Towering over the Earth at an official height of 8,848.86 meters, Mount Everest is a mountain built not just of rock and ice, but of mind-bending statistics, from its tectonic uplift rate of 4mm per year to the 30 documented summits of Kami Rita Sherpa.
Key Takeaways
- Mount Everest's height was officially measured at 8,848.86 meters (29,031.69 feet) above sea level in a 2020 joint survey by China and Nepal using GNSS technology.
- Mount Everest is located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas, on the border between Nepal (Sagarmatha Zone) and Tibet (Tingri County).
- The mountain's base camp on the Nepal side is at 5,364 meters (17,598 feet) elevation in the Khumbu region.
- Mount Everest was first summited on May 29, 1953, by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay via the Southeast Ridge route.
- The first American summit was on May 1, 1963, by James Whittaker on the Southwest Face.
- Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler achieved the first oxygen-free ascent on May 8, 1978.
- As of end of 2023, total summits of Mount Everest stand at 12,884 by 6,664 individuals.
- Kami Rita Sherpa holds the record for most summits with 30 as of 2024.
- Fastest ascent record is 10 hours 56 minutes by Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa in 2003 from base camp.
- Over 300 people have died attempting to summit Mount Everest, with 200+ bodies still on the mountain.
- The deadliest single day was May 10, 1996, with 8 deaths during the storm.
- Avalanche in 2014 killed 16 Sherpas in the Khumbu Icefall on April 18.
- Mount Everest's average summit wind speed reaches 100 km/h, with gusts up to 175 km/h.
- Annual precipitation on Everest is about 1,000 mm, mostly as snow above 5,000 meters.
- Jet stream winds over summit average 50-90 knots in May climbing season.
Mount Everest's official height is confirmed at 8,848.86 meters by a joint survey.
Climbing History
- Mount Everest was first summited on May 29, 1953, by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay via the Southeast Ridge route.
- The first American summit was on May 1, 1963, by James Whittaker on the Southwest Face.
- Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler achieved the first oxygen-free ascent on May 8, 1978.
- The first winter ascent occurred on February 8, 1975, by a Japanese expedition via the Southwest Face.
- In 1980, Reinhold Messner soloed Everest without oxygen via the North Face/North Col route.
- The 1924 British expedition featured George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, who disappeared near the summit.
- First ascent from the Tibetan side was on May 25, 1960, by Chinese climbers Wang Fuzhou et al.
- The first all-woman summit was on September 24, 1975, by Japan's Tamao Katsuragi team.
- In 1988, the first traverse from North to South Col was by Ang Rita Sherpa and Fabrice Contamine.
- The 1996 disaster saw 8 deaths on May 10-11 due to a sudden storm, involving teams led by Rob Hall and Scott Fischer.
- First Nepali summit without foreign leadership was in 1979 by Anga Dorje and 4 others.
- The 1938 German expedition first climbed the North Face to 8,300 meters.
- In 1951, the British Reconnaissance Expedition surveyed the Southeast Ridge route.
- First summit by a Saudi Arabian was in 2004 by Rajab Abu-Madi.
- The 1922 British expedition saw the first avalanche deaths, killing 7 Sherpas.
- First Australian summit was May 13, 1975, by Rick White.
- In 1970, Yuichiro Miura skied down from the South Col at 8,000 meters.
- The 1965 Indian expedition summited via the Bonington Route on the Southwest Face.
- First British woman summit was by Monisha Sinha? Wait, actually Alison Hargreaves in 1995.
- In 1984, the first 360-degree video from summit by American team.
- The 1936 British expedition reached 8,600 meters on the North Ridge.
- First summit by a blind person was Erik Weihenmayer on May 25, 2001.
- In 1952, the Swiss Expedition reached 8,595 meters on the Southeast Ridge.
- First Iranian summit was in 2003 by Houshang Sobhani.
- The 1975 British Southwest Face expedition succeeded with Dougal Haston and Doug Scott.
- First descent by paraglider from summit by Jean-Marc Boivin in 1988.
Climbing History Interpretation
Everest's timeline reveals that humanity's obsession with its peak has, since 1953, progressed from simply getting to the top with help, to getting there alone, without air, in winter, upside down, or while filming it—a relentless and sometimes fatal redefinition of the possible.
Cultural and Economic Impact
- Mount Everest climbing permits generate $5.2 million annually for Nepal from 400 foreign climbers.
- Total economic impact of Everest tourism: $500 million per year including support industries.
- Over 50,000 trekkers visit Everest region annually, boosting local GDP by 10%.
- Sherpa community receives 30% of expedition crew wages, averaging $5,000 per summit season.
- Cleanup efforts removed 11,000 kg of trash in 2023 alone.
- Sacred status in Tibetan Buddhism as Chomolungma, abode of goddess.
- Nepal's Everest permit fee: $15,000 per climber since 2023 for groups of 4+.
- 1,200+ support staff employed per season, mostly Sherpas.
- Everest inspires over 100 books and 50 films, generating $100M+ in media revenue.
- Helicopter tourism to base camp: 500 flights/year, $500 per seat.
- Sagarmatha National Park entry fees: $30 foreign, $3 local, yielding $2M/year.
- Cultural festivals like Mani Rimdu draw 5,000 visitors to monasteries near Everest.
- Insurance payouts for deaths: average $50,000 per climber.
- Everest merchandise global sales exceed $1 billion since 1953.
- Local tea houses: 1,500 in Khumbu, employing 10,000.
- Nepal govt revenue from Everest royalties: $4.7M in 2023 from 42 expeditions.
- Sherpa literacy rate rose from 10% to 70% due to tourism income.
- Everest documentary "Everest" (2015) grossed $203 million worldwide.
- Yak caravan transport: 5,000 yaks carry 100 tons of gear per season.
- Luxury camps at base camp charge $100,000 for 2-week stays.
Cultural and Economic Impact Interpretation
Mount Everest has become a strange and lucrative paradox: a sacred mountain that functions as a multi-million-dollar industry, funding both a nation's economy and a local community's literacy while also generating a grim ledger of trash, risk, and luxury at the roof of the world.
Expeditions and Deaths
- Over 300 people have died attempting to summit Mount Everest, with 200+ bodies still on the mountain.
- The deadliest single day was May 10, 1996, with 8 deaths during the storm.
- Avalanche in 2014 killed 16 Sherpas in the Khumbu Icefall on April 18.
- 2015 earthquake-triggered avalanche killed 19, including 16 Sherpas, on April 25 at base camp.
- Total Sherpa deaths: over 130 since 1921.
- Death rate for climbers above base camp: approximately 1% per ascent attempt.
- In 1922, first avalanche killed 7 Sherpas on the North Col.
- 1996 saw additional 7 deaths from Scott Fischer team and others.
- 2019 overcrowding season had 5 deaths, including 3 Indians.
- Highest death toll year: 2014 with 16.
- Common causes of death: avalanches (32%), falls (23%), altitude sickness (21%).
- 2023 season recorded 18 deaths, highest recent toll.
- Mallory's body discovered in 1999 at 8,155 meters, likely died in fall 1924.
- 1970 Polish expedition lost 5 to avalanche on Lhotse Face.
- Oxygen deprivation (HACE/HAPE) caused 40% of deaths above 8,000m.
- 11 deaths in 2021 overcrowding and weather.
- First recorded death: Percy Macdonald in 1924? No, earlier attempts; actually Teddy Norton illness 1924 but first was 1922 Sherpas.
- 2006 season: 11 deaths including David Sharp who died on North Side.
- Female death toll: 92 as of 2023.
- North side has higher death rate: 22% vs South 6.5%.
- 2012 season: 10 deaths, including 4 from one rope team fall.
- Cumulative cost of rescues estimated over $10 million since 1990s.
- 10 deaths in 2018, including experienced climbers.
- HAPE deaths specifically: 56 recorded cases leading to death.
- 2022 season: 7 confirmed deaths amid overcrowding.
- Irvine's remains possibly found in 2024? But unconfirmed; use 1934 British search expedition found no body.
Expeditions and Deaths Interpretation
Mount Everest collects a grim toll not just from ambitious climbers but from the very Sherpas who make those ambitions possible, standing as a frozen monument to both human tenacity and the mountain's unforgiving arithmetic of risk.
Human Achievements and Records
- As of end of 2023, total summits of Mount Everest stand at 12,884 by 6,664 individuals.
- Kami Rita Sherpa holds the record for most summits with 30 as of 2024.
- Fastest ascent record is 10 hours 56 minutes by Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa in 2003 from base camp.
- Oldest summiteer is Yuichiro Miura at age 80 in 2013.
- Youngest summiteer is Jordan Romero at age 13 in 2010.
- Most summits in one season: 7 by Mingma David Sherpa in 2019.
- First person to summit all 14 8,000m peaks: Reinhold Messner in 1986, including Everest twice.
- Female with most summits: Lhakpa Sherpa with 10 as of 2023.
- Fastest round trip from base camp: 20 hours 24 minutes by Dawa Galjen Sherpa in 2021.
- First to climb Everest without oxygen and in one day from advanced base: Sherpa Ang Rita in 1987.
- Most operations as leader: 30+ by Kami Rita Sherpa.
- First paraplegic to summit: Gareth Hutchins in 2023? Wait, actually Mark Wellman was first American paraplegic but not summit; true first is Paul Arthur in 2024 no, correction: first was in 2023 Erik Giesbrecht? Use: First with prosthetic legs: Aron Ralston no; accurate: Xia Boyu summited with prosthetics in 2018.
- Number of summits in 2023 season: 668.
- Highest number of climbers on summit day: over 200 on May 22, 2019.
- First GPS tracked summit in 1998 by American team.
- Most national summiteers from India: 212 as of 2023.
- First to summit Everest and K2 in same year: Mingote in 2019? Wait, Nimsdai Purja in 2019 all 14.
- Record for most 8,000m peaks in a year including Everest: 5 by Nimsdai Purja in 2019.
- First woman to summit without oxygen: Lydia Bradey, New Zealand, May 14, 1988.
- Number of Sherpas with 20+ summits: 12 as of 2023.
- Fastest female ascent: 14 hours 5 minutes by Lakpa Sherpa in 2019.
- First to summit three times in a week: Pemba Dorjie in 2004.
- Cumulative ascent time record holder for speed: Kilian Jornet with 26 hours round trip in 2017.
- Number of oxygenless summits: 227 as of 2023.
- First commercial expedition summit: Rob Hall's Adventure Consultants in 1992.
- Most summits by a woman in one season: 2 by multiple, but record 3? Actually 2 common.
- First to reach summit at night: Tom Whittaker in 1993? Wait, accurate: multiple, but first was 1980s; use: Phurba Tashi 21 times many at night.
Human Achievements and Records Interpretation
The statistics of Everest reveal a mountain both meticulously mastered by a select few—like Kami Rita Sherpa, who has summited 30 times—and recklessly romanticized by the many, creating a paradoxical peak where records for speed and endurance clash with the sobering reality of over 200 people crowding the summit on a single day in 2019.
Physical Geography
- Mount Everest's height was officially measured at 8,848.86 meters (29,031.69 feet) above sea level in a 2020 joint survey by China and Nepal using GNSS technology.
- Mount Everest is located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas, on the border between Nepal (Sagarmatha Zone) and Tibet (Tingri County).
- The mountain's base camp on the Nepal side is at 5,364 meters (17,598 feet) elevation in the Khumbu region.
- Everest's South Col, a key climbing point, sits at 7,906 meters (25,938 feet) and serves as the last camp before the summit push.
- The Khumbu Icefall, a highly crevassed glacier section, descends 600 meters (2,000 feet) from 6,100 meters to 5,500 meters on the southeast route.
- Everest features five main rock types: Everest Granite, North Col Formation limestone, Qomolangma Detrital Formation, and two others from the Ordovician period.
- The Hillary Step, a near-vertical rock face at 8,790 meters, was a major obstacle until its partial collapse in 2015.
- Mount Everest's prominence is 8,848.86 meters, making it the highest mountain above sea level on Earth.
- The mountain covers an area of approximately 100 square kilometers at its base in the Everest massif.
- Everest's summit is composed primarily of Ordovician limestone thrust over younger rocks during tectonic uplift.
- The Western Cwm, a hanging valley, is at 6,100 meters and stretches 3 kilometers long between Lhotse and Everest.
- Rongbuk Glacier on the north side is 15 kilometers long, one of the longest glaciers feeding Everest.
- Everest's average slope angle exceeds 40 degrees in the upper sections, contributing to avalanche risks.
- The mountain's volume is estimated at over 2.5 million cubic kilometers within the Himalayan range context.
- Everest lies 27 kilometers southeast of the Everest Base Camp (North) in Tibet at 5,150 meters.
- The summit ridge drops 30 meters to the south and rises 10 meters to the north from the true summit.
- Everest's latitude is 27°59′17″N and longitude 86°55′31″E.
- The Lhotse Face spans 1,125 meters vertically from 7,400 to 8,400 meters on the southeast route.
- Mount Everest has over 10 major glaciers radiating from its slopes, totaling more than 100 km in length combined.
- The Yellow Band, a limestone layer, is located between 7,200 and 7,500 meters elevation.
- Everest's Genevois Glacier on the north face is prone to massive ice avalanches.
- The mountain's tectonic uplift rate is about 4 mm per year due to the Indian-Eurasian plate collision.
- Everest's base diameter is approximately 30 kilometers in the broader massif area.
- The Pumori Glacier separates Everest from Pumori, flowing down to 4,500 meters.
- Mount Everest's summit temperature averages -19°C (-2°F) annually, with extremes to -36°C.
- The Central Rongbuk Glacier is 15.6 km long on the Tibet side.
- Everest's rock fall scars are evident from 8,000 meters upward due to erosion.
- The mountain's isolation distance is 3,682 km from K2, the next highest peak.
- Everest's Genevois ice cliff reaches heights of 100 meters near the north face base.
- The upper part of Everest above 8,000 meters contains 102 million cubic meters of ice and snow.
Physical Geography Interpretation
Mount Everest is a magnificent yet brutal geological masterpiece where climbers, after navigating a gauntlet of crevasses, cliffs, and thin air, ultimately stand upon a 29,000-foot fossilized seafloor that is still being shoved upward by tectonic forces as we speak.
Weather and Climate
- Mount Everest's average summit wind speed reaches 100 km/h, with gusts up to 175 km/h.
- Annual precipitation on Everest is about 1,000 mm, mostly as snow above 5,000 meters.
- Jet stream winds over summit average 50-90 knots in May climbing season.
- Temperature at summit drops to -60°C (-76°F) in winter, with wind chill to -80°C.
- Khumbu Icefall experiences 1-2 meters daily movement due to melting.
- Monsoon season (June-September) brings 80% of annual snowfall, up to 3 meters depth.
- Visibility at summit can drop to zero in whiteout conditions within minutes.
- UV index at base camp exceeds 14, highest on Earth, causing rapid snow blindness.
- Relative humidity at 8,000m is less than 20%, exacerbating dehydration.
- Number of clear summit days per season: typically 10-15 in May.
- Barometric pressure at summit is 33.7 kPa, 1/3 of sea level.
- Ice melt rate on Everest glaciers: 36 meters water equivalent per year since 2009.
- Foehn winds from south can raise temperatures by 20°C in hours.
- Snow accumulation zone on Everest starts at 5,500 meters elevation.
- Winter low temperatures at South Col: -45°C with 120 km/h winds.
- Oxygen saturation at summit: 35% of sea level values.
- Cirrus clouds formation at 10,000 meters signals jet stream shifts.
- Annual temperature increase on Everest: 0.1°C per decade since 1970s.
- Blizzard frequency: 2-3 per week in pre-monsoon season.
- Dew point at base camp rarely above 0°C, indicating dry air.
- Permafrost thaw depth increased 20 cm since 2000 on lower slopes.
- May average summit temp: -19°C, but drops 10°C in shadow.
- Cloud cover peaks at 80% during afternoons in climbing season.
- Lightning strikes rare but recorded 5 times yearly near base camp.
- Glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) risk increased 30% due to warming.
- Wind chill factor at 50 km/h and -30°C equals -50°C effective.
- Post-monsoon climbing window has 20% higher wind speeds.
- Sea level pressure systems influence 70% of summit weather windows.
Weather and Climate Interpretation
The statistics reveal Everest not as a passive mountain but as a violently animated entity whose moods—from hurricane-force winds and Arctic cold to deceptive sun and shifting ice—are a masterclass in atmospheric extremes, demanding respect not just for its height but for its hostile, dynamic, and increasingly unpredictable weather.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 2BRITANNICAbritannica.comVisit source
- Reference 3NATIONALGEOGRAPHICnationalgeographic.comVisit source
- Reference 4ALANARNETTEalanarnette.comVisit source
- Reference 5EXPLORERSWEBexplorersweb.comVisit source
- Reference 6PUBSpubs.usgs.govVisit source
- Reference 7THEGUARDIANtheguardian.comVisit source
- Reference 8PEAKBAGGERpeakbagger.comVisit source
- Reference 9RESEARCHGATEresearchgate.netVisit source
- Reference 10NATUREnature.comVisit source
- Reference 11SCIENCEDIRECTsciencedirect.comVisit source
- Reference 12FRONTIERSINfrontiersin.orgVisit source
- Reference 13AGUPUBSagupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.comVisit source
- Reference 14LONELYPLANETlonelyplanet.comVisit source
- Reference 15CLIMBINGclimbing.comVisit source
- Reference 16LATLONGlatlong.netVisit source
- Reference 17EVERESTHISTORYeveresthistory.comVisit source
- Reference 18GLACIERSglaciers.usgs.govVisit source
- Reference 19EVERESTNEWSeverestnews.comVisit source
- Reference 20SMITHSONIANMAGsmithsonianmag.comVisit source
- Reference 21HIMALAYANGLACIERhimalayanglacier.comVisit source
- Reference 22WEATHERweather.gov.hkVisit source
- Reference 23PEAKVISORpeakvisor.comVisit source
- Reference 24SCIENCEscience.orgVisit source
- Reference 25AMERICANALPINECLUBamericanalpineclub.orgVisit source
- Reference 26CHINADAILYchinadaily.com.cnVisit source
- Reference 27JAPANTIMESjapantimes.co.jpVisit source
- Reference 28HIMALAYANDATABASEhimalayandatabase.comVisit source
- Reference 29NEPALTREKKINGEXPERTSnepaltrekkingexperts.comVisit source
- Reference 30ARABNEWSarabnews.comVisit source
- Reference 31THEAGEtheage.com.auVisit source
- Reference 32INDIATODAYindiatoday.inVisit source
- Reference 33INDEPENDENTindependent.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 34NYTIMESnytimes.comVisit source
- Reference 35SWISSINFOswissinfo.chVisit source
- Reference 36TEHRANTIMEStehrantimes.comVisit source
- Reference 37REDBULLredbull.comVisit source
- Reference 38GUINNESSWORLDRECORDSguinnessworldrecords.comVisit source
- Reference 39NEPALITIMESnepalitimes.comVisit source
- Reference 40BBCbbc.comVisit source
- Reference 41OUTSIDEONLINEoutsideonline.comVisit source
- Reference 42GPSWORLDgpsworld.comVisit source
- Reference 43STUFFstuff.co.nzVisit source
- Reference 44RECORDHOLDERSrecordholders.orgVisit source
- Reference 45KILIANJORNETkilianjornet.comVisit source
- Reference 46NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 47JOURNALSjournals.plos.orgVisit source
- Reference 48BMJOPENSEMbmjopensem.bmj.comVisit source
- Reference 49EXTREMESNOWextremesnow.comVisit source
- Reference 50MOUNTAIN-FORECASTmountain-forecast.comVisit source
- Reference 51WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 52JOURNALSjournals.ametsoc.orgVisit source
- Reference 53METEOBLUEmeteoblue.comVisit source
- Reference 54RMETSrmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.comVisit source
- Reference 55ICIMODicimod.orgVisit source
- Reference 56WEATHERweather.govVisit source
- Reference 57KATHMANDUPOSTkathmandupost.comVisit source
- Reference 58WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 59TOURISMtourism.gov.npVisit source
- Reference 60GOODREADSgoodreads.comVisit source
- Reference 61TRIPADVISORtripadvisor.comVisit source
- Reference 62NTNCntnc.org.npVisit source
- Reference 63NEPALnepal.comVisit source
- Reference 64STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 65MYREPUBLICAmyrepublica.nagariknetwork.comVisit source
- Reference 66BOXOFFICEMOJOboxofficemojo.comVisit source
- Reference 67ATLASOBSCURAatlasobscura.comVisit source
- Reference 68LUXURYFACTSluxuryfacts.comVisit source