What was the highest mountain before Everest was discovered? This question has intrigued mountaineers and geographers for centuries. Before the British surveyor George Everest named the peak in 1856, the world’s tallest mountain was known by different names and held varying significance across different cultures.
For centuries, the highest peak in the world was considered to be K2, also known as Chogori. Located on the border between Pakistan and China, K2 is the second highest mountain in the world, with an elevation of 8,611 meters (28,251 feet). Despite its impressive height, K2 was not recognized as the world’s highest peak until the 19th century.
Before Everest’s discovery, the Himalayas were considered the abode of the gods, and many believed that the highest peak was a sacred place. The local people in the region had their own names for the peak, such as Dhaulagiri in the Tibetan language and Qomolangma in the Chinese language. These names reflected the mountain’s importance in the local culture and its association with deities and spirits.
However, it was not until the British surveyor George Everest, who was responsible for the survey of the Indian subcontinent, named the peak after himself that the world began to recognize it as the highest mountain. In 1856, Everest named the peak after himself, and it became known as Mount Everest. This name was officially adopted by the Royal Geographical Society in 1865.
Despite the official recognition of Mount Everest as the highest mountain, K2 remained a popular destination for mountaineers. The first successful ascent of K2 was achieved by an Italian expedition in 1954, just a year after the first ascent of Everest. The success of this climb further solidified K2’s reputation as one of the most challenging and dangerous mountains in the world.
In conclusion, before Everest was discovered, the highest mountain in the world was K2, a peak that held significant cultural and spiritual importance for the local people. The naming of Mount Everest by George Everest in 1856 marked a significant moment in the history of mountaineering and the recognition of the world’s highest peak.
