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 (8,850 meters)
- South America: Aconcagua – 22,841 feet (6,962 meters)
- North America: Denali – 20,320 feet (6,194 meters)
- Africa: Kilimanjaro – 19,340 feet (5,895 meters)
- Europe: Mount Elbrus – 18,510 feet (5,642 meters)
- Antarctica: Mount Vinson – 16,067 feet (4,897 meters)
- Australasia/Oceania: Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) – 16,023 feet (4,884 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 (2,228 meters)
Other variations include:
- Europe: Mount Blanc – 15,766 feet (4,805 meters)
- Oceania: Mount Wilhelm – 14,793 feet (4,509 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
