The Seven Summits are the highest peaks on each of the seven continents.
From highest to lowest, these peaks are (Morrow/Messner list):
- Asia: Mount Everest – 29,035 feet (8850 meters)
- South America: Aconcagua – 22,829 feet (6962 meters)
- North America: Denali – 20,320 feet (6194 meters)
- Africa: Kilimanjaro – 19,340 feet (5895 meters)
- Europe: Mount Elbrus – 18,510 feet (5642 meters)
- Antarctica: Mount Vinson – 16,067 feet (4897 meters)
- Australasia/Oceania: Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) – 16,023 feet (4884 meters)
Dick Bass, the first 7 Summitter, choose Australia as one of the 7 continents and Kosciuszko as it’s mainland high point. However Canadian Pat Morrow, who was competing with Bass to finish the 7 challenged Bass’s summit of Australia’s Mt. Kosciuszko as the highest peak in Oceania saying that Carstensz Pyramid on Irian Jaya (Papua) in Indonesia’s New Guinea was the true highpoint for the Australasian continental mass. Italian Reinhold Messner jumped in and agreed with Morrow. Today Carstensz is considered one of the seven but some 7 Summiteers try to bag the lower Kosciuszko to meet both the Bass and the Messner lists.
- Australia: Mount Kosciuszko – 7,310 feet (2228 meters)
Other variations include:
- Europe: Mount Blanc – 15,766 feet (4805 meters)
- Oceania: Mount Wilhelm – 14,793 feet (4509 meters)
Thanks to INKA Expediciones for providing the map and related details presented on this page.
They are the leading company of expeditions and trekkings on Aconcagua, with an enviable reputation for summit success and an unrivalled client safety record.
For more information, visit inkaexpediciones.com
