Where is Mount Everest Located?
Mount Everest is part of the Himalayan mountain range which runs along the border of Nepal and Tibet (China) on the continent of Asia. The Himalayas started to form about 50 million years ago, making this mountain range very old! Sherpas live in the Himalayan area in small villages and have become acclimatized to the extreme weather conditions.
Read more about the Himalayas and other mountains in these books: Discovering Mountains and About Habitats: Mountains.
There are two main routes to reach the top of Mount Everest: the south side from Nepal and the north side from Tibet. The southern route is the most-used route by climbers of Mount Everest. Climbing the northern side of the mountain is more challenging and dangerous than using the southern route. The climbers using the northern route face more challenges, such as altitude sickness, because they spend more time at higher altitudes. The climbers using this route also face problems such as falling ice, steep slopes, and a longer trek. This map (pictured right) from National Geographic's website shows the various routes you can take to climb to the top of Mount Everest! |
Most mountaineers choose to use the southern route to climb Mount Everest. This map (pictured left) shows the route and the various camp sites used. If you look at the top of the mountain, just below the summit, you can see the Hillary Step. This section of the mountain was named after Edmund Hillary, one of the first two men to summit Mount Everest.
There is a South Base Camp about 17,600 feet up the mountain and a North Base Camp located about 16,900 feet up the mountain. Base camps are great stopping points, providing mountaineers with important supplies to use. Base camps also help mountaineers become acclimatized to the altitude. There are 18 total named routes around these base camps that mountaineers can choose from when climbing this mountain. Check out facts and more on these websites: Conquering Everest and Science Kids.
After reading about Mount Everest and where it is located, you are probably wondering why someone would want to climb it. Click on the button below to find out!