Mount Everest

Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with elevation of 8,849 meters, according to the latest estimate, approved by both Chinese and Nepali authorities, including the permanent snow covering. It is a part of the Himalayas mountain range and is located on the border between Nepal and Tibet (China). The name of the mountain in Tibetan is Chomolungma (variously spelt Qomolangma or Zhūmùlǎngmǎ and in Chinese 珠穆朗玛峰). The mountain was, as far as is known, first climbed in 1953 by the New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and the Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. The English name of the mountain honors Sir George Everest, who was Surveyor General of India. His survey team was the first to measure the height of the mountains in the Himalayas and discover Mount Everest to be the highest.

See Benchmark distances to put the mountain's height in perspective.