Everest was formed 60 million years ago.It is the highest mountain in the world at 29,035 feet, although its exact height is often disputed.George Everest, Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843, discovered Everest in 1841.In 1865 the mountain was renamed in his honour from its original name of Peak XV.Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to conquer Everest, on May 19 1953. It is almost 28 times the size of the Burj Al Arab, and will be 12.5 times the height of the Burj Dubai tower.Everest lies between Nepal and Tibet and climbers can scale the mountain from either side.It rises a few millimetres each year due to geological forces.Over 2000 people have reached the top of Everest.There are around 120 dead bodies of climbers on the mountain.Avalanches are the greatest cause of death for climbers scaling Everest. The summit is just below the cruising height of a jet.The youngest person to reach summit was 13 and the oldest 70.In Nepal the mountain is called Sagarmatha, meaning 'forehead of the sky'.In Tibetan the mountain is known as Chomolangma for 'mother of the universe'.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Interesting facts about Mount Everest
Everest was formed 60 million years ago.It is the highest mountain in the world at 29,035 feet, although its exact height is often disputed.George Everest, Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843, discovered Everest in 1841.In 1865 the mountain was renamed in his honour from its original name of Peak XV.Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to conquer Everest, on May 19 1953. It is almost 28 times the size of the Burj Al Arab, and will be 12.5 times the height of the Burj Dubai tower.Everest lies between Nepal and Tibet and climbers can scale the mountain from either side.It rises a few millimetres each year due to geological forces.Over 2000 people have reached the top of Everest.There are around 120 dead bodies of climbers on the mountain.Avalanches are the greatest cause of death for climbers scaling Everest. The summit is just below the cruising height of a jet.The youngest person to reach summit was 13 and the oldest 70.In Nepal the mountain is called Sagarmatha, meaning 'forehead of the sky'.In Tibetan the mountain is known as Chomolangma for 'mother of the universe'.