Absolutely! Here are 14 interesting and maybe surprising facts about Mount Everest:
1. 🏔️ It Grows Every Year
Mount Everest is still growing! Due to the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, Everest grows by about 4 mm (0.16 inches) each year.
2. 🌬️ Jet Stream Winds Can Be Deadly
Winds near the summit can reach over 200 mph (322 km/h) — that’s faster than a Category 5 hurricane. These high-altitude jet streams make climbing conditions extremely dangerous.
3. ❄️ The “Death Zone” is No Joke
Above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) is what’s called the “Death Zone.” The air is so thin, humans can’t survive there for long without supplemental oxygen. Your body literally starts to die.
4. 🧗♂️ Over 300 People Have Died on Everest
Climbing Everest is extremely risky. More than 300 climbers have died since expeditions began in the early 20th century. Many bodies remain on the mountain due to the difficulty of recovery.
5. 🏔️ It Has Other Names
In Nepali, Everest is called Sagarmatha, meaning “Goddess of the Sky.” In Tibetan, it’s known as Chomolungma, or “Goddess Mother of the World.” The name “Everest” came from George Everest, a British surveyor.
6. 🍜 There’s a Wi-Fi Signal Near Base Camp
Believe it or not, you can post to Instagram from Everest! There’s Wi-Fi at Base Camp, provided by satellites, for climbers and trekkers who want to stay connected.
7. 🐐 Yaks Are the Unsung Heroes
Yaks are essential for transporting gear and supplies up the mountain. These high-altitude animals are incredibly strong and can carry heavy loads through snow and rock, often where vehicles or humans can’t go.
8. 🧭 It Was First Measured in the 1850s — Without Climbing It
In 1856, the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India calculated Everest’s height using math and telescopes from over 100 miles away! They called it “Peak XV” before renaming it to honor George Everest.
9. 🥶 The Summit Temperature Can Drop Below -60°C (-76°F)
Even in May (the most popular climbing season), summit temperatures can fall to -36°C (-33°F). In winter, it gets way colder — enough to instantly freeze exposed skin.
10. 🧗♀️ The First Ascent Was in 1953
Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa of Nepal, were the first to reach the summit on May 29, 1953. It was a massive achievement in the mountaineering world.
11. 🏃♂️ Fastest Ascent? Under 11 Hours
In 2004, Pemba Dorje Sherpa claimed to have summited Everest in 8 hours and 10 minutes from Base Camp — though this record is controversial. Most climbers take 6-8 weeks to acclimatize and ascend safely.
12. ♻️ The World’s Highest Trash Pile
Due to decades of climbing, Everest has become known as the “world’s highest garbage dump”. Old oxygen tanks, food wrappers, and even human waste litter parts of the route — though clean-up efforts are improving.
13. 🧘♂️ Someone Brought a Yoga Mat to the Summit
In 2016, a Nepalese man named Hari Budha Magar struck a yoga pose at the summit. People have also taken flags, bikes, and even a paraglider to the top. Everest attracts all kinds of adventurers.
14. 🌍 It’s Not the Tallest Mountain (Technically)
Everest is the highest above sea level, but Mauna Kea in Hawaii is taller when measured from its base underwater to summit. And Chimborazo in Ecuador is actually the farthest point from the Earth’s center, due to the planet’s bulge at the equator!