Amazing Everest Facts
We all know that Everest is the tallest mountain, but there are many more amazing facts about Everest than you'd think!
Firstly, the summit of Everest lies on the border of Tibet and Nepal. At over 29,000 feet, it's safe to say this is the highest land border in the world! It may also make the list as one of the most inhabitable land borders too, with winds blowing over 200mph and temperatures dropping as low as -62°C.
Those unfamiliar with Everest may not know that there are actually 18 different routes for climbers to traverse. Whilst on the subject of traversing Everest, a British expedition were the first to attempt to do just that in 1921, but failed to do so. The first people to ever make it to the summit were Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on the 29th of May 1953, some 32 years later. Sir Edmund Hillary was a New Zealand national but was granted Nepalese citizenship, meaning that Everest was technically conquered by a local.
Edmund and Tenzing may not have actually been the first to summit Everest. In 1924 George Mallory and Andrew Irvine set out to summit Everest. It is unknown as to whether their attempt was successful or not as they never returned.
Hailing from western Nepal, Sherpas are a people who migrated from Tibet some hundred years ago. They assist climbers by carrying food and gear. This is often paid work to support themselves and their families.
If climbing from the Tibetan side, you must be 18 and over, whilst the age requirement from the Nepalese side is only 16. Special exceptions have been made though, for example, on the 23rd of May 2010, Jordan Romero became the youngest person to summit Everest at age 13! On the other end of the scale, the oldest person to ever summit Everest was Miura Yiuchiro, aged 80! This was achieved on the 23rd May 2013. Exactly 3 years after Jordan.
