SPACEPHOTOS

This spectacular, south-looking, low-oblique photograph shows the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest (center of the photograph). The photograph was taken during the morning, and shadows are west of the high features; Mount Everest casts the largest shadow. Located on the border between Tibet and Nepal in the central Himalaya Mountains, Everest soars 29 028 feet (8854 meters) above sea level. Mount Everest began to form millions of years ago, as did the whole Himalayan Range, when the India subcontinent collided with Asia. Deep layers of rock were folded and refolded, creating Everest and the other great, rugged peaks of the Himalayas. Further modeling by the erosive action of wind, rain, snow, and ice—especially in the form of glaciers—honed Everest to its present dreadful contours. The mountain as viewed in this photograph resembles a U-shape with the opening at its northwest end and the summit at the north end. The area known as the South Col appears southeast of Everest. The peaks of Lhotse and Nuptse emerge south and southwest of South Col, respectively. Several large, impressive glaciers radiating from the mountaintop still occupy the rugged valleys. The Khumbu Glacier, which flows west-northwest and then turns to the southwest upon reaching the base of the mountain, is the route taken by many mountain climbers. The photograph emphasizes the formidable terrain on which many mountain climbers have forfeited their lives seeking the pinnacle. The summit of Mount Everest was finally reached by Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and his Sherpa, Tenzing Norkay of Nepal, on May 28, 1953.