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Nepal, Mt. Everest, Ganges, &

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See all the wonderful things Angelica Medina has made

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Water Towers of the world!

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A World to Travel * Sustainable Travel & Lifestyle Blog

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While for local Sherpas, it holds sacred and spiritual values; for explorers, Everest is a dream destination. Keep reading to uncover some interesting Mount Everest facts.
It is a fact Mount Everest is a natural wonder of the planet Earth, a wonderful geographical phenomenon where mountain towers up to the edge of the atmosphere. For local Sherpas, Everest holds sacred and spiritual values. Locals worship the mountain. Mountaineers die to ascend to the summit. For explorers and adventure aficionados, Everest is simply a dream destination. For all these reasons, every mountaineer dreams to reach the top of Everest, at least once in a life. Although many dreams never come true, and some of the ones that make it to the summit never return home; in any case, the awesomeness of Mount Everest goes without saying.

We all know the fact Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. But did you know there is another mountain on Earth taller than Everest? To learn some interesting facts about this mighty mountain, here are 20 amazing Mount Everest facts.

1. Mount Everest is not the tallest mountain on Earth

You read that right. Mount Everest reaches the highest altitude above sea level. But, if you measure from the base to the summit, Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii is taller. Everest is 29,028 feet above sea level while Mauna Kea is only 13,796 feet above sea level. But, Mauna Kea extends about 19,700 feet below the Pacific Ocean. Over half of this mountain is submerged.

In comparison, Everest's height from base to summit is 4,200 m (13,800 ft) on the south side and 5,200 m (17,100 ft) on the Tibetan side. The peak of Chimborazo Mountain in Ecuador reaches the farthest from the center of the Earth. This is because of the orange shape of the Earth.

2. You are pronouncing Everest wrong, always

Mount Everest is not pronounced as Ever-est as everyone does. The mountain is named after Welsh surveyor geographer Colonel Sir George and it's pronounced Eve-rest. The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) named the mountain after his name in 1865. RGS accolades his contributions to the Great Trigonometric Survey of India. George objected to the honor and always felt embarrassed about it.

3. Everest was named Everest in 1865

The highest mountain was named Mount Everest in 1865 after the name of George Everest. The mountain always had its original titles. In Nepali, it is called Sagarmatha, which means 'head of the sky.' In Tibetan, it is called Chomolungma, meaning 'Goddess Mother of Mountains.' Before naming it Everest, it was called Peak XV in English.

4. Mount Everest facts 101: Its height is in controversy

There is a controversy over the exact height of Mount Everest. The Survey of India between 1952 and 1954 measured 29,028 feet (8,848 meters), which is widely accepted.

A Chinese survey in 1975 measured Everest at 29,029.24 feet (8,848.11 meters). An Italian survey of 1987 using satellite obtained a value of 29,108 feet (8,872 meters). In 1992, another Italian survey measured Everest using the Global Positioning System (GPS) and obtained 29,023 feet (8,846 meters). This was the rock height without counting two meters of snow and ice.

All these methods were questioned. In 1999, an American survey took measurements and found 29,035 feet (8,850 meters), plus or minus 6.5 feet (2 meters). The Chinese survey measured a "rock height" of 29,017.12 feet (8,844.43 meters). The Nepal government disputed it again and launched a measurement of Everest in 2019.

The Chinese government has also started measuring Everest in May 2020. Both the results are yet to be published. The 2015 earthquake is said to have altered the height of Mt. Everest. Based on the local news, the government of Nepal and the Chinese survey team will gather both results and likely announce the new height of Mount Everest in 2020.

5. Mount Everest is ever-growing

Mount Everest is estimated to be 50-60 million years old. Yet, it has not stopped growing taller. The collision force of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates is still sending pressure to the Himalayas height. The summit of Everest increases a quarter of an inch each year.

6. Wind speed at Everest crosses 200km/h

The summit of Everest reaches the upper troposphere, close to the borderline of the stratosphere. This exposes the mountain to fast and freezing winds of jet streams. A wind speed of 280 km/h (175 mph) was recorded in February 2004. Winds over 160 km/h (100 mph) are frequent at the summit.

7. Your body starts dying at the summit of Everest

In the death zone, above 8000 meters, body cells start to die in the absence of oxygen. The oxygen level at the summit of Everest is only one-third of oxygen at sea level. The temperature is extreme, getting below -50 degrees celsius. The average temperature at the summit of Mount Everest is -19C in summer and -36C in winter. These conditions are not favorable for human survival. Amazingly, Babu Chhiri Sherpa managed to stay for 21 hours at the summit, without supplementary oxygen, in 1999.

8. First wedding on the summit of Everest

A Nepalese couple Moni Mulepati, 24, and her groom Pem Dorjee, 23, got married on top of Everest in 2005. They stayed at the summit for 10 minutes to complete the rituals. If you are having a hard time finding a spot for your wedding, the top of Mount Everest is open for your couple. Wouldn't that be fantastic? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

9. Helicopter landing at the peak of Everest

Didier Delsalle, a fighter pilot and helicopter test pilot from France, landed a helicopter on the summit of Everest for one and only time. He made this record on May 14, 2005, with the Eurocopter AS350 Squirrel.

10. A spider lives at Everest

Above the clouds, into thin air of Everest, lives an abominable creature. Euophrys Omnisuperstes, one of the Himalayan jumping spiders , lives at elevations as high as 6,700 m (22,000 ft). It is one of the permanent residents in high altitudes living among rocky debris.

11. Dead bodies are used as landmarks

There are dead bodies on Everest that are used as a landmark for climbers. One of the most famous corpses is Green Boots , named after its bright green climbing boots. The Green Boots is near the northeast ridge. It is believed to be the body of Indian climber Tsewang Paljor who died in 1996. The last day he was seen alive was wearing the same green boots; however, a fact is still unknown.

12. High altitude graveyard

Everest is the graveyard at the highest altitude. Nearly 300 mountaineers have died while attempting to climb Everest. There are at least 200 dead bodies on the slopes of Everest, most of them around the Death Zone. The corpses are mummified in cold temperatures. It is extremely difficult and dangerous to bring the bodies down. So, they are left as they died on the mountain. An occasional rescue by their loved ones has been made to some of the high-profile families private funding of at least USD 40k-70k

13. First-ever attempt to climb

The first attempt to climb Mt. Everest was by a team of British climbers, including George Mallory in 1921. Mallory and Andrew Irvine made another attempt in 1924. They were spotted on the way to the summit. With their death in the mountain, it remains a mystery if they reached the summit.

The first successful summit was on May 29, 1953, by Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal.
Related: Nepal trekking guide for beginners
There is a 'two o'clock rule' when climbing Everest. Due to extreme and unpredictable weather conditions, you have to reach the summit by 2 pm. If you can't reach the summit by then, you will have to return to avoid accidents.

16. More than 6,000 summits

As of 2019, 6076 people have reached the summit of Mount Everest. Among them, the eldest climber is 80 years old, and the youngest is 13.

17. The year no one attempted the summit

In 1974, no one attempted to climb Mt. Everest. It was the only year in history when nobody climbed Everest since climbing began.

18. The dirtiest mountain

More than 50 tons of climbing waste is scattered on the mountain. With a high number of summit attempts, the mountain is collecting trash. The sheer amount of waste makes Everest the dirtiest mountain.

19. Cost of climbing Everest

On average, it costs more than USD 40,000 and above to climb Everest. It includes the royalty fee of USD 11,000 per person.

20. Summit of Everest is the border of Nepal and China

The summit of Everest is on the border of Nepal and China. Nepal is in the south and C. Majorities of the climber, however, choose the route via Nepal. One of the main reasons is because its gradual hiking trail to Everest Base Camp helps them to get acclimated. The Sherpa, indigenous and local people living in the area, are the heroes who usually lead the expeditions.
Keep reading: Mohare Hill Trek, Nepal The author of this Mount Everest facts article, Raj Khanal, is a mountain guide and expedition leader from Kathmandu, Nepal.

Travel bloggers loving photography, festivals, art, the great outdoors, flashpacking and more. Join us as we travel the world.

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20 Amazing Facts About Mount Everest - A World to Travel * Sustainable Travel & Lifestyle Blog

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While for local Sherpas, it holds sacred and spiritual values; for explorers, Everest is a dream destination. Keep reading to uncover some interesting Mount Everest facts. It is a fact Mount Everest is a natural wonder of the planet Earth, a wonderful geographical phenomenon where mountain towers up to the edge of the atmosphere.

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Mountain range - home to Mt. Everest

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Name: Himalayas, Sanskrit for 'abode of snow'

Geography:

The Himalayas stretch across the northeastern portion of India. They cover approximately 1,500 mi (2,400 km) and pass through the nations of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan and Nepal. The Himalayan range is made up of three parallel ranges often referred to as the Greater Himalayas, the Lesser Himalayas, and the Outer Himalayas.

View The Himalayas in a larger map.

Ecology:

While intimidating mountains like Everest and 2K tend to dominate our perceptions of the region, the Himalayas are rich in biodiversity. Climates range from tropical at the base of the mountains to perennial snow and ice at the highest elevations. These complex and diverse eco-regions are interconnected: an ecological threat to one is ultimately a threat to many. Here are just a few examples of Himalayan ecology:
Montane Grasslands and Shrublands:
Western alpine shrubs and meadows can be found between 9,850 and 16,400 ft. These areas tend to have cold winters and mild summers that allow for plant growth. Rhododendron plants cover the lower shrublands, while the alpine meadows, directly above, host a range of flora in the warmer months. Animals found in this region include the snow leopard, Himalayan tahr, musk deer, and pikas.

Temperate Coniferous Forest:
In the northeast, temperate sub-alpine conifer forests are found at elevations of 8,200 to 13,800 ft. Located in the inner valley area, these forests are protected from harsh monsoon conditions by surrounding mountain ranges. The dominant tree types are pine, hemlock, spruce, and fir. Animals found in this region include red pandas, takins, and musk deer.

Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests:
Found in middle elevations of 6,600 to 9,800 ft. in the eastern region are broadleaf and coniferous forests. These forests receive almost 80 inches of annual rainfall, mostly during the monsoon season. In addition to indigenous oaks and maples, plants like orchids, lichen, and ferns also grow in the area. A huge range of wildlife, including over 500 species of birds, are found here during the cooler seasons before they migrate to higher elevations to escape the hot summers. This is also the primary home for golden langur monkeys.

Tropical and Sub-tropical Broadleaf Forests:
Located at 1,650 to 3,300 ft. along a narrow strip of the outer Himalayan range are the Himalayan sub-tropical broadleaf forests. Here there is a wide range of plant life thanks to the areas varied topography, soil types, and rainfall levels. Forest types include subtropical dry evergreen, northern dry mixed deciduous forests, moist mixed deciduous forests, subtropical broadleaf forests, northern tropical semi-evergreen forests, and northern tropical wet evergreen forests. Wildlife includes many threatened species including tigers and Asian elephants. More than 340 different species of birds can be found in this region.

Highest peak:

Mount Everest at 29,029 ft (8,848 m) is not only the highest peak in the Himalayas, but the highest peak on the entire planet.

Other famous peaks include Karakora (K2), Kailash, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat, Annapurna, and Manasklu.

Rivers:

The Himalayas are the source for the Indus, the Yangtze and the Ganga-Brahmaputra. All three are major river systems for the continent of Asia.

The main rivers sourced in Himalayas are the Ganges, Indus, Yarlung, Yangtze, Yellow, Mekong, and Nujiang.

Glaciers:

The Himalayas are the third largest deposit of ice and snow in the world, after Antarctica and the Arctic. There are approximately 15,000 glaciers located throughout the range. At 48 miles (72 km) in length, the Himalayan Siachen glacier is the largest glacier outside the poles.

Other notable glaciers located in the Himalayas include the Baltoro, Biafo, Nubra, and Hispur.

Additional Facts:

The Himalayas are the result of tectonic plate motions that collided India into Tibet.

Because of the great amount of tectonic motion still occurring at the site, the Himalayas have a proportionally high number of earthquakes and tremors.

The Himalayas are one of the youngest mountain ranges on the planet.

The range affects air and water circulation systems, impacting the weather conditions in the region.

The Himalayas cover approximately 75% of Nepal.

Serving as a natural barrier for tens of thousands of years, the range prevented early interactions between the people of India and the people of China and Mongolia.

Mt. Everest was named after Colonel Sir George Everest, a British surveyor who was based in India during the early-to-mid-nineteenth century.

The Nepalese call Mt. Everest "Samgarmatha" which can be translated as "Goddess of the Universe" or "Forehead of the Sky."

In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay were the first people to successfully climb to the summit of Everest.

Despite its name, the Snow Leopard - a Himalayan local - is actually most closely related to the Tiger.

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The Himalayas ~ Himalayas Facts | Nature | PBS

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Name: Himalayas, Sanskrit for 'abode of snow' The Himalayas stretch across the northeastern portion of India. They cover approximately 1,500 mi (2,400 km) and pass through the nations of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan and Nepal. The Himalayan range is made up of three parallel ranges often referred to as the Greater Himalayas, the Lesser Himalayas, and the Outer Himalayas.

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River mostly in India - many watersheds lead into it...dumps into the Bay of Bengal.

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The River Ganges, running for more than 1500 miles across some of the most densely populated areas in Asia, is perhaps the most religiously significant body of water in the world. The river is considered to be sacred and spiritually pure, though it is also one of the most polluted rivers on earth.

Originating from the Gangotri Glacier, high in the Himalayas of northern India, the river flows southeast through India, into Bangladesh, before spilling into the Bay of Bengal. It is the primary source of water-used for drinking, bathing, and irrigating crops-for more than 400 million people.

A Sacred Icon

For Hindus, the River Ganges is sacred and revered, embodied by the goddess Ganga. Though iconography of the goddess varies, she is most often depicted as a beautiful woman with a white crown, riding the Makra (a creature with the head of a crocodile and the tail of a dolphin). She features either two or four arms, holding a variety of objects ranging from water lilies to a water pot to a rosary. As a nod to the goddess, the Ganges is often referred to as Ma Ganga,or Mother Ganga.

Because of the purifying nature of the river, Hindus believe that any rituals performed at the banks of the Ganges or in its water will bring fortune and wash away impurity. The waters of the Ganges are called Gangaajal, meaning literally "water of the Ganges".

The Puranas- ancient Hindu scriptures-say that the sight, the name, and the touch of the Ganges cleanses one of all sins and that taking a dip in the sacred river bestows heavenly blessings.

Mythological Origins of the River

There are many renditions of the River Ganges' mythical origins, owing in part to the oral tradition of India and Bangladesh. It is said that the river gave life to the people, and, in turn, people gave life to the river. The name of Ganga appears only twice in the , an early sacred Hindu text, and it was only later that Ganga assumed great importance as the goddess Ganga.

One myth, according to the Vishnu Purana, an ancient Hindu text, illustrates how the Lord Vishnu pierced a hole in the universe with his toe, allowing goddess Ganga to flow over his feet into heaven and down to earth as the waters of the Ganges. Because she came into contact with Vishnu's feet, Ganga is also known as Vishnupadi, meaning a descent from Vishnu's lotus feet.

Another myth details how Ganga was intent on wreaking havoc on the earth with her descent as a raging river seeking revenge. In order to prevent the chaos, Lord Shiva caught Ganga in the tangles of his hair, releasing her in the streams that became the source for the River Ganges. Another version of this same story tells how it was Ganga herself who was persuaded to nurture the land and the people below the Himalayas, and she asked Lord Shiva to protect the land from the force of her fall by catching her in his hair.

Though the myths and legends of the River Ganges are numerous, the same reverence and spiritual connection is shared among the populations that live along the banks of the river.

Festivals along the Ganges

The banks of the River Ganges host hundreds of Hindu festivals and celebrations each year.

For example, on the 10th of the month of Jyestha (falling between the end of May and the beginning of June on the Gregorian calendar), the Ganga Dussehra celebrates the descent of the sacred river to earth from heaven. On this day, a dip in the holy river while invoking the Goddess is said to purify sins and wipe away physical ailments.

The Kumbh Mela, another sacred ritual, is a Hindu festival during which pilgrims to the Ganges bathe themselves in the sacred waters. The festival occurs in the same place only every 12 years, though a Kumbh Mela celebration can be found annually somewhere along the river. It is considered to be the world's largest peaceful gathering and is featured on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Dying by the Ganges

The land over which the Ganges flows is regarded as hallowed ground, and it is believed that the holy waters of the river will purify the soul and lead to a better reincarnation or liberation of the soul from the cycle of life and death. Because of these strong beliefs, it is common for Hindus to spread cremated ashes of dead loved ones, allowing the sacred water to direct the soul of the departed.

Ghats, or flights of stairs leading to a river, along the banks of the Ganges are known for being holy Hindu funeral destinations. Most notably are the Ghats of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and the Ghats of Haridwar in Uttarakhand.

Spiritually Pure but Ecologically Dangerous

Though the sacred waters are linked to spiritual purity, the Ganges is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Nearly 80 percent of the sewage dumped into the river is untreated, and the amount of human fecal matter is more than 300 times the limit set by India's Central Pollution Control Board. This is in addition to the toxic waste caused by dumping of insecticides, pesticides, and metals, and industrial pollutants.

These dangerous levels of pollution do little to deter religious practice from the sacred river. Hindus believe drinking water from the Ganges brings fortune, while immersing oneself or one's belongings brings purity. Those that practice these rituals may become spiritually clean, but the pollution of the water afflicts thousand with diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, and even typhoid each year.

In 2014, the government of India pledged to spend nearly $3 billion on a three-year clean-up project, though as of 2019, the project had not yet begun.

Darian, Steven G. The Ganges in Myth and History. Motilal Banarsidass, 2001.

"Environmental Activist Gives up His Life for a Clean Ganga River." UN Environment, United Nations Environment Programme, 8 Nov. 2018.

Mallet, Victor. River of Life, River of Death: the Ganges and Indias Future. Oxford University Press, 2017.

Mallet, Victor. "The Ganges: Holy, Deadly River." Financial Times, Financial Times, 13 Feb. 2015, www.ft.com/content/dadfae24-b23e-11e4-b380-00144feab7de.

Scarr, Simon, et al. "The Race to Save the River Ganges." Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 18 Jan. 2019.

Sen, Sudipta. Ganges: the Many Pasts of an Indian River. Yale University Press, 2019.

"The Ganges." Word Wildlife Fund, World Wildlife Fund, 8 Sept. 2016.

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Why Do Hindus Consider the Ganges River Sacred?

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The River Ganges, running for more than 1500 miles across some of the most densely populated areas in Asia, is perhaps the most religiously significant body of water in the world. The river is considered to be sacred and spiritually pure, though it is also one of the most polluted rivers on earth.

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Deep River flows through the Calumet area of Indiana, one of the most heavily industrialized regions in the world. The river corridor is surprisingly primitive but occasionally suffers from pollution. Much of the adjacent land is in agricultural or residential use but because of the heavily vegetated banks, most of these intrusions are not visible from the river. A point of interest is the old mill dam located just south of the 1-80, 94 bridge.

Most of the length of the river is densely wooded for at least a 20-foot strip on both sides of the river. However, scattered homes, mowed lawns and pasture land are occasionally seen. Species seen conform to a typical bottomland environment of elm, ash and maple. Other species associated are sycamore, box elder, river birch, and willow.

Deep River is quite muddy and moves very slowly, usually less than one mile per hour. Some of the river is choked with a series of log jams making navigation difficult. Best canoeing levels occur in the spring. Summer may make water levels too low for canoeing.

Deep River County Park to Arizona Bridge

An approximate 6 mile, 2-3 hour canoe trip begins at the canoe put-in located at Deep River County Park, off Old Lincoln Way (Co. Rd. 330). A designated canoe launch and parking area is available to the public on the northwest side (downstream and left) of Old Lincoln Way bridge.

For the shuttle route proceed west on Co. Rd. 330 from the County Park and turn right (north) on State Route 51. Turn left (west) on 59th Avenue, cross over Deep River, turn right (north) on Arizona Avenue and continue to the access site at the Arizona Avenue bridge. The best take out is located upstream and right of the bridge.

Downstream from the Arizona Avenue bridge an 11 1/2 mile float of about 6 hours duration is available with only an occasional portage around or over a log jam and two in-channel dams to be portaged around before joining the Little Calumet River and Burns Ditch. Although Burns Ditch does not have a natural appearance, it nonetheless does make canoeing all the way to Lake Michigan a possibility.

Put in on the north bank on the east side of the Arizona Avenue bridge. Access is not good with a moderate slope, dense vegetation and about a 75-foot carry. There is limited parking for 2 or 3 cars.

This float begins with about 1/2 mile of river canoeing before entering Lake George where you should bear to the right as you enter the lake. Three parks, all accessible from the lake, are located on Lake George. Canoeing through the lake should take about one hour before you reach the dam where it will be necessary to carry your canoe about 75 feet. Exit on your right. About midway between the two U.S. 6 bridges crossing the stream there is a small riverside park. Sanitary facilities and picnic tables make this an excellent "halfway" stop for lunch. The next major portage is at the old mill dam previously mentioned, where you will find fairly dense vegetation as you exit the stream on your left and carry your canoe about 50 feet. A short distance downstream, the West Fork of the Little Calumet River enters from the left. The take-out is downstream on the west (left) side of the Little Calumet River along the south edge of Central Avenue.

To arrange a car shuttle from the put-in, take Arizona Avenue one mile north to 10th street, then 3/4 mile east to State Road 51, then State Road 51 northeast 1 mile through Hobart to Lake Park Avenue (also called Grand Boulevard), then north 2 1/4 miles to Central Avenue, then west 1 1/2 miles to the bridge over Deep River.

A hospital and medical assistance is available in Hobart, Indiana. There is no camping available along the river but there is camping in the area at LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area or at Indiana Dunes State Park.

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Deep River flows through the Calumet area of Indiana, one of the most heavily industrialized regions in the world. The river corridor is surprisingly primitive but occasionally suffers from pollution. Much of the adjacent land is in agricultural or residential use but because of the heavily vegetated banks, most of these intrusions are not visible from the river.