Where Are the World's Tallest Peaks? ⛰️

What We're Showing

This graphic plots the location of the world's five tallest mountains, based on data from Google Earth, WorldData, and the Satlas Allen Institute for AI.

Climbing Mount Everest

Mount Everest has the world's tallest peak, at 8,848m above sea level. The region above 8,000m (26,247 feet) is known as the "Death Zone" because there is only one-third the oxygen normally found at sea level.

Because of the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, Everest's peak actually grows taller by a few millimeters each year.

K2 (AKA the Savage Mountain)

Located along the China-Pakistan border, K2 is shorter than Everest by 237m (777 feet), but even more challenging to climb.

Due to its steep ascent and unpredictable weather, K2's fatality rate is estimated to be over 20%.