Mountains of the World

Asia contains most of the world's tallest peaks, including Mount Everest. Located along the Nepal-China border, Mount Everest is the tallest peak in the world, rising 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above sea level. Also part of the Himalayas is the second tallest mountain on Earth, called K2, or Mount Goodwin-Austen, which stands 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) high in India (presently with in the part of Kashmir occupied by Pakistan). Like Mount Everest, the third tallest mountain on Earth, Kanchenjunga, is also located along the Nepal-China border in the Himalayas, with an elevation of 8,586 meters (28,169 feet).

Outside of Asia, the tallest mountain is Aconcagua in Argentina, which towers 6,958 meters (22,837 feet)above sea level. The tallest mountain peak in the United States is Mount McKinley. Located in Alaska, Mount McKinley rises 6200 meters (20,320 feet) above sea level.

Earth's mountains are typically measured by their height above sea level, but many of the world's tallest mountains actually begin below sea level. For example, Hawaii's Mauna Kea measures at over 10,000 meters (32,808 feet) from its deepest point. Mauna Kea is still the tallest island mountain in the world when measured at sea level, at 4,205 meters (13,796 feet).

Several other peaks, including Ararat, Mount Fuji, and Mount Vesuvius, are significant more for their history and cultural importance than their height.

Major Mountains of the World

Name	Height (in mtrs.)	Location
Mt. Everest	8848	Nepal - China
K2 (Godwin Austen)	8611	Himalayan Range
Kanchenjunga	8586	Nepal - India
Makalu	8470	Nepal - China
Dhaulagiri	8172	Nepal
Nanga Parbat	8125	Himalayan Range
Annapurna	8078	Nepal
Aconcagua	6958	Argentina
Ojas Del Saledo	6880	Argentina - Chile
Mt. Chimborazo	6050	Ecquador
Mt. McKinley	6200	U.S.A. (Alaska)
Logan	6050	Canada
Mt. Kilimanjaro	5895	Tanzania
Citlatepeti	5700	Mexico
Elbrus	5633	Russia
Kenya	5200	Kenya
Other Important Mountain Peaks
Ararat	51.85	Turkey
Cotopaxi	5897	Ecuador
Fuji	3,776	Japan
Jungfrau	4,158	Switzerland
Kosciusko	2,228	Australia
Margherita	5127	Zaire
Mont Blanc	4807	France
Mauna Kea	42	Hawaii (US) (Highest Island Peak in the World)
Orizaba	5,700	Mexico
Popocatapetl	5,452	Mexico
Sukamao Point	5030	Russia
Vesuvius	1,277	Italy

ACOD~20120927

Last Updated On : October 01, 2012