Highest Mountain Peaks in the World (& Locations)

Updated July 31, 2023 | Infoplease Staff

Photo Source: iStock

Mountains have long been a source of awe and inspiration— the taller the better. In ancient times they were deemed to be the homes of gods. In recent years, they inspired the creation of national parks. And today, climbers cross the globe and seek out a base camp from which to surmount the highest points on Earth. 

What Is the Tallest Mountain in the World?

Most of the world's highest mountains are located in the Himalayan mountain range, near the autonomous region of Tibet. Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, is located in this range. Mt. Everest is also known by its Tibetan name, “Chomolungma”, or its Nepalese name, “Sagarmatha”. The first people to successfully summit Mt. Everest was Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953.

The world's second-highest mountain, K2, is a singular exception, located in the nearby Karakoram mountain range. These two mountain ranges in Asia encompass all of the eight-thousanders, the selective group of mountains whose highest summits are more than 8,000 meters above sea level.

Nearby is the Gilgit-Baltistan area, which contains several other tallest mountain peaks, including Broad Peak and Laila Peak. Other famous mountains include Shishapangma in China, Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Facts About Mountain Peaks

Do you know what actually classifies a mountain? Scientists have pinpointed a mountain as any landmark rising 1,000 feet or more from the area around it, often marked by steep sides and a summit at the top.

Mountains can be measured by elevation, altitude, base-to-peak, and even distance from the Earth’s core, which is what gives us a definitive list of the tallest mountains on Earth.

Strictly speaking, Mount Everest is the highest mountain based on its altitude above mean sea level. But this giant is not the furthest point from the Earth’s core— that distinction belongs to Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador, which is over 1.28 miles farther from the center of the Earth than Everest’s tallest peak, due to unevenness on the crust.

And if you wanted to visit the mountain that measures the highest from base to peak, it’s time to pack your bags and visit Hawaii— because Mauna Kea actually has its roots on the sea floor and rises up past the Big Island, towering more than 33,500 feet in total.

Check out our Named Summits in the U.S. Over 14,000 Feet Above Sea Level for mountains across the United States, or try your hand at naming Famous Mountain Peaks, if you want a challenge!

You might also be interested in Climbing the World's 14 8,000-meter Peaks, The Seven Summits, Mortals on Mount Olympus: A History of Climbing Everest, and the Everest Almanac.

Where Are the Highest Mountain Peaks in the World?