Climbing the highest mountain on every continent is one of mountaineering’s greatest challenges, known as the Seven Summits. The list ranges from the roof of the world in the Himalaya to a remote, frozen peak deep in Antarctica.
Here is the highest point on each continent, with the height and location of every summit.
The Seven Summits, ranked by height
| Continent | Mountain | Height | Country / region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | Mount Everest | 8,849 m (29,032 ft) | Nepal / China |
| South America | Aconcagua | 6,961 m (22,838 ft) | Argentina |
| North America | Denali (Mt. McKinley) | 6,190 m (20,310 ft) | Alaska, USA |
| Africa | Kilimanjaro | 5,895 m (19,341 ft) | Tanzania |
| Europe | Mount Elbrus | 5,642 m (18,510 ft) | Russia (Caucasus) |
| Antarctica | Vinson Massif | 4,892 m (16,050 ft) | Ellsworth Mountains |
| Oceania | Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) | 4,884 m (16,024 ft) | Papua, Indonesia |
Everest: the roof of the world
Mount Everest, on the border of Nepal and China, is the highest point on Earth above sea level at 8,849 metres. Its summit sits in the “death zone” above 8,000 metres, where there is too little oxygen to survive for long. First climbed in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, it remains the ultimate mountaineering prize.
Two versions of the list
There is a long-running debate over the Oceania summit. The Bass list uses Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m), the highest peak on the Australian mainland, while the Messner list uses Puncak Jaya (4,884 m) in Indonesia, the highest in the wider Australasia/Oceania region. Serious mountaineers generally regard the Messner list, with the far more technical Puncak Jaya, as the true challenge.
Highest, but not the farthest from Earth’s centre
Everest is the highest above sea level, but because the Earth bulges at the equator, the summit of Chimborazo in Ecuador is actually the point farthest from the planet’s centre. And measured from base to peak, Hawaii’s Mauna Kea is taller than Everest — most of it is simply hidden beneath the ocean.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Seven Summits?
The Seven Summits are the highest mountains on each of the seven continents: Everest (Asia), Aconcagua (South America), Denali (North America), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Elbrus (Europe), Vinson (Antarctica) and Puncak Jaya or Kosciuszko (Oceania). Climbing all seven is a famous mountaineering goal.
What is the highest mountain in the world?
Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level at 8,849 metres (29,032 feet), on the border between Nepal and China.
What is the highest mountain in Africa?
Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres. It is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising alone from the surrounding plains.
Is Everest the tallest mountain on Earth?
Everest is the highest above sea level, but measured from base to peak, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is taller — most of it lies underwater. Chimborazo in Ecuador is the point farthest from the Earth’s centre because of the equatorial bulge.