Mount Everest - the name itself conjures up an auspicious feeling and grandness. People have been trying to conquer this mountain since the 1920s. I’ve been curious about this dangerous mountain and the people who take risks to climb it.
Mount Everest is one mountain in a chain of mountains called the Himalayas that lies between or in India, Nepal, and China. The mountain range was created about 40 million years ago from the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates. At its highest point, it reaches 8848 meters above sea level. People have been adventuring on this dangerous mountain for many years. It was first successfully summited by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay on May 29th, 1953. Since then thousands of people have attempted to climb this mountain; only some have been successful.
Climbing mount Everest is a dangerous endeavor because of its height, harsh climate, and changeable weather conditions. At high altitude, oxygen in the air is less making it hard for the human body to perform. In addition, the high winds/cold temperature can cause frostbite. Humans can not live at such heights. Sherpas live in villages at 4,270 meters. They are adapted to the conditions of the mountain. Visitors to the region have to spend time acclimatizing to the challenging conditions. To succeed, visitors to the area need specialized equipment like oxygen mask and tank, ropes, crampons and clothing/footwear to protect from the extreme weather. Of course, in the early day, some of this equipment was not available and people climbed with the basic equipment.
CC0 Public Domain
Source of Information:
The Top of the World Climbing Mount Everest by Steve Jenkins
http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Mount-Everest/33358
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