|
Majestic mountains around the world that are full of hidden secrets
Story by Karlina Valeiko
• 7mo
Three Peaks, Dolomites, Italy (9,839ft/2,999m)©canadastock/Shutterstock
These three distinctive peaks are an unmissable sight in the Dolomites mountain range in northeastern Italy. Called Tre Cime di Lavaredo in Italian, the Three Peaks formed the border between Italy and Austria until 1919 and now they separate the Italian provinces of South Tyrol and Belluno. The peaks have also had several silver screen appearances in films like The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones and most recently they featured in the Han Solo spin-off within the Star Wars universe Solo.
Valley of the Ten Peaks, Alberta, Canada (11,234ft/3,424m)©puttsk/Shutterstock
Granted, this is a valley rather than a mountain, however, such an impressive collection of peaks couldn't be left off of the list. The valley, also the location of the famous Moraine Lake, is crowned by 10 notable peaks, including Mount Tuzo, Tonsa and the tallest – Deltaform Mountain. This spectacular landscape was honored by featuring on the reverse side of the 1969 and 1979 issues of the Canadian $20 bill.
Mount Assiniboine, Canadian Rockies, British Columbia/Alberta, Canada (11,870ft/3,618m)©Pat Tr/Shutterstock
Situated along the Alberta and British Columbia border in Canada, Mount Assiniboine wouldn't look out of place in Iceland. This beautiful peak is surrounded by an equally idyllic landscape and there's a fascinating story behind its name too. Named by geologist George Mercer Dawson in 1885, the clouds trailing from the top of the mountain reminded him of the smoke plumes rising from the teepees of the Assiniboine people.
Mount Cook, Southern Alps, New Zealand (12,217ft/3,724m)©Nur Ismail Photography/Shutterstock
New Zealand is famed for its breathtaking natural wonders and Mount Cook is no exception. The country's highest mountain, Mount Cook is the name given by the European settlers, however, Māori have always known it as Aoraki. A young boy in a significant Māori legend, the people have always considered Aoraki as the most sacred of their ancestors.
Mount Fuji, Japan (12,776ft/3,894m)©warasit phothisuk/Shutterstock
The largest peak in Japan, Mount Fuji is simply unmistakable. The distinctive mountain is of great cultural significance to the Japanese as it's long been considered sacred by Buddhist and Shinto pilgrims. It's also one of the few places in the world to see lenticular clouds – a rare phenomenon when disc-shaped clouds gather at the top of the peak, resembling UFOs.
Mount Robson, Canadian Rockies, British Columbia, Canada (12,972ft/3,954m)©Nick Fox/Shutterstock
The highest point in the Canadian Rockies, this famous peak is simply spectacular. An imposing sight, when approached from the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16), its south face can be observed in all its glory. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the mountain is part of the Rainbow Range and is home to a diverse collection of wildlife, which includes mountain goats and even grizzly bears, as well as over 180 species of birds.
Mount Kinabalu, Crocker Range, Malaysia (13,435ft/4,095m)©Ake13bk/Shutterstock
Malaysia's tallest mountain, Mount Kinabalu's rocky face is such a mystical sight, it's no wonder there are several legends tied to it. One of the more popular stories usually told to tourists, says that the name translates as Chinese widow. In the story, a Chinese prince survives a sinking ship and is rescued by local people. There, he marries a local woman but, missing family, returns to China. He's banned from ever returning while his Malaysian wife, turned into stone by the spirit of the mountain, continuous to wait for him to return.
Teton Range, Wyoming, USA (13,769ft/4,197m)©YegoroV/Shutterstock
A mountain range within the Rocky Mountains, Grand Tetons are an icon of the Cowboy State. Stretching along the Idaho state line from north to south, Grand Tetons are mostly within the national park of the same name in Wyoming. Rising dramatically over Jackson, the Tetons are an unmistakably western sight, largely thanks to a number of western films featuring these grand mountains, from John Wayne's acting debut The Big Trail to a classic of the genre Shane.
Mount Rainier, Washington, USA (14,409ft/4,392m)©Diane Fetzner/Shutterstock
There's no arguing that Mount Rainier is of an epic size. With more than 130 trails snaking their way through the forested area around the mountain, there are plenty of opportunities to take in the stunning scenery among the lush trees and fragrant wildflowers. Many don't know it's an active stratovolcano but it hasn't erupted since the late 19th century.
Matterhorn, Pennine Alps, Switzerland and Italy (14,692ft/4,478m)©Smit/Shutterstock
Switzerland has some pretty magical mountains, but the jagged peak of the Matterhorn surely wins hands down. The mountain, straddling the border between Switzerland and Italy, overlooks the Swiss town of Zermatt to the northeast and the Italian town of Breuil-Cervinia to the south. The town also gives the mountain its Italian name Cervino. Sometimes even called the Mountain of Mountains, Matterhorn is symbolic of all of the European Alps.
Vinicunca, Andes, Peru (17,100ft/5,212m)©Seumas Christie-Johnston/Shutterstock
This multicolored mountain in the Peruvian Andes is not man-made despite what its perfectly symmetrical layers might make you think. The colorful bands, ranging from pink and red to yellow and green, are the result of sedimentary layers forming from mineral deposits over the years. Interestingly, the colorful bands haven't always been visible. Rapid ice melt revealed the unique colors of the mountains only in the 2010s.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (19,341ft/5,895m)©Prasanth Aravindakshan/Shutterstock
Nicknamed the Roof of Africa, Kilimanjaro is an icon of the African continent. Found in northeastern Tanzania in a national park of the same name, Kilimanjaro is actually a dormant volcano that last erupted some 360,000 years ago. It also has another claim to fame – it's the world's highest single free-standing mountain.
Denali, Alaska, USA (20,308ft/6,190m)©valiant.skies/Shutterstock
North America's tallest mountain, many might remember Denali by its previous name Mount McKinley. It was renamed in 2016, after many decades of controversy, to reflect the name long used by the native people. Surrounded by the unspoiled landscapes of the Denali National Park, the Reflection Pond is one of the most gorgeous places to see the mountain as it's mirrored in the perfectly still water.
Annapurna Massif, Himalayas, Nepal (26,545ft/8,091m)©Christopher Moswitzer/Shutterstock
Peppered with some of the world's highest mountains, Annapurna Massif is one of the most treacherous areas in the world for mountain climbers. The entire massif and the surrounding area are protected within the Annapurna Conservation Area, the first and largest conservation area in Nepal. The range is named after Annapurna, the Hindu goddess of food and nourishment, as many of the streams cascading down the mountains provide water for agricultural fields and pastures.
Mount Everest, Himalayas, Nepal and Tibet (29,028ft/8,848m)©Papava/Shutterstock
You simply cannot talk about the world's mountains and not mention Mount Everest. The mother of all mountains, it rises so high, you'd need almost 11 Burj Khalifas (the world's tallest building) to match its height. Located right on the border of Nepal and Tibet, an autonomous region within China, the first recorded ascent up this incredible mountain was completed by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay as recently as 1953.
Ama Dablam, Himalayas, Nepal (22,349ft/6,812m)©Daniel Prudek/Shutterstock
It's no secret that Mount Everest is the Himalayas' most famous peak, however, this mountain range is home to many other spectacular mountains. One such mountain is Ama Dablam. Sometimes referred to as the Matterhorn of the Himalayas, the name loosely translates as mother's necklace. This is a reference to the hanging glacier, that resembles a dablam, a traditional double-pendant containing pictures of gods worn by Sherpa women.
|