El Mount Everest It is the highest mountain in the world with 8848,43 meters above sea level. It was and still is the dream of all climbers, but at the same time it represents a great danger as it is considered the deadliest mountain in the world. It has unique characteristics and origin that are worth knowing.
Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you all the characteristics of Mount Everest, origin and geology of Mount Everest.
Key features
There is some confusion about the height of Mount Everest. It is true that its peak is the highest point on Earth, since it rises several meters above sea level, but it is not the largest or the highest of all, if one takes into account that there are other peaks under it. sea level that are wider and even higher. For example, Mauna Kea is a volcano that rises more than 10.000 meters from its base at the bottom of the seaTo learn more about this mountain, you can consult information about Mauna Kea.
Mount Everest is part of the Himalayas, located in Southeast Asia, between the Indian subcontinent and the rest of Asia. It lies between Nepal and Tibet (China), with an altitude of 8848-8850 meters and a total area of about 594.400 square kilometers. It takes a shape similar to a three-sided pyramid. Due to its height, the upper air is devoid of oxygen and the area is buffeted by strong winds when it is cold.
Its top, or top, is formed by very hard snow surrounded by another layer of snow that can be reduced or increased. Slightly higher in September and slightly lower in May. The temperatures vary according to the season, in January temperatures can reach -36 ºC, while in July, midsummer, temperatures can be around -19 ºC. The monsoon season, from June to September, produces strong storms with winds of up to 285 km/h. Secondly, the air pressure there is 30% of that at sea level. To better understand the climate surrounding Everest, it is interesting to consult details about the weather in the valleys.
A few meters below the summit is the "death zone", so called because the lack of oxygen and the very low temperatures killed several climbers. As the altitude decreases, the temperature increases and the snow and ice thin until the rocks of the mountain are more clearly visible.
Some history
According to historical records, Mount Everest was created by the earth itself around 60 million years ago. The world's tallest mountain was identified in 1841 by a team of British surveyors led by Sir George Everest, who named Everest Mount Everest in 1865.
The first people to officially summit Mount Everest began their attempt in 1921. However, two attempted British expeditions in 1921 and 1922 failed to summit EverestIn 1924, George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, two members of a British expedition, were seen swallowed by bad weather just 800 feet from the summit. Although Mallory's body was discovered in 1999, it was impossible to determine whether he or Owen reached the summit, as no evidence was found. For those who wish to learn more about the origin of this mountain range, please consult how the Himalayas originated.
Formation of Mount Everest
Mount Everest is made up of several layers of folded metamorphic and sedimentary rock, covered in snow and ice, accumulated over millions of years.
First, it is necessary to go back to the time when Pangea was still a supercontinent on earth in the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic. About 175-180 million years ago, due to the internal movement of the planet, its surface began to break up., and during the Jurassic period two large continents called Laurasia and Gondwana appeared. The latter consisted of present-day South America, Africa, Antarctica, Madagascar, Australia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent. Laurasia includes what is now North America, Europe, and Asia.
From this perspective, the Indian subcontinent was separated from Asia at that time, and the subcontinent, which had separated from Africa and other plates many years later, began to move northward until it collided with Asia. The collision caused the subduction of the Indian plate; due to pressure and temperature differences, one plate sank beneath the other, causing the crust to wrinkle and form the famous mountains. Mount Everest is about 60 million years old, and to better understand its geology, you can consult the implications for geology and climate.
Flora and fauna of Mount Everest
The high altitude of much of Everest makes it a habitat for many species of plants and animals. Only some animals can stay on the surface, but even they have limits. For example, the yak has large lungs and can survive at an altitude of 6000 meters, while the red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) can fly at an altitude of 8000 meters. Red pandas (Ailurus fulgens), spiders (Euophrys everestensis and Euophrys omnisuperstes), Himalayan black bears (Ursus thibetanus), snow leopards (Uncia uncia), vultures and some pikas also find refuge near or in the mountains.
The flora is even less diverse, although the rocks are sometimes covered with moss. Lichens, mosses and cushion plants can be found at an altitude of 4.876 km, but beyond 5.639 km there is no vegetation at all. For more information about the Himalayan environment, you can read about the Himalayan glaciers.
Climate and activities
The main activity in this place is climbing Mount Everest. However, this is a dangerous adventure. To climb Mount Everest, you need a lot of mountaineering experience along with clean health certificates, equipment, and a well-trained Nepali guide. Ice and snow on the mountain can cause deadly avalanches, and the climbing season is severely limited due to inclement weather.
Everest's climate has always been unfavorable for all living things. The warmest average daytime temperature generally recorded in July is around -19°C at the top; January is the coldest month with an average maximum temperature of -36 °C and can drop as low as -60 °C. Storms can appear suddenly and temperatures can drop unexpectedly.
The peak of Mount Everest is as high as the lower limit of the rapids, which can withstand continuous strong winds with a speed of more than 160 kilometers per hour. During the summer monsoon, precipitation falls in the form of snow. For those who wish to know more about the curiosities of the planet, I invite you to discover surprising curiosities of our planet.
Its main importance lies in the popularity of the mountain for climbers, since it is the highest peak that exists on earth. It is home to famous athletes and is also one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about Mount Everest and its characteristics.