Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain standing at an altitude of 29,029 feet (8,848m) above sea level. Everest is a part of the Himalaya range in Asia, placed on the borders between Nepal, Sagarmatha Zone and Tibet, China. Mount Everest is believed to be formed about 60 million years ago and is named after Sir George Everest in 1865, the British surveyor-general of India. Everest is also known as Chomolungma in Tibet and Sagarmatha in Nepal. To scale Mount Everest, many attempts have been made with the first one beginning in the year 1924; later on endless attempts had been made for the summit. Success was achieved only in mid 1953 and Mount Everest was conquered on May 29, 1953, when Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal & Edmund Percival Hillary of New Zealand climbed to the summit of Everest via the Southeast Ridge Route. Mount Everest has for long allured climbers from across the world & continues to be every climber's dream. However the sore reality is that, the mount has also been the cause for endless deaths in the past several years. It is believed that over 200 people are still lying dead on its slopes. Records suggest that one out of every ten climbs that is made to the summit has ended in death, with majority of deaths occurring while descending the mountain. Whatever be the fact, it's the most fascinating place to visit, is and will always remain a climbers & tourist dream destination. |