Mount Everest

MOUNT EVEREST – FASCINATING FACTS FOR MOUNTAIN ENTHUSIASTS

Mount Everest is Earth’s highest mountain above sea level, located in the Himalayas. The international border between Nepal and China (Tibet Autonomous Region) runs across its summit point. The current official elevation of 8,848 m (29,029 ft), recognized by China and Nepal, was established by a 1955 Indian survey and subsequently confirmed by a Chinese survey in 1975.

In 1865, Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society, upon a recommendation by Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India. As there appeared to be several different local names, Waugh chose to name the mountain after his predecessor in the post, Sir George Everest, despite Everest’s objections.

Mount Everest attracts many climbers, some of them highly experienced mountaineers. Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary made the first official ascent of Everest in 1953, using the southeast ridge route. Mount Everest was first successfully climbed in winter on February 17, 1980, by a team consisting of Leszek Cichy and Krzysztof Wielicki. The successful winter ascent of Mount Everest started a new decade of Winter Himalaism, which became a Polish specialisation. After 1980 Poles did ten first winter ascents on 8000 metre peaks, which earned Polish climbers a reputation of „Ice Warriors”.

GEOLOGICAL CURIOSITIES

Mount Everest, also known as Chomolungma or Sagarmatha, is not only the world’s highest peak but also a geological marvel. The summit of the mountain is composed of sedimentary rocks that were once at the bottom of the ocean. This is evidence of the powerful tectonic forces that lifted the seabed to an altitude of over 8 kilometers.

EXTREME CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

The summit of Everest experiences some of the most extreme weather conditions on Earth. Temperatures can plummet to -60°C (-76°F), and wind speeds sometimes exceed 200 km/h (124 mph). Despite these harsh conditions, in 2020, a butterfly was observed at an altitude of 8,000 meters (26,246 feet), demonstrating the remarkable adaptation of living organisms to extreme environments.

SECRETS OF THE DEATH ZONE

Above 8,000 meters (26,246 feet) lies the infamous „death zone,” where oxygen pressure is so low that the human body begins to deteriorate. Climbers can spend a maximum of 48 hours in this zone without supplemental oxygen. Nevertheless, in 1978, Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler achieved the first ascent of the summit without using oxygen tanks.

WINTER HIMALAISM – A POLISH SPECIALTY

Polish mountaineers have made their mark in history as pioneers of winter climbing on eight-thousanders. After the first winter ascent of Mount Everest in 1980, Poles conquered nine other peaks above 8,000 meters in winter. This extraordinary series of achievements earned them the nickname „Ice Warriors.”

EVEREST AS AN ECOSYSTEM

Contrary to popular belief, Everest is not a lifeless rock. Many plant and animal species that have adapted to extreme conditions live on its slopes. The highest permanent inhabitant is the Salticus spider, found at an altitude of 6,700 meters (21,982 feet).

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Global warming has a significant impact on Everest. The melting of glaciers not only reveals new climbing routes but also exposes the bodies of climbers who perished on the mountain in the past. Scientists warn that climate change may lead to an increased number of avalanches and other hazards for alpinists.

TECHNOLOGICAL CURIOSITIES

In 2010, a 3G base station was installed on the summit of Everest, allowing climbers to use mobile internet. In 2011, the first video call was made from there. These technological advancements are changing the face of modern Himalaism, enabling better communication but also raising questions about the limits of human intervention in wild nature.