The tallest mountains in the world are traditionally measured from sea level, with most of them found in Asia. However, there are other ways to measure mountains, such as from the center of the planet. The ten highest peaks in the world, measured from sea level, are mostly in Nepal. Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.
Determining the tallest mountains in the world sounds simple, but the answer may vary depending on how mountains are measured. Traditionally, the tallest mountains in the world have been determined as measured from sea level. According to this definition, there are approximately 450 mountain peaks over 7,000 meters and (430 peaks over 23,000 feet) in height. Most of them are found in the following mountain ranges: Himalayas, Karakoram, Kunlun, Hindu Kush, Hengduan, Pamir, Tanggula, Nyain’a. All these ranges are in Asia, especially in Nepal, China, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
In fact, when measured from sea level, the highest peak outside Asia is Aconcagua in Argentina which is 6,959 meters (22,831 feet). This places it at about the 485th of the world’s tallest mountains.
However, there are other ways to measure mountains. Many islands are in fact seamounts, with only their tops sticking out of the water. By this measure, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the tallest, at over 10,000 meters (32,808 feet). Measuring from the center of the planet still gives a different result, with Ecuador’s Chimborazo being the tallest. This mountain is located 6,384 kilometers (3,967 miles) from the center of the Earth.
Here is a list of the ten highest peaks in the world, measured from sea level. As you can see, eight of them are in or partially in Nepal:
Name
Village
Continent
meters
Feet
Monte Everest
Chinese, Nepalese
Asia
8,850
29,035
K2
China, Pakistan
Asia
8,611
28,251
Kangchenjunga
India, Nepal
Asia
8,586
28,169
Lhotse
Chinese, Nepalese
Asia
8,516
27,940
Labels
Chinese, Nepalese
Asia
8,485
27,838
South Kangchenjunga
India, Nepal
Asia
8,76
27,808
Middle Lhotse
Nepal
Asia
8,430
27,657
Kangchenjunga occidentale
Nepal
Asia
8,420
27,25
Lhotse Shar
Nepal
Asia
8,400
27,559
Cho oyu
Chinese, Nepalese
Asia
8,201
26,906
To put some of the giants listed above into perspective with the tallest mountains on every continent in the world, take a look at the following table:
Peak
Continent
Village
Height
Everest
Asia
Chinese, Nepali
aconcagua
South America
Argentina
McKinley
North America
United States (Alaska)
Kilimanjaro
Africa
Tanzania
Elbrus
Europa
Georgia
Massif Vinson
Antarctica
–
Mount Cook
Australasia
New Zeland
Here is a graph comparing the height of Mount Everest to other famous mountains in the world:
Peak
Village
Height
Everest
Nepalese, Chinese
Dhaulagiri
Nepal
Annapurna
Nepal
popocatepetl
Mexico
Blanc
France
Matterhorn
Switzerland, Italy
Rainier
United States (Washington)
Fuji
Japan
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