The First Ascent of Everest

Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. It sits between Nepal and Tibet in the Himalayas. For many years, climbers tried to reach the top but failed. In 1953, two men finally made it to the summit for the first time.

The Climbers

The two climbers were Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay from Nepal. Tenzing was a Sherpa, a person from a group who live in the high mountains. They were part of a big team of climbers. They had to carry heavy bags full of food, oxygen tanks, and warm clothes. The team worked together to set up camps up the mountain.

Reaching the Top

On May 29, 1953, Hillary and Tenzing started their climb to the very top. The air was so thin they needed bottles of oxygen to breathe. It was very windy and cold. After hours of climbing, they finally stepped onto the summit. They were the first humans ever to stand on top of the world.

Fun Facts

• Mount Everest is over 29,000 feet tall.
• The temperature at the top can drop below minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Hillary and Tenzing spent only about 15 minutes on the summit.

Did You Know?

Mount Everest grows a tiny bit taller each year because of the movement of the Earth under it.