The Highest Mountain in the World

A mountain is any regular rise of the Earth’s surface that is significantly higher than the encompassing region. Numerous mountain frameworks consist of a progression of equal reaches stretching out to a great distance. The Himalayas, the Alps, and the Andes are mountain ranges in Asia, Europe, and South America, respectively. In certain mountains, there are frozen streams of ice called glacial masses. This article examines mountains, their types, and their significance.

The Highest Mountain in the World

The world’s highest mountains are located in the Himalayas, a mountain range that stretches over 4,000 km in Asia’s far east. The range of mountains in the Himalayas is divided across the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan Plateau. Its highest peak is Mount Everest and the height of Mount Everest is 8,848 metres, making it the highest peak in the world. It is located in the Himalayas in the south of Nepal near the border with the Tibetan region. 

Other High Mountains in the World

Following Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, are some of the highest mountains on Earth:

• Second Highest Mountain: The K2 mountain range is 8,611 metres and is located in Pakistan and China. 
• Third Highest Mountain: The Kanchenjunga mountain is at the height of 8,586 metres and is located in Nepal and India. 
• Fourth Highest Mountain: The Lhotse mountain is at the height of 8,516 metres and is located in Nepal and the Tibetan region of China. 
• Fifth Highest Mountain: The Makalu mountain is at the height of 8,485 metres and is located in Nepal and the Tibetan region of China.  
• Sixth Highest Mountain: The Cho Oyu mountain is at the height of 8,188 metres and is located on the Nepal-China border. 
• Seventh Highest Mountain: The Dhaulagiri mountain is at the height of 8,167 metres and is located in Nepal. 
• Eighth Highest Mountain: The Manaslu mountain is at the height of 8,163 metres and is located in Nepal. 
• Ninth Highest Mountain: The Nanga Parbat mountain is at the height of 8,126 metres and is located in Pakistan.
• Tenth Highest Mountain: The Annapurna mountain is at the height of 8,091 metres and is located in Nepal.

The highest mountain in the Andes mountain range is Pico del Espejo, at 7,612 metres above sea level. The highest mountain in South America is Aconcagua, which is also the highest mountain in the Southern hemisphere.

How Mountains are Formed 

Mountains form when the Earth’s crust moves slowly but on a massive scale. Our planet’s crust comprises six massive slabs known as plates that connect together, similar to how a puzzle fits together. When two slabs of crust collide, the land is pushed upwards, resulting in the formation of mountains. Many of the world’s most impressive mountain ranges were formed due to massive continental collisions.

Significance of the Mountains

Below are some of the critical benefits of mountains.

• Mountains are storage facilities for water.
• Water from mountains is additionally utilised for water systems and hydro-power.
• Mountains are valuable for crop development, such as patio cultivating.
• Mountains are the world’s “water towers,” providing between 60 and 80 per cent of all freshwater resources for our planet.
• Because climatic variations cause disasters, mountains are important for disaster risk reduction. Avalanches, mudflows, and landslides are destroying bare forests and flooding communities and populations.
• Mountains are important agricultural biodiversity hotspots and the source of many foods we consume, including rice, potatoes, quinoa, tomatoes, and barley.
• Mountains are important to indigenous peoples because they house ancient indigenous communities that have preserved valuable knowledge, traditions, and languages.
• Mountains are important for biodiversity because they are home to half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and support roughly one-quarter of terrestrial biological diversity.
• Mountains are significant in tourism because they attract 15-20% of global tourism and are rich in cultural diversity, knowledge, and heritage.

Conclusion

The highest mountains on Earth are found in the Himalayas, a chain of mountain ranges that runs through Asia from India to the Tibetan region of China. The Himalayas are home to numerous high peaks and mighty rivers, and the highest mountains in the world are part of the Himalayas: the K2, Mount Everest and Cho-Oyu mountains. The Himalayan mountain range is also the source of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Yangtze rivers. 

However, the highest mountains in the world are not only to be found in the Himalayas. There are high mountain peaks in Pakistan, China, the Philippines, Hawaii and in Europe. Other notable mountains include Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe, and Mount Kilamajong in Asia.