Seven Summits: Definition and its varieties
The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of each continent. There are several disagreements about some of the mountains because Seven Summits is not an official term. In general the Seven Summits-definition contains the following mountains:
- Africa – Tanzania – Kibo – 5.895m
- Kibo with its Uhuru Peak is part of Mount Kilimanjaro. Kibo and Mount Kilimanjaro are often used synonymously.
- Kibo with its Uhuru Peak is part of Mount Kilimanjaro. Kibo and Mount Kilimanjaro are often used synonymously.
- Europe – Russia – Mount Elbrus – 5.642m
- Sometimes Mont Blanc is called the Highest Mountain in Europe. It depends on where you put the boundary between Europe and Asia. Mount Elbrus can either be located in Europe or in Asia. In Europe it would be the highest peak. In Asia it has to leave the title of the Highest Mountain in Asia to Mount Everest.
- Sometimes Mont Blanc is called the Highest Mountain in Europe. It depends on where you put the boundary between Europe and Asia. Mount Elbrus can either be located in Europe or in Asia. In Europe it would be the highest peak. In Asia it has to leave the title of the Highest Mountain in Asia to Mount Everest.
- Asia – Nepal/China – Mount Everest – 8.848m
- Oceania – Indonesia – Carstensz Pyramid – 4.884m
- Another contentious issue. On the one hand Carstenz Pyramid is located in Indonesia which – politically – belongs to Asia. On the other hand it is part of the Australian continental shelf. The highest mountain on the Australian mainland is called Mount Kosciuszko.
- Another contentious issue. On the one hand Carstenz Pyramid is located in Indonesia which – politically – belongs to Asia. On the other hand it is part of the Australian continental shelf. The highest mountain on the Australian mainland is called Mount Kosciuszko.
- South America – Argentinia – Aconcagua – 6.961m
- North America – U.S.A. – Denali – 6.190m
- Antarctica – Antarctica – Mt. Vinson – 4.897m
Today there are several variations of the Seven Summits, e.g. the Seven Summits of the Alps:
- Austria – Grossglockner
- Italy – Gran Paradiso
- Germany – Zugspitze
- Slovenia – Triglav
- Switzerland – Dufourspitze
- France – Mont Blanc
- Liechtenstein – Vordergrauspitze
You can mix and match this list to an extend where it contains almost any mountain you want. Seven Summits, Seven Summits of the Alps, Himalayan Seven Summits, and so on. But this page is about the Seven Summits and me writing about my attempt to summit them.