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WORLD TOP 50

50 Most Prominent Peaks on Earth


NEWS

Update:  May 2007.  Based on detailed analysis of several 1" high points provided by NASA, we have revised several elevations.   The analysis indicates that Pico Cristobal Colon (World #5) is not higher than 5700m.  The previous published elevation of 5775m is not supportable.  Mont Cameroon has been revised down to 4040m, from our previous estimate of 4070m; the 4095m "official" elevation is not supportable.   The unnamed highpoint atop the Finisterre Range in Papua New Guinea has been downgraded from the 4175m spot elevation on the topographic map to an estimate of 4125m supported by SRTM, and from #38 to #45.  Kinabalu has been updated from the old official elevation of 4101m to the new official elevation of 4095m. 

A provisional World Top 100 list is maintained by Eberhard Jurgalski, and is available as a downloadable excel file.

This Top 50 list was revised in 2004 by de Ferranti, Jurgalski et. al., following the release of global SRTM data.  The list was originally produced in 1999-2001 by Metzler and Jurgalski.  The Top 50 list will continue to be revised, as more field data becomes available, and as saddles are methodically checked.  Although P-values and rankings may change slightly, we believe it highly unlikely that any new mountains will be added to the list.

There seems to be an increased interest in climbing the mountains highlighted on the World Top 50:  In addition to the seven summits, the list includes many of the most famous highpoints around the world.  If you have summited eight or more of the peaks, we would like to hear from you.  Andy Martin tracks "prominence leaders" on the Front Runner list (offsite).

Prominence values on the following table are partly interpreted from SRTM data, and hence no contour interval error is given.  This is similar to the methodology of the ultras project, but different than the method used in the US and Mexico.   Where SRTM is used, saddle elevations should be assumed to have an error range of ± 15 m. in steep terrain, and a very small error range in flat terrain. 

Send comments, corrections and clarifications to webmaster.

Extensive footnotes follow the list.


revisions December 10, 2007
Rank
Summit Name
Country
Lat.
Long.
Elevation
mtrs.
Prom.
mtrs.
Saddle
mtrs.
Saddle Location
Elevation
ft.
Prom.
ft.
Notes
Aerial
Photo

1 Mt. Everest Nepal/Tibet 27º59' N 86º55' E 8848 8848 0 HP Asia
29028 29028 [1]
Keyhole
2 Aconcagua Argentina 32º39' S 70º01' W 6962 6962 0 HP Americas
22841 22841 [2]
Keyhole
3 Mt. McKinley (Denali) US 63º06' N 151º03' W 6194 6138 56 in Nicaragua 20320 20138 [3]
Keyhole
4 Kilimanjaro Tanzania 3º04' S 37º21' E 5895 5885 10 nr. Suez Canal 19340 19308 [4]
Keyhole
5 Cristobal Colon Colombia 10º50' N 73º41' W 5700 5509 191 (local) 18701 18074 [5]
Keyhole
6 Mt. Logan Canada 60º34' N 140º24' W 5959 5250 709 Mentasta Pass, AK  19550 17224 [6]
Keyhole
7 Pico de Orizaba (Citlaltepetl) Mexico 19º02' N 97º16' W
5636 4922 714 Champagne, YK 18491 16148 [7]
Keyhole
8 Vinson Massif Antarctica 78º31' S 85º36' W 4892 4892 0 HP Antarctica
16050 16050 [8]
Keyhole
9 Puncak Jaya Indonesia 4º04' S 137º11' E
4884 4884 0 HP New Guinea
16023 16023
Keyhole
10 Gora Elbrus Russia 43º21' N 42º26' E
5642 4741 901 W. Pakistan 18510 15554
Keyhole
11 Mont Blanc France/Italy 45º50' N 6º52' E 4809 4696 113 (see notes) 15777 15406 [11]
Keyhole
12 Damavand Iran 35º57' N 52º07' E 5610 4667 943 in Georgia 18405 15311 [12]
Keyhole
13 Klyuchevskaya Volcano Russia 56º03' N 160º39' E 4750 4649 101
15584 15252
Keyhole
14 Nanga Parbat Pakistan 35º14' N 74º36' E 8125 4608 3517 Zoji La 26657 15118
Keyhole
15 Mauna Kea US 19º49' N 155º28' W 4205 4205 0 HP Hawaii
13796 13796
Keyhole
16 Jengish Chokusu (ex. Pik Pobedy) Kyrgyzstan/China 42º02' N 80º07' E 7439 4148 3291 (local) 24406 13609
Keyhole
17 Chimborazo Ecuador 1º28' S 78º49' W 6267 4122 2145 nr. Olmos, Peru 20561 13523 [17]
Keyhole
18 Bogda Shan China 43º48' N 88º20' E 5445 4122 1323 nr. Urumqi 17864 13523
Keyhole
19 Namcha Barwa China 29º38' N 95º03' E 7782 4106 3676 Lo La 25531 13471
Keyhole
20 Kinabalu Malaysia 6º04' N 116º34' E 4095 4095 0 HP Borneo
13435 13435 [20]
Keyhole
21 Mt. Rainier US 46º51' N 121º46' W 4393 4023 370 Armstrong, BC 14411 13196
[21]
Keyhole
22 K2 Pakistan/China 35º53' N 76º31' E 8611 4017 4594 Lo Mustang 28251 13179 [22]
Keyhole
23 Ras Dejen Ethiopia 13º14' N 38º22' E 4533 3980 553 nr. Lake Turkana 15092 13090 [23]
Keyhole
24 Volcan Tajumulco Guatemala 15º03' N 91º54' W 4220 3980 240 Isthmus of Tehuantepec 13845 13058
Keyhole
25 Pico Bolivar Venezuela 8º32' N 71º03' W 4981 3957 1024 (local) 16341 12982 [25]
Keyhole
26 Mt. Fairweather US/Canada 58º54' N 137º31' W 4671 3955 716 S. of Summit Lake 15325 12956 [28]
Keyhole
27 Yu Shan Taiwan 23º28' N 120º57' E 3952 3952 0 HP Formosa
12966 12966
Keyhole
28 Ngaliema (Mt. Stanley) Congo/Uganda 0º23' N 29º52' E 5109 3951 1158
16762 12962
Keyhole
39 Kangchenjunga India/Nepal 27º42' N 88º09' E 8586 3922 4664
28169 12867
Keyhole
30 Tirich Mir Pakistan 36º15' N 71º51' E 7708 3910 3798 Baroghil Pass 25288 12827
Keyhole
31 Mt. Cameroon Cameroon 4º13' N 9º10' E 4040 3901 139 (local) 13254 12798 [31]
Keyhole
32 Mt. Kenya Kenya 0º09' S 37º18' E 5199 3825 1374 nr. Kilimanjaro 17057 12549
Keyhole
33 Gunung Kerinci Indonesia 1º42' S 101º16' E 3805 3805 0 HP Sumatera
12483 12483
Keyhole
34 Mt. Erebus Antarctica 77º31' S 167º11' E 3794 3794 0 HP Ross Isl.
12448 12448
Keyhole
35 Fuji San
Japan 35º22' N 138º44' E 3776 3776 0 HP Honshu
12388 12388
Keyhole
36 Mt. Cook New Zealand 43º36' S 170º08' E 3755 3755 0 HP South Isl.
12319 12319
Keyhole
37 Jebel Toubkal Morocco 31º04' N 7º55' W 4167 3755 412 Grand Erg Oriental 13671 12319 [37]
Keyhole
38 Cerro Chirripo Costa Rica 9º29' N 83º29' W 3820 3727 93 nr. Panama Canal 12533 12228 [3] Keyhole
39 Gunung Rinjani Indonesia 8º25' S 116º28' E 3726 3726 0 HP Lombok
12224 12224
Keyhole
40 Pico Teide Spain 28º16' N 16º39' W 3718 3718 0 HP Tenerife
12198 12198
Keyhole
41 Monte San Valentin Chile 46º36' S 73º20' W 4058 3696 362 near Lake Tranquilo 13313 12126
Keyhole
42 Gunnbjørnsfjeld Greenland 68º55' N 29º54' W 3694 3694 0 HP Greenland
12119 12119 [42]
Keyhole
43 Nevado Ojos del Salado Argentina/Chile 27º07' S 68º32' W 6893 3688 3205 Paso de las Cuevas 22615 12100 [43]
Keyhole
44 Gunung Semeru Indonesia 8º06' S 112º55' E 3676 3676 0 HP Java
12060 12060
Keyhole
45 Finisterre Range HP Papua New Guinea     5º57' S 146º22' E 4125 3675 450 Ramu/Markham divide 13533 12057 [45]
Keyhole
46 Ritacuba Blanco Colombia 6º29' N 72º18' W 5410 3645 1765 Paso de las Cruces 17749 11959 [46]
Keyhole
47 Minya Konka China 29º36' N 101º53' E 7556 3642 3914 (local) 24790 11949
Keyhole
48 Mt. Ararat (Agri Dagi)
Turkey 39º42' N 44º18' E 5137 3611 1526 nr. Gardaneh-ye-Kuhin 16853 11847
Keyhole
49 Kongur Shan
China
38º36' N 75º19' E 7649 3585 4064 nr. Muztagata 25095 11762 [49] Keyhole
50 Mt. Blackburn US 61º44' N 143º26' W 4996 3535 1461 Skolai Pass 16391 11598
Keyhole

FOOTNOTES

Numbering is relative to the rank of the peak.

[1]  Everest:  8,848m is still the most frequently cited elevation, although the recent authoritive Bradford Washburn GPS survey supports 8,850m (29,035 ft.).  Also refer to the footnote to Everest on the High Asia II page, which highlights the uncertainty inherent in this measurement.

[2]  Aconcagua:  6,962m is the most recent elevation, which should probably supercede the 6,959 value.  Reference the SIGMA project.

[3]  Denali:  Convention amongst prominence researchers holds that values should be taken from before a major canal or earthworks project lowered a saddle.  Thus the key saddle for Denali is 'naturally' in Nicaragua, even though the Panama Canal cut is now lower.  No. 39, Cerro Chirripo is correspondingly assigned the Panama key saddle.  The KS value in Nicaragua is in disagreement between SRTM (56m.) and the 1:50,000 AMS quad (50m.-10m.)

[4] Kilimanjaro:  The elevation of the Suez Canal cut is functionally zero.  A low point of 10m immediately to the west of the canal is assumed to have been the original KS.

[5] Cristobol Colon:  This is the HP of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Northern Colombia.  Some sources suggest that the nearby 'twin" summit of Pico Bolivar may be higher.

[6]  Logan:  Extensive investigation by bivouac.com researchers indicates that Mentasta Pass, AK (62:55:26N 143:40:13W) is 709m, making it two meters lower than Broad Pass, AK.  Broad Pass has a DEM value of 711m and a USGS 1 inch series value of 716m-15m.

[7]  Orizaba:  Commonly cited elevations for Orizaba vary by as much as 500 feet.  Obviously, most are wrong.  There is a decent degree of concurrence between the Mexican topographic survey, SRTM data and recent GPS surveys.  We have elected to provisionally go with a 2003 handheld GPS survey by Stephen Brown that provided a value of 5636m/18491'.  INEGI topographic maps suggest 5611m/18409'.  3" SRTM data is slightly lower still, although the area of the summit crater is data void.  Compare this to the oft cited, but almost certainly wrong elevation of 5700m/18701'.  The key saddle, in Canada, was researched by bivouac.com.

[8]  Vinson:  Elevation based on definitive December 2004 GPS survey.  See footnote on Antarctica page.

[11]  Mont Blanc:  The exact saddle is not determined.  We now believe the saddle is the high point along the Volga-Baltic canal at 113m.  An alternate location at Lake Kubenskoye (108m) has also been proposed.  The lineage of the Scandinavian Peninsula also hangs in the balance.

[12]  Damavand:  The commonly cited elevation of 5670m is not supported by SRTM data.  See note in Wikipedia.

[17]  Chimborazo:  Elevation of 6267m is based on a 1993 GPS survey by Mike Jenkins.  Frequently given elevations of 6310m and 6272m should be considered older and obsolete.  The 6267m value is said to be the new "official" elevation. SRTM analysis concurs that the true elevation is close to 6270m.  Ecuadorian topographic maps are silent on the subject.

[20]  Kinabalu:  The new official elevation is 4095m, which should replace the widely published older elevation of 4101m.

[21]  Rainier:  The key saddle is in the town of Armstrong, BC.  The 1:50,000 DEM for BC gives the saddle a low value of 359m (1,178').  According to Robin Tivy, the 1:50,000 Canadian map puts the KS between 360m and 380m.  Therefore a new value of 370m (1,214') has been assumed pending further investigation.

[22]  K2:  Reference is this modern survey that would appear to completely supercede the more well-known 8611 meter measurement. 

[23]  Ras Dejen: Also spelled Ras Dashen or Ras Deshen.  4533m should be regarded as the authorative survey of the peak. Frequently cited elevations of 4620m, 4600m, 4543m are obsolete.

[25]  Bolivar:  A 1993 survey sets the official elevation at 4980.8m.  This supercedes the old number of 5007m, which was from a 1927 remote survey, prior even to the first ascent.  Reference Venezuela government publication, Venezuela Innovadora.  GPS readings by John Biggar in 2006 provide us with an elevation of 4979m.

[26]  Fairweather:  A higher elevation 4,671m has been established in the new TRIM 1:20,000 survey of British Columbia.  The saddle is either near Champagne, Yukon (as provided for in bivouac.com), near Summit Lake, BC (as provided above) or local to the mountain.  The local pass at 59:13:09N 137:14:49W is only a few metres higher.  It is on a glacier that is probably being lowered by global warming (c.f. Norway's ex-HP Glittertinden) and therefore may eventually become Fairweather's saddle, if it has not already.

[31]  Cameroon:  The true elevation of Mont Cameroon remains a minor mystery.  The most frequently cited elevation is 4095.1m, which appears on all of the more recent I.G.N. topographic maps. Other cited values are 4100m and 4070m.  Our analysis of data provided by NASA indicates that the proper elevation should be about 4040m.   Communication with earth-scientists suggests that a new survey is needed, especially given the frequent volcanic activity. 

[37]  Toubkal:  We are informed that the official elevation of Jebel Toubkal is now 4167m., which supercedes the earlier 4165m elevation.


[42]  Gunnbjornsfjeld:  The highpoint of Greenland was summited by prominence-researcher Petter Bjorstad in 2004.  Bjorstad surveyed the summit as 3694m with handheld GPS, consistent with the modern Danish survey, and substantially different than a widely published elevation of 3753m.

[43]  Ojos de Salado:  Published maps and tables often award Pissis a higher elevation than Ojos de Salado. We have a report on this question that concludes that Ojos is higher. The most recent Chilean IGM map gives Ojos a spot elevation of 6893m.  Numerous independent GPS readings at the summit indicate that it may be slightly higher, but probably within the 6890m-6705m range.

[45]  Finisterre Range HP:  The 1:100,000 topographic map provides a spot elevation of 4175m.  This is not supported by SRTM analysis, which indicates that the highpoint is closer to 4125m.

[46]  Ritacuba Blanco:  Our given elevation is based in part on a 2006 GPS survey of the summit by John Biggar, which is consistent with SRTM.  John has provided us an elevation estimate of 5410m ±15m.  This is midway between two wildly divergent frequently quoted elevations.  5493m (18,021')  is often quoted.  Some Colombia topographic maps provide a spot elevation of 5330m (17,487').  The most recent Instituto Geografico Militar map has a high contour of 5350m which is probably consistent with the 2006 GPS reading.

[49]  Kongur Shan:  Many sources give the elevation of Kongur at 7719m.  The Guide to Mountaineering in China gives 7649m.  Confusingly, the authoritive Chinese Snow Map gives both 7719m and 7649m on different sections of the map.  After some analysis, we have decided to support the 7649m offered in the guide.  Both sources give the elevation of the northeast dome as 7625m. In "Kongur: China's Elusive Summit" Chris Bonington writes that seen from the NE dome "(the main summit) is undoubtedly the highest point on Kongur, though probably by not more than thirty metres or so". Despite clear weather and lack of time, Bonington's party climbed both summits because, on reaching the main summit, they found that they could not be sure that the NE summit was lower. The two summits are ±700m apart; had there been a 94m height difference they would surely have seen clearly that the NE summit was lower.

SOURCES:

Summit elevation sources:  Various published maps supplemented by 3" NASA SRTM data, except as noted.
Primary saddle elevation source:  3" NASA SRTM data.
Other saddle elevation sources:  Russian military mapping, USGS 1:63,360 (for Alaska), 1:50,000 DEM model of British Columbia, TRIM data.

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