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The summit of the highest mountain in the world sits at 29,031 ft (8,849 m) above sea level, and is also the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Mount Everest forms part of the Himalayas, a mountain range with more than 100 individual peaks. Quite a few of them are featured on this list!
The second-highest mountain on Earth is only about 650 ft (200 m) shorter than Everest. It forms part of the Karakoram mountain range and straddles the border of Pakistan and China.
Another mountain in the Himalayas is Kangchenjunga, which is shared by Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim. Although it is the third-highest mountain the world, it was thought to be the highest until 1852, at which point measurements showed that Everest was actually higher.
A very close neighbor of Mount Everest (pictured, left), Lhotse has a summit that separates Nepal and China from each other. In fact, Lhotse and Everest both form a massive horseshoe-shaped arc that can be seen from space.
Makalu is another mountain located in the Himalayas, also on the China-Nepal border. It is the fifth-highest mountain on Earth at 27,838 ft (8,485 m), and is a rather isolated peak shaped quite prominently like a four-sided pyramid.
The name Cho Oyu means "Turquoise Goddess" in Tibetan, and the mountain is considered the easiest to climb in the Himalayas, despite being the sixth-highest in the world. Much like the other Himalayan mountains listed here, Cho Oyu straddles the border of China and Nepal.
Nanga Parbat is known by the locals as Diamer, which translates to “King of the Mountains.” It is the western anchor of the entire Himalayan mountain range, and is located in the Pakistan-administered region of Kashmir, and close to the Indian region of Jammu.
Moving over to the Caucasus Mountains in Europe, the highest mountain on the European continent can be found stretched over the border between Russia and Georgia. Mount Elbrus is made up of two summits, with the taller measuring 18,510 ft (5,642 m) in height. Interestingly, both summits are actually dormant volcanoes!
This is another dormant stratovolcano that is located between Russia and Georgia. The last known eruption of this volcano occurred in around 750 BCE, and the mountain holds significant theological value to Georgian locals.
Mount Hermon is a cluster of mountain peaks located at the intersection of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, known as a “tripoint.” Despite being only 9,232 ft (2,814 m) in height, the mountain is home to the highest permanently manned United Nations outpost in the world, nicknamed “Hermon Hotel.”
Korab is less of a solitary peaked mountain and more of a range that stretches over 25 miles (40 km) of the Balkan Peninsula. It is nestled on the border between Albania and North Macedonia, where it is the highest point of both countries.
Mont Blanc, which translates to “White Mountain,” is the highest mountain in the Alps. It has a height of 15,777 ft (4,809 m) and is located between France and Italy. The mountain is predominantly known as a popular destination for outdoor activities, including hiking, climbing, and skiing.
The second-highest mountain in the Alps also straddles the border between two countries, namely Switzerland and Italy. The mountain has been the subject of much artistic interest over the course of history, most notably from Leonardo da Vinci in the late 15th century.
This is another mountain located on the Swiss-Italian border. The mountain has been made famous for multiple reasons, including its visually-striking shape that juts out of the landscape, and the fact that it was one of the last mountains in the Alps to be climbed. It is one of the most dangerous peaks in the world.
Moving over to South America, Tacaná is an active stratovolcano and the second-highest peak in Central America. It is located in the Sierra Madre mountain range between Mexico and Guatemala, where the volcano is considered a deadly hazard to the 250,000 people who live nearby.
Mount Roraima is a tabletop mountain in the Pacaraima range of South America, located at the tripoint of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana. It is most visually striking due to its flat top and surrounding cliffs that reach up to 3,300 ft (1,000 m) in height.
This is the highest volcano in the world at 22,615 ft (6,893 m), although it has been largely dormant since 750 CE. The volcano can be found on the border between Chile and Argentina, where the local climate has caused the mountain itself to lack vegetation.
Ojos del Salado and Nevado Tres Cruces are volcanoes that form part of the Andes Mountains of South America. Nevado Tres Cruces is situated between Argentina and Chile, and scientists believe that the volcano could be active in the future (its last eruption occurred 28,000 years ago).
Here is another mountain found between Argentina and Chile, which holds a strange position along the international border. Most of the mountain’s summit remains in Argentinian territory (including its famous jagged peak), while the foot of the mountain stretches into Chile.
The name of this mountain, which is from Portuguese, translates roughly to “Mist Peak,” a moniker that was given because the mountain is almost constantly shrouded in clouds. It is located in the Guiana Highlands on the Brazil-Venezuela border.
Moving over to Africa, there are quite a few mountains that are spread over multiple countries on this continent. Mount Stanley is one such peak, located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and forming part of the Rwenzori mountain range.
Although Kilimanjaro–the highest mountain in Africa–is mostly located in Tanzania, part of the mountain’s base stretches into Kenyan territory. Kilimanjaro is actually a dormant volcano made up of three cones, and the last known eruption occurred almost two million years ago.
Also known as Mount Richard-Molard, this is the highest peak in West Africa and is located at the tripoint of Guinea, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast. The area is most notable for its lush vegetation and its immense deposits of iron ore and cobalt.
The Virunga Mountains are a chain of East African volcanoes that include many peaks stretched over Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. One of these peaks is Mount Karisimbi, which sits at a height of 14,787 ft (4,507 m).
Another volcano in the Virunga Mountains is Mount Muhabura, which sits on the Rwanda-Uganda border. The mountain’s summit contains a small crater lake; scientists have determined that the volcano is largely inactive.
Here is another volcano from the Virunga Mountains, although this one is active and has erupted as recently as 1957. The mountain straddles the border of Rwanda and the DRC, and is home to two crater lakes.
This is the only volcano from the Virunga Mountains to be located at the exact tripoint of Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. It is an extinct volcano with a unique shape that has earned it the local name of Sabyinyo, meaning “Tooth.”
Mount Gahinga is also an extinct volcano located in the area, specifically on the Rwanda-Uganda border. The mountain is surrounded by large swathes of water and bamboo forests, which are home to the endangered mountain gorilla.
The last mountain in this gallery can be found on the border between Morocco and Algeria. It is the highest peak in North Africa at 13,671 ft (4,167 m), and is most notable for its prominent peak that makes it appear isolated from the surrounding landscape.
Sources: (Britannica) (WorldAtlas) (Study.com) (National Geographic) (Adventure Consultants)
See also: Discover the world's most incredible mountain paradises
In the vast wilderness of our planet, landscapes can rise into the sky to create mountainous formations that astonish the eye. These natural titans were forged by millennia of geological upheaval, but while there are some really old mountains scattered around the world, not all of them stretch over multiple countries. Yet what of the ones that do?
Click through this gallery to see which mountains are the pride of more than a single nation.
Mountains that cross international borders
These massive landscapes take up a lot of space!
TRAVEL Geography
In the vast wilderness of our planet, landscapes can rise into the sky to create mountainous formations that astonish the eye. These natural titans were forged by millennia of geological upheaval, but while there are some really old mountains scattered around the world, not all of them stretch over multiple countries. Yet what of the ones that do?
Click through this gallery to see which mountains are the pride of more than a single nation.