Mount Everest

​​1. Geographic & Geological Significance​​

• ​​Height​​: Officially ​​8,848.86m​​ (2020 China-Nepal joint survey), rising ​​~4mm/year​​ due to tectonic shifts.
• ​​Names​​:
  • ​​"珠穆朗玛峰" (Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng)​​: Tibetan for "Goddess Mother of the World."
  • ​​"Sagarmatha"​​ (Nepal): "Forehead of the Sky."
• ​​Formation​​: Created ​​50-60 million years ago​​ by the ​​collision of Indian and Eurasian plates​​.

​​2. Tibetan Side vs. Nepalese Side​​

​​3. Cultural & Spiritual Importance​​

• ​​Tibetan Buddhism​​: Considered the abode of ​​Goddess Miyolangsangma​​.
• ​​Rongbuk Monastery​​: World's ​​highest monastery (4,980m)​​, founded in 1902, where climbers seek blessings.
• ​​Local Customs​​: Sherpas perform ​​puja ceremonies​​ before ascents for safe passage.

​​4. Climbing History & Records​​

• ​​First Summit​​: ​​Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay​​ (1953, South Side).
• ​​Tibetan Side Milestones​​:
  • ​​1960​​: First Chinese team summited via North Ridge.
  • ​​1975​​: First all-female team (Junko Tabei, Japan).
• ​​Modern Challenges​​: ​​Permit fees​​ (¥300,000+ per team), ​​environmental quotas​​ (300 climbers/year).

​​5. Visiting as a Tourist (Non-Climber)​​

• ​​Everest Base Camp (Tibet)​​:
  • ​​Access​​: 4WD from ​​Tingri County​​ (6-8hrs), requiring ​​Tibet Travel Permit​​.
  • ​​Facilities​​: Tent guesthouses (May–Oct), limited electricity.
• ​​Best Time​​: ​​April–May​​ (clear skies) or ​​September–October​​ (stable weather).
• ​​Health Risks​​: ​​Altitude sickness​​ (AMS) above 5,000m; acclimatize in ​​Lhasa (3,650m)​​ first.

​​6. Environmental Protection​​

• ​​Waste Management​​: ​​8.4 tons of trash​​ removed annually by cleanup teams.
• ​​Regulations​​:
  • ​​Mandatory trash deposits​​ ($4,000/climber refunded upon waste return).
  • ​​Solar-powered toilets​​ installed at base camps.
• ​​Climate Impact​​: Glaciers retreating ​​~30cm/year​​; potential UNESCO designation.

​​7. Nearby Attractions​​

• ​​Shigatse​​: Tibet's second city (visa processing for permits).
• ​​Gyangtse Monastery​​: Historic stop en route to Everest.