Over 200 climbers have died attempting to summit Mount Everest, with their bodies left on the mountain as landmarks. Many climbers are inexperienced, and the area above 26,000 feet is known as the “death zone” due to low oxygen levels.
As of 2014, more than 200 of the climbers who have attempted to summit Everest, the world’s tallest mountain at approximately 29,029 feet (8,848 m), have not survived. The bodies of these fallen hikers are used as landmarks on Everest for other climbers. Dead bodies are usually left on the mountain as it would be too dangerous to attempt to move them down the mountain. Due to the freezing temperatures, many of the bodies of the fallen hikers are well preserved in the ice and snow. Climbers have died of falls, freezing temperatures, avalanches, exhaustion and altitude sickness.
More information about Everest:
An estimated 90% of those attempting to climb Everest are inexperienced climbers accompanied by guides.
The first documented attempt to climb Everest was by British teacher George Mallory in 1921, but none were successful until 1953, when Edmond Hillary, a New Zealand beekeeper and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, scaled the mountain.
The area of Everest above 26,000 feet (7,924m) is referred to as the “death zone” because its oxygen level is only one-third that of sea level.
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