
Animals include the Asian golden cat, the snow leopard, and the red panda. The first successful ascent was made in 1955. The mountain is not climbed often and is considered as one of the most challenging mountains to conquer. The Chomo Lonzo peak is at 25,650 feet is a subsidiary summit of Mt. Makalu
Other mountains high in Nepal by size in feet are Cho Oyu (26,906), Dhaulagiri I (26,795), Manaslu (26,759), Annapurna I (26,545), Gyachung Kang (26,089) and Annapurna II (26,040). The mountains of Nepal have contributed greatly to the position of Nepal as an important tourist destination in the world. The Nepalese government has stepped up efforts to protect mountain biodiversity and promote sustainable ecotourism.
The highest mountains in Nepal
Rank | The highest mountains in Nepal | Elevation |
1 | Everest | 29,029 |
2 | Kanchenjunga | 28,169 |
3 | Lhotse | 27,940 |
4 | Makalu | 27,766 |
5 | Cho Oyu | 26,906 |
6 | Dhaulagiri I | 26,795 |
7 | Manaslu | 26,759 |
8 | Annapurna I | 26,545 |
9 | Gyachung Kang | 26,089 |
10 | Annapurna II | 26,040 |