Mount Everest (2)
In the early 1800s, the British launched the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India in order to determine the locations, heights, and names of the world's highest mountains. Using large theodolites that required a team of 12 men to carry, the survey teams moved northward from southern India, reaching the Himalayas by the 1830s. However, Nepal was hesitant to allow the British to enter the country and several requests were denied. As a result, the British were forced to continue their observations from the region of Terai, south of Nepal. The conditions in Terai were challenging due to heavy rainfall and malaria, and three survey officers died from the disease while two others had to retire due to poor health. In 1847, Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India, observed a peak beyond Kangchenjunga, which was then considered the highest mountain in the world, and noted that it appeared to be higher. In 1849, James Nicolson made observations from various locations up to 240 km away and determined that the peak, known as "peak b," was indeed higher than Kangchenjunga. The peak was later named Mount Everest after Sir George Everest, the former Surveyor General of India. In 1852, Radhanath Sikdar, an Indian mathematician and surveyor, was the first to identify Everest as the highest peak in the world. The official announcement that Everest was the highest mountain was delayed for several years as the calculations were repeatedly verified. In 1856, Waugh declared that Everest was 8,840 m (29,002 ft) high, although the official height was later adjusted to 8,848 m (29,029 ft) in order to avoid the impression that the height was simply an estimate.
In 2022, the International Union of Geological Sciences recognized the Ordovician rocks of Mount Everest as one of the world's 100 "geological heritage sites." These fossiliferous, marine limestone rocks are considered significant due to their scientific relevance and their contribution to the development of geological sciences. The IUGS defines a "geological heritage site" as a location with geological elements or processes of international scientific importance that has served as a reference or has made a significant contribution to the field of geology.
Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, is home to very few species of flora and fauna. The few that do exist are adapted to survive in the harsh, high altitude environment. A type of moss has been found growing at an elevation of 6,480 meters, while an alpine cushion plant called Arenaria can be found below 5,500 meters. The Euophrys omnisuperstes, a small black jumping spider, has been observed at elevations as high as 6,700 meters. It is believed to be the highest non-microscopic permanent resident on Earth. In the base camp of Everest, the Euophrys everestensis spider can be found. Birds such as the bar-headed goose and chough have been spotted at high altitudes on the mountain. Yaks are often used to carry gear for climbing expeditions and can withstand the extreme conditions. Other animals that can be found in the region include Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bears, and red pandas. In one expedition, a pika and ten new species of ants were discovered.
Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth, is known for its harsh and unforgiving environment. With an elevation of over 8,800 meters, the mountain stands tall, piercing the stratosphere and exposing climbers to extreme cold and high-speed winds. The region is also home to a thin layer of flora and fauna, including the Euophrys omnisuperstes spider, which has been found at elevations as high as 6,700 meters.
Climate change is also affecting the mountain, with the Khumbu Glacier, the base camp for Everest expeditions, rapidly thinning and destabilizing. To ensure the safety of climbers, officials in Nepal have announced plans to move the base camp to a lower altitude. This move may happen by 2024.
To better understand the conditions on the mountain, a weather station was installed at an elevation of 8,000 meters in 2008. The station, which is solar-powered, provides data on temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and wind speed. It is common for winds on the mountain to reach speeds of 160 km/h, with a record speed of 280 km/h being recorded in 2004. These winds can pose a threat to climbers, and to avoid the worst of them, many aim for a window of favorable conditions in the spring and fall.
Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, has long been a source of fascination and attraction for climbers. For many years, it was considered a formidable challenge, even for professional climbers and well-equipped expeditions. However, over the decades, various climbing routes have been established and, by 2012, the mountain had been successfully ascended by over 5,600 people, with 223 fatalities. Despite the risks, the interest in climbing Everest has only grown, with over 6,800 summits recorded by 2013. The mountain's extreme altitude and exposure to the jet stream make it a particularly dangerous climb, with high winds and blizzards posing a constant threat to those attempting to reach the summit.
Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, has attracted a great deal of attention and climbing attempts over the years. In 1885, Clinton Thomas Dent, the president of the Alpine Club, suggested that it might be possible to climb the mountain in his book Above the Snow Line. The first known successful summiting occurred in 1953. Prior to that, a number of expeditions had been made to the mountain, including the British Reconnaissance Expedition in 1921 and the Swiss Mount Everest Expedition in 1952. The British expedition of 1924, led by George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, is particularly famous because Mallory and Irvine were never seen again after they made an attempt on the summit and are believed to have died on the mountain. In 1950, access to the mountain from the north was closed to Western expeditions after China took control of Tibet. The standard route to the mountain from the south through Nepal was established in 1950 by Bill Tilman and his team.
On the morning of May 29, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay set out on the final leg of their journey to the top of Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth. They had spent months preparing for this moment, training their bodies and minds to withstand the extreme conditions of the mountain. As they made their way up the steep slopes, the air grew thinner and the winds stronger. But they did not let this deter them. Determined to reach the summit, they pushed on, one step at a time.
Finally, after an arduous climb, they reached the top. Standing at the highest point on the planet, they were overwhelmed with emotion. They took out a small cross and some sweets, which they buried in the snow, and snapped a few photos to commemorate the moment.
Their achievement was hailed as a major accomplishment, and they were both knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of their bravery and determination. The conquest of Mount Everest marked a triumph not only for Hillary and Norgay, but for humanity as a whole. It proved that with hard work, perseverance, and a little bit of luck, anything is possible.