The Seven Second Summits Of The World

We are all aware of the highest seven summits of the world, with Mount Everest in Asia being the highest ranking peak in this category. Similarly, depending on the elevation of mountain peaks from sea-level, geographers have enlisted the second tallest peaks of the seven continents of the world. This list is known as the list of the “Seven Second Summits of the World.” There are certain variations to this list, but the list drafted by Richard Bass, the first person to climb all of the “Seven Summits” of the world, is the most widely accepted one.

The Seven Second Summits

Mount K2, Asia

According to Bass’ list, K2, alternatively known as Chhoghori among several other names, is the Asian representative of this list, and the tallest of the Seven Second Summits of the world. This mountain, standing 28,251 feet tall, is also taller than all the “Seven Summits” of the world with the exception of Mount Everest (29,029 feet). Mount K2 is located on the Pakistan-China border and is part of the Karakoram Mountain Range. Interestingly, K2 is more feared by mountaineers than Mount Everest. For every four persons who attempt to summit this mountain, one dies.

Ojos del Salado, South America

Next, on the list of “Seven Second Summits,” is Ojos del Salado. This 22,615 feet tall mountain might be shorter than many peaks in other parts of the world, but by virtue of its position as the second tallest peak in the South American continent, it enjoys a position in the below list. The Ojos del Salado is an active stratovolcano, the highest one of its kind in the world. It is part of the Andean Mountain Range and is located on the Argentina-Chile border.

Mount Logan, North America

With an elevation of 19,551 feet, the Mount Logan of North America is the third highest “Seven Second Summit” of the world. This mountain can be mapped to southwestern Yukon in Canada. Another record associated with this mountain is that it has the highest base circumference of any non-volcanic mountain on a global scale.

The Other Second Summits

Further down the list, Europe is represented by Dykh-Tau in Russia near the Georgia border at 17,077 feet, Africa by Mount Kenya (17,057 feet), the frozen Antarctic continent by Mount Tyree (15,919 ft), and, finally, Australia is represented by Mount Townsend (7,247 feet).

Mountaineering Achievements on the Seven Second Summits

Since the time of enlistment of the “Seven Second Summits” of the world, mountaineers have contested with each other to conquer these summits. A mountaineer from Austria, Christian Stangl, was the first person to climb all the Seven Second Summits. He completed this feat on January 15, 2013, setting a new Guinness Record. It is a popular belief among the mountaineers of the world that the Seven Second Summits are more challenging to climb than the Seven Summits of the world. A greater degree of technical skills is required to ascend these mountains. However, despite these challenges, a number of climbers have attempted these summits, and many have lost their lives in the process. Mountaineers have even traveled to Antarctica, and ten of them have managed to successfully summit Mount Tyree.