Did you know that there are over a million mountains on our planet? A total of 1,187,049 mountains have been discovered by mankind to date.Out of the tallest mountains in the world, there are a few that are people’s favorites. The tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, is the most well-known mountain, standing at a staggering height of 29,029 ft (8,848 m). Similarly, each country’s highest peak is known by all citizens of the nation by heart. For example, Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand, is popular among the people there. But only a few people are knowledgeable enough to know about the rest of the highest peaks in the world, and you can become one of them by reading this article!Mount Everest is named after Sir George Everest, a Surveyor General of India under British rule. Despite several British expeditions, the first successful climb to the summit of Mount Everest was made in 1953 by a Sherpa from Nepal named Tenzing Norgay and a mountaineer from New Zealand, Edmund Hillary. This difficult climb was the first ascent in the Everest region.The second highest mountain in the world is K2, followed by Kanchenjunga as the third highest mountain in the world. The position for the fourth highest mountain goes to Mount Lhotse, a member of the Everest Massif. Makalu and Cho Oyu follow up as the fifth highest mountain and the sixth highest mountain in the world. Dhaulagiri I is the seventh highest mountain in the world. Manaslu in Nepal and Nanga Parbat in Pakistan are the eighth highest mountain and ninth highest mountain. Annapurna is the 10th highest mountain in the world. Interestingly, each of these mountains lies in the vast Himalayan Mountain ranges, apart from K2.Mount Kilimanjaro is truly amazing, as it is the world’s tallest freestanding mountain located in the west-central part of the world.Read on to learn more about the highest mountains in the world. Afterward, check out our facts about the second tallest mountain in the US and the second-longest river in the world.Are K2 and Kanchenjunga the same?The second highest mountain in the world, K2, also known as Mount Godwin-Austen, stands at 28,251 ft (8,610 m) above sea level.K2 lies in the Karakoram Mountain range, half in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan and half in China. It is often confused with Kanchenjunga, which was considered the highest mountain in the world before Mount Everest until 1852. Kanchenjunga is 28,169 ft (8585.9 m) tall and lies between India and Nepal in a section of the Himalaya mountains called the Kanchenjunga Himalayas. A member of a 1953 American expedition called K2 the ‘Savage Mountain’ as it is one of the deadliest and tallest mountains in the world to climb.So, evidently, K2 and Kanchenjunga are not the same mountains at all.Second Highest Peak In The CascadesThe Cascades is a mountain range in western North America, which includes both volcanic and non-volcanic mountains.The highest point in the Cascades is the peak of Mount Rainier at an elevation of 14,411 ft (4,366 m) above sea level. The second highest peak in the Cascades is a potentially active volcano called Mount Shasta. It is 14,179 ft (4,296 m) tall. The last eruption of Mount Shasta was approximately 200-300 years ago. With a volume of 84 cu mi (350 cu km), it is the most voluminous volcano of all the volcanoes in the Cascades Mountain range.Second Highest Mountain In CanadaCanada lies in the extreme north of the continent of North America and is famous for some of the most unique and scenic mountains in the world.Mount Logan is 19,551 ft (5,924 m) tall and is the tallest mountain in Canada. Mount Logan is still increasing in height due to the active uplifting of the tectonic plates underneath its surface. On the other hand, the second-highest mountain in Canada is named Mount Saint Elias and is pyramid-shaped. It is 18,008 ft (5,456 m) tall and is situated on the Canada-United States border. Mount Saint Elias is only 35 mi (56 km) away from the sea, making it the highest peak in the world, which is close to tidewater.Second Highest Mountain In ColoradoThe third longest mountain range in the world, the Rocky Mountains, passes through the American state of Colorado, which is famous for its tall mountain peaks.Just like its name suggests, Mount Massive is a 14,428 ft (4,372 m) huge mountain in Colorado. It is the second-highest mountain in Colorado and is famous among mountaineers for hiking, motorbiking, and other activities. Mount Massive is also host to several glacial lakes. Despite its popularity, Mount Massive falls short of Mount Elbert by 12 ft (3.6 m). Thus, Mount Elbert has the highest point in Colorado, with a height of 14,440 ft (4,375 m). The peak of Mount Elbert remains covered with snow throughout the year, even during the summers.Second Highest Mountain In The Continental USThe continental United States of America is made up of states that are not separated from the mass of American land on the continent of North America. Accordingly, Alaska and Hawaii are not considered to be a part of the continental USA, despite being recognized states of the country.A part of the Sierra Mountain range in California, Mount Whitney is the highest mountain in the continental United States. It is 14,494 ft (4,392 m) tall. Mount Elbert is the second highest mountain in the continental United States and is elevated 14,433 ft (4,373 m) above sea level. It is a part of the famous Rocky Mountain Range and is topped with snow all around the year, even during summer.Second Highest Mountain In The AlpsThe Alps are a mountain range system spread across central Europe. They cover eight European countries, including France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.The famous Mont Blanc is the highest peak in the Alps, rising 15,774 ft (4,780 m) above sea level. Mont Blanc is located between Italy and France. The peak, Dufourspitze, part of the Monte Rosa massif in the Alps, is the second-highest mountain in the Alps mountain range. It is 15,203 ft (4,606 m) tall and is situated between Switzerland and Italy. Dufourspitze is always covered in snow and is mentioned historically in many travel diaries.Second Highest Peak In EnglandEngland is more famous for its moors than tall mountains but does have over 200 mountains that provide great hiking experiences.England’s tallest mountains are located in the Lake District, in the northwestern part of the country. Scafell, also called Scawfell, is the second-highest peak in the country, with a height of 3,163 ft (958 m). The terrain of Scafell is mostly stony and does not have much vegetation. Its neighbor, Scafell Pike, is a part of the Scafells inactive volcano and is the tallest mountain in England. Scafell Pike is 3,209 ft (972 m) above sea level.Second Highest Mountain On EarthMount Everest is a part of a group of mountains called a massif, along with Mt. Lhotse and Mt. Nuptse, making it one of the highest mountains in the world.These three peaks are collectively called the Everest Massif, which is located in the Himalaya Mountain Range, the highest mountain range in the world. Surprisingly, Mount Everest is not the tallest mountain in the world. Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano in Hawaii, is about a mile taller than Mount Everest. It is 33,500 ft (10,151 m) tall, but more than half of it is submerged in the Pacific Ocean, and only 13,796 ft (4,180 m) of its length is visible above sea level. A mountain is measured by its elevation above sea level. Therefore, Mount Everest takes the crown for being the highest mountain in the world, on technical terms. The second highest mountain on Earth is K2, with a height of 28,251 ft (8,611 m), with Kancehnjunga being the third highest mountain in the world.Second Highest Mountain In EthiopiaEthiopia is a landlocked country in Africa, and its terrain is made up of high plateaus and long mountain ranges divided by the Great Rift Valley.Part of the Simien Mountain range, Ras Dashen Mountain is the highest peak in Ethiopia at 14,927 ft (4,523 m) above sea level. Rare animal species like the gelada baboon and Simien Fox are found on the mountain. At 14,639 ft (4,436 m), Mount Ancua is a popular site for wildlife lovers and bird watchers. Mount Ancua, also known as Ankwa, or Weynobar is the second-highest mountain in Ethiopia. It is also part of the Simien Mountain ranges.Second Highest Mountain In FijiFiji is a country of volcanic islands in Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. The islands are covered with mountains and tropical forests.Taveuni is the third-largest island of Fiji and is home to Mount Uluiqalau, the second-highest mountain in Fiji. Mount Uluiqalau is 4,072 ft (1,234 m) high and is an elongated shield volcano. Mount Tomanivi, formerly named Mount Victoria, is the tallest mountain in Fiji, located on the Viti Levu island, the largest island of Fiji. Mount Tomanivi is 4,344 ft (1,316 m) high and is an important habitat for a variety of endangered animal species like the shy ground-dove.Second Highest Mountain In FranceFrance boasts of a large mountain population compared to the rest of Europe, with 12,553 mountains spread across the country. The tallest mountains in France are part of the famous Alps Mountain range.The Barre des Écrins is 13,458 ft (4,078 m) high and is the second-highest mountain in France. The mountain is surrounded by four glaciers. It is rocky in some places and covered by ice in the rest. It is the only 13,200 ft (4,000 m) tall mountain that lies outside the Mont Blanc massif in the Alps. The Mont Blanc massif includes Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in France and the Alps, standing at an elevation of 15,774 ft (4,780 m) above sea level.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our facts about the second-highest mountains, then why not take a look at our articles about the second-longest river in the world or Arizona fires.
Did you know that there are over a million mountains on our planet? A total of 1,187,049 mountains have been discovered by mankind to date.
