Top 8 Tallest Mountains in the World
From the iconic Mount Everest to the formidable K2, these natural wonders showcase the Earth’s grandeur and test the limits of human exploration.
Join us as we unveil the top tallest mountains in the world. Keep on reading!
Key takeaways
Top 8 Tallest Mountains in the World
1. Mount Everest, Himalayas, Nepal/Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Among the tallest mountains in the world, Mount Everest occupies the first position. Located in Nepal’s Himalayas at 8,848 meters, this is also the number 1 mountain in popularity too.
You have probably heard about this mountain many times. It is commonly the go-to when someone asks to name one of some of the tallest mountains in the world.
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2. K2, Karakoram, Pakistan/China – 8611m
In second position among the tallest mountains in the world is K2. Although not as popular as the tallest of them all, this mountain is also quite known. Located on the border between China and Pakistan, its short name was simply chosen as there was no other alternative at the time, and it remained like that.
Despite being the second of the tallest mountains in the world, the K2 is frequently regarded as one of the hardest in the world to climb and is reputedly more difficult than Mount Everest.
With almost 300 successful summits and 77 fatalities, K2 actually has the second-highest fatality rate per summit attempt of all mountains over 8000m. The tenth-highest peak in the world has the highest death rate (spoiler).
3. Kangchenjunga, Himalayas, Nepal/India – 8586 m
If we talk about the tallest mountains in the world, we can all agree that both Mount Everest, and even the K2, were already familiar to us, but what about the third of the tallest mountains in the world?
Well, although it might be a little hard to pronounce, the third position on the top of the tallest mountains in the world is Kangchenjunga.
Three of its summits are on the border between Nepal and Sikkim in India, and the other two are in Nepal’s Taplejung District.
Up until 1852, the peak was truly believed to be the highest in the globe.
4. Lhotse, Himalayas, Nepal/Tibet Autonomous Region, China – 8516 m
Because of its proximity to Mount Everest, Lhotse is one of the more well-known summits on any list of the top 10 tallest mountains in the world. From Everest Base Camp, the path up Lhotse is identical to that of Mount Everest until you reach Camp 3, at which point you exit to the Reiss couloir from the Lhotse Face, from which you can reach Lhotse’s peak.
Join a small group journey for 14 nights to walk Nepal’s well-known trail to Everest Base Camp and trace the steps of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary.
Lhotse is comparable to Mount Everest’s neglected younger sibling. Lhotse is considerably less busy even though it is frequently thought to be more visually appealing than Everest, which receives all the attention.
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The Lhotse Middle really remained the highest unclimbed, named point on Earth for decades despite the fact that the main summit of Lhotse was first reached in 1956. Eventually, a Russian team ascended it for the first time in 2011.
5. Makalu, Himalayas, Nepal/Tibet Autonomous Region, China – 8485 m
The third of the tallest mountains in the world, Makalu, is located in Nepal’s Everest Massif. A French expedition headed by Jean Franco was the first to reach the summit in 1955. The fact that all 10 members of the expedition team reached the mountain’s peak during the expedition made their ascent particularly noteworthy.
This was a big accomplishment back then because, on an expedition, only one or two climbers from each team often made it to the summit. In addition, it’s just really gorgeous, isn’t it? On May 15, 1955, the first two people to reach the summit were followed by four more climbers the following day and four more the day after that. Really, it’s just pretty wholesome mountain climbing.
6. Cho Oyu, Himalayas, Nepal/Tibet Autonomous Region, China – 8188 m
Cho Oyu is the fourth and last member of the 8000m club in the Everest region. The last mountain in our top of the 8 tallest mountains in the world has 8188 m of height.
This peak is actually regarded as the simplest of the 8000-meter summits to climb thanks to its kinder climbing slopes.
Besides that, the Nangpa La pass, a vital trade route between the Tibetan and Khumbu Sherpas, is only a few kilometers away. Cho Oyu would be the easygoing, laid-back backup vocalist in a boyband made up of the four mountains in the Everest region that are higher than 8000 meters. Not the flashiest, but most likely the most relatable.
7. Dhaulagiri, Nepal – 8167 m
With an elevation of 8167 meters, Nepal’s Dhaulagiri is the seventh-highest peak in the world and one of the most beautiful. Although it was first scaled on May 13, 1960, the Dhaulagiri is likely best recognized for its visibility on the well-known Annapurna Circuit, where Annapurna I is only 34 kilometers distant and the Dhaulagiri is a common sight while trekking Annapurna.
8. Manaslu, Nepal – 8163 m
This is the last of the highest mountains in the world at our top. First climbed by Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu, who were a part of a Japanese expedition that reached the mountain’s summit on May 9, 1956. There was a lot of debate about it.
The second climb of Manaslu didn’t occur until 1971, when another Japanese team successfully finished the ascent. Although the Japanese gave a significant donation to reconstruct the monastery, this did not improve relations with the expeditions.
These are the highest mountains in the world!
We have scaled majestic peaks and marveled at the breathtaking heights that Mother Nature has created throughout our thrilling exploration of the tallest mountains in the world.
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