Mount Everest, which is in the Himalayas, is 8,863 metres high. At these altitudes, mountains are always covered in snow and ice, and there is little oxygen to breathe. Mount Everest was finally conquered on May 29, 1953, when a Nepalese guide, Tenzing Norgay, and a New Zealander, Edmund Hillary, reached the highest point on the Earth’s surface. Since then, many people have climbed Everest, and all the world’s major peaks have now been conquered.
Fact File: Mountain peaks are often seen to be surrounded by layers of cloud. This is because as winds laden with water are blown towards the mountains, they are forced to rise and the temperature drops. The water condenses into clouds at these higher altitudes. |
Picture Credit : Google