7 Summits - The Highest Points of all the continents

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If you are a fan of climbing and mountaineering, for sure you have already heard about the Seven Summits. Basically, these are the highest mountains on each continent, and the escalation of all of them has become a famous international challenge. However, there is a famous discussion about the official mountain circuit.

The first adventurer to conquer all the peaks was the American Richard Bass in 1985, who determined the list by dividing the American continent into North and South (with Mount McKinley in Alaska and Aconcagua in Argentina), as well as including representatives of Europe (Mount Elbrus, Russia), Africa (Kilimanjaro), Asia (Everest), Antarctica (Vinson Massif) and Australia (Mount Kosciuszko).

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Alternative circuits
However, other climbers claim that Kosciuszko is not the highest place in Oceania, considering instead the Pyramid Carstensz, located in New Guinea, as the highest mountain in that region. In this case, the first Canadian climber Patrick Allan Morrow was the first to clear the seven highest peaks of the planet in 1986.

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Thanks to this famous feud, it is becoming increasingly common for the two mountains (Mount Kosciuszko and Pyramid Carstensz) to be climbed by mountaineers. You can check below - in order from lowest to highest - what are the seven (or eight!) Summits that are part of this dangerous challenge and decide which of the two circuits is the most interesting:

7- Carstensz Pyramid

Coordinates: 04 ° 40'30 "S 140 ° 05'06" E

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Known also by the name of Puncak Jaya, the Carstensz Pyramid is considered the highest mountain in Oceania, with 4,884 meters, being part of the circuit alternative to the one proposed by Richard Bass. To climb this summit, you need a special permit from the Indonesian government, and Carstensz is the highest island mountain on the planet.

7- Mount Kosciuszko

Coordinates: 36 ° 27'S 148 ° 16'E

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Located in Australia, Mount Kosciuszko has 2,228 meters of altitude and is not considered as very challenging. In fact, there is a 7-kilometer-long trail that leads to the top, and anyone with a little skill and a medium level of physical fitness can take the challenge.

6- Mount Vinson Massif

Coordinates: 78°31′31″S 85°37′01″O

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At 4,897 meters above sea level, the Vinson Massif is situated on the southern tip of Antarctica, and although its climbing is not considered technically difficult, extreme weather conditions make it a challenging challenge.

5- Mount Elbrus

Coordinates: 43°21’18"N 42°26’21"E

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Representing Europe, Mount Elbrus is located in Russia and has 5,642 meters of altitude. With eternal snows that feed dozens of glaciers that give rise to several rivers, the ascent to the Elbrus is considered dangerous and has already claimed the life of several inexperienced climbers.

4- Mount kilimanjaro

Coordinates: 3°3’54.99"S 37°21’32.67"E

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Located in the north of Tanzania, this famous hill is 5,991.8 meters high and is considered as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is an ancient volcano with snow-covered top; being located in the middle of a savannah plain, it offers a beautiful and unique contrast in the landscape. Climbing is not considered technically complicated, although it is very long and tiring.

3- Mount McKinley

Coordinates: 63°05’51"N 151°0’20"O

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Also known as Denali, as it was originally called, Mount McKinley is located in Alaska and boasts 6,199 meters of altitude. The degree of difficulty exists because of its location because, being far from the Equator, it means that its days and nights are extremely cold, even colder than on Mount Everest.

2- Aconcágua

Coordinates: 32°39’11"S 70°0’43"O

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The second representative of the Americas, Aconcágua is located in the Argentine Andes and counts with incredible 6,960.8 meters of altitude. One of its routes, the conventional one, is not considered very difficult by the mountaineers, but the climb by the south face, with its enormous blocks of ice, is considered like one of the most dangerous of the world.

1- Mount Everest

Coordinates: 27°59’N 86°55’E

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As everyone knows, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, with 8,848.43 meters (with ice) of altitude. It is situated in the Himalayan range, on the border between Nepal and China. Thousands of climbers have already tried to reach the summit of this incredible mountain, and just over half of them can successfully complete the climb.

More curiosities about the Seven Alps:

• More than 350 people have already completed the challenge of the Seven Summits;
• 30% of these people climbed the two mountains - Mount Kosciuszko and Pyramid Carstensz - which are the subject of discussion between the circuits;
• More than 50 women have completed the challenge;
• The oldest person to climb the Seven Alps was the Spanish Ramon Blanco, aged 74, and the youngest was the American Jordan Romero, with 15;