8000meter

8000meter refers to mountains whose summits reach at least 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) above sea level. In mountaineering, there are fourteen such peaks, all located in the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges of Asia. Climbing at this altitude engages the death zone, where the body can no longer acclimate effectively and climbers face extreme cold, wind, and hypoxia. The term is used to describe high-altitude expeditions and the unique challenges posed by extreme elevation.

The fourteen eight-thousanders are: Everest (8,848 m), K2 (8,611 m), Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,481 m), Cho Oyu (8,188 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m), Nanga Parbat (8,125 m), Annapurna I (8,091 m), Gasherbrum I (8,080 m), Broad Peak (8,051 m), Gasherbrum II (8,035 m), and Shishapangma (8,027 m).

History and significance: Annapurna I was first climbed in 1950, Everest in 1953, and K2 in 1954. The first climbers to complete all fourteen were Reinhold Messner and Jerzy Kukuczka in the 1980s; Edurne Pasabán became the first woman to do so in 2010. In 2019, Nirmal Purja set a record by summiting all fourteen within about six months. These mountains remain among the most demanding in mountaineering due to the death zone, severe weather, avalanche risk, and the extensive acclimatization and logistical planning required.

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