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Mountain Primer - facts about the world's highest places

The greatest mountain masses are found in North and South America. They include the Andes, Rockies, Sierra Nevada and Coast ranges.

The Andes are the longest mountain range in the world, stretching about 8 000 kilometres along western South America and crossing into seven different countries. The Falkland Islands are a continuation of the Andes.

There are more than 850 active volcanoes on the earth, of which 80 or so are under the ocean. The world's largest active volcano is Mauna Loa in Hawaii, the United States of America.

The world's top three highest peaks are Mount Everest (Sagarmatha) in Nepal, at 8 850 m, K2 (Godwin Austen) in Pakistan and China, at 8 611 m, and Kanchenjunga in India and Pakistan, at 8 586 m.

In 1953, Edmond Hillary, a New Zealander, and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa, were the first climbers known to reach the summit of Mount Everest in Nepal.

The Sherpas are a people of Tibetan ancestry who are believed to have migrated to Nepal 600 years ago. They are renowned for their ability to tolerate high altitudes.

The white plume characteristically seen blowing off the top of Everest is the jet stream. To a climber, the 402 kph wind can sound like a Boeing 747 taking off.