Mount Rainier
To start this list, we have the mighty Mount Rainier. The mountain might be pleasant to look at, but don’t let the mesmerizing Colgate-white sheet of snow fool you; Rainier is actually one of the biggest volcanos in the United States!
To be precise, it’s a stratovolcano, a steep volcano with a cone-like shape. This one can be found near Seattle, Washington (59 miles away from the city). Mount Rainier is not only one of the most prominent mountains in the country, with a height of 14,411 ft, it’s also considered by scientists as one of the most potentially dangerous volcanoes.
K2
As a matter of fact, Mount Rainier is included in the infamous Decade Volcano list. In case you’re not familiar with it, this list numbers the most dangerous volcanos on Earth. Yikes! On the other hand, K2 is a regular mountain with no lava involved.
But it has its own exceptional characteristics too. K2, which can be found on the border between Pakistan and China, is the highest mountain on this planet after Mount Everest. What an honor, right? Though it’s unknown to most people, hikers are very aware of its existence since it boasts one of the highest fatality rates for the gutsy folks who dare to climb it.
Volcán Tajumulco
In case you’re a hiker and you’re considering accepting the K2 challenge, here’s a valuable tip: please DO NOT GO IN WINTER. No human on Earth has ever climbed to the top of K2 during the coldest season, and believe me, many have tried!
But enough of K2, we’re here to talk about Volcán Tajumulco, located in San Marcos, Guatemala. Its glorious aspect in this stunning photograph is not the result of any editing or special effect: the Tajamulco stratovolcano is Central America’s highest mountain, with 13,844 ft!
Pico Bolívar
If the news about the unstable political situation has dissuaded you of visiting Venezuela, don’t forget that it has several tourist-favorite spots. Amongst them is Pico Bolívar, and this will definitely attract your attention if you consider yourself an adventurer.
Or maybe not… maybe you’d like to visit a place where a couple of stunning photographs can be taken. Either way, Pico Bolívar is a must. By far, the highest mountain in Venezuela (5000 ft), its small glaciers and snow provide great beauty.
Jengish Chokusu
What a striking view, right? Be sure to remember this magical landscape when going to Jengish Chokusu, cause you’ll never see another quite like it. This mountain lies near the Issyk Kul lake, on the border between China and Kyrgyzstan.
Jengish Chokusu is the highest mountain of the awe-inspiring Tian Shan range. Think we’re exaggerating? Well, here’s a cool fact for you, Mr or Mrs skeptic: The Tian Shan, or Tengir-Too, as the range is also called, actually means Mountains of Heaven.
Chimborazo
It’s volcano-time again, but don’t worry, Mount Rainier is probably the most dangerous one from the list (apart from #13). As a matter of fact, Chimborazo, which is located in the Cordillera, is an inactive stratovolcano. And when scientists state that a volcano is currently inactive, they mean it.
That’s right, the last time the Chimborazo erupted electricity was yet to be invented. Wondering when was this last eruption? 550 AD is the year, though this is more of a guess than a certainty, according to geologists and historians.
Bogda Peak
Before getting to know this mountain’s intimidating height, just appreciate its beauty. The rising sun’s gleaming rays over the lake’s water makes the mountain’s reflection look as engaging as a Monet painting!
Bogda Peak, which is also called Bogda Feng, is the highest mountain in the Bogda Shan range, which belongs to the Chinese Tian Shan mountains. Rumor has it that it’s better to stay at the lake area, and this is probably due to its 18,000 ft height, which makes it a dangerous climb even for an expert.
Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu is located in Malaysia. If you ever meet a hiking enthusiast, chances are he or she will have Mount Kinabalu on their wishlist. Indeed, climbing this mountain is a dream come true for any adventurer!
With a bewildering height of almost 13,500 ft, this is the highest mountain between New Guinea and the Himalayas. But the mountain boasts another distinctive quality… it’s surrounded by the Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage Site.
Mont Blanc/Monte Bianco
Just imagine yourself camping at a mesmerizing World Heritage Site before climbing that massive mountain in the morning! Hardly anyone would be able to forget about such an experience, that’s for sure.
Mont Blanc (or Monte Bianco, it depends on your preference between the French and the Italian pronunciation) isn’t in the middle of a beautiful National Park like Kinabalu; however, it’s famous for another reason. This mountain is known as the tallest one in the European Alps, with a height of 15,800 ft. Impressive!
Mount Damavand
Active volcanoes which are potentially dangerous are quite rare nowadays. We’ve already discussed one of these, called Mount Rainier, but here’s another one. However, Mount Damavand is nowhere near Seattle like the former, so don’t worry!
This stratovolcano can be found in the middle Alborz Range (Iran), and it’s the highest peak of the Asian country. But it holds a couple of other impressive records too: Damavand is not only the tallest volcano in Asia but the second highest peak in the continent after Mount Everest!
Klyuchevskaya Sopka
This classical photograph of the Klyuchevskaya Sopka shows the sun setting over the volcano’s splendid sheet of snow. I can’t help but feel jealous of the photographer, just look at this landscape! The contrast between the shadow that covers the green hills and the illuminated snow is nothing but hypnotizing.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka is probably the most beautiful one amongst a large group of volcanos which are all located in the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia. This territory has a mind-boggling 160 volcanos; no wonder it’s been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Nanga Parbat
If by any chance you’re considering trying to climb any of these mountains while reading our list, this is one of the ones you should definitely avoid! Believe me, it’s a wise tip. Nanga Parbat’s tragedy rate is frightening, and it’s probably due to its abrupt steepness.
That’s right; this mountain will get almost any hiker sick with vertigo even before starting the climb. Nanga Parbat, located in Pakistan, is not only ranked in the top ten tallest mountains on Earth, but its notorious peak also rises way higher than the rest of the surroundings.
Mauna Kea
Everybody knows that Hawaii has a lot of volcanoes… but are you familiar with its tallest one? Probably not, but we’ve got your back. The highest peak in the state of Hawaii is Mauna Kea, which ascends almost 14,000 ft above sea level.
Mauna Kea holds an even more impressive record, though. It’s actually the tallest mountain on Earth! Your perplexity after reading that might make you think there’s a mistake. But here’s the thing: Mauna Kea is, in fact, the tallest one, but most of it is underwater! Scientists believe that its total height, including the underwater part, is 33,000 ft.
Mount Logan
Mount Logan looks majestic in this photograph, and, indeed, it’s definitely a force to be reckoned with. This mountain is not only the highest one in Canada but the second one in all of North America.
In case you’re wondering, Mount Logan’s tallest point rises almost 20,000 ft above sea level, and the mountain also has eleven peaks with a height well over 16,000 ft. Keep sliding to learn about the tallest mountains and volcanoes on Earth!
Pico De Orizaba
Pico De Orizaba, also called Citlaltépl, is a stratovolcano in Mexico with numerous legends behind it. A tourist-favorite, Pico de Orizaba, can be found between de states of Puebla and Veracruz, so don’t miss the opportunity of visiting it when traveling to Mexico!
Mexico’s tallest volcano (and the third tallest one in North America), Pico de Orizaba reaches a maximum height of 18,490 ft. The volcano held great spiritual value for many civilizations. For example, the Aztecs considered it the geological representation of God Poyauhtecatl.
Vinson Massif
They could have called this mountain Vinson Massive, right? Right? Ok, sorry for the bad pun, but yes, Vinson Massif is not only a cool-named mountain, but it’s also the highest one in Antarctica!
This explains the neverending amount of snow in the picture. Vinson Massif was discovered in 1958, and it lies within the Ellsworth Mountains’ Sentinel Range.
Mount Elbrus
By looking at this picture, it seems someone lives right next to this freezing mountain… what a challenge! Just picture yourself waking up for school or for another day at the office with a chilling temperature of 8 degrees or less.
However, on the other hand, you’d have this awesome panorama all for yourself while staring through the window. This massive mountain is called Mount Elbrus, and it’s actually a dormant volcano of the Russian Caucasus range.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Get ready, everyone; we’re finally in the top five! Starting off our selection of the most massive and striking mountains, we have Kilimanjaro, situated in Tanzania’s National Park Mount Kilimanjaro. Most people visit Tanzania for wildlife and amazing safaris.
But they usually overlook the existence of Kilimanjaro mountain’s triple volcanic cone. Believe me; it’s something unique that you won’t want to miss for anything! This mountain, which by the way is also the tallest in Africa, has, as we stated, not two but three volcanic cones, which are called Shira, Mawenzi, and Kibo.
Pico Cristóbal Colón
A mountain range with three volcanic cones might be hard to beat, but Pico Cristóbal Colón is pretty cool too. First of all, we have to say something about its name. You probably have already guessed it, but we’ll explain in case your history knowledge is kinda sloppy.
This mountain (the highest in Colombia) is named after Christopher Columbus, the explorer and colonist who led the Spanish expedition and invasion of Latin America. Pico Cristóbal Colón is part of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range, together with another mindblowing mountain, Pico Simón Bolívar.
Mount McKinley
Alas, our top three! Our choice for one of the top positions on the list is Mount McKinley. What were the outstanding features that convinced us to place it this high? Well, first of all, with a height of 20,321 ft, it’s the highest peak in North America.
Amazing, huh? Mount McKinley is also called Denali, which stands for “The High One” in Koyukon Athabaskan. This gorgeous mountain is also surrounded by the magnificent Denali National Park and Preserve, so don’t miss the opportunity of visiting it!
Aconcagua
Aconcagua’s imposing majesticness is undeniable for its sheer size only. With a staggering maximum height of 22,840 ft, it’s the tallest mountain in America. Aconcagua lies in the Andes range, in the Argentinian province of Mendoza.
This range holds an important place in history too. It’s especially known for that one time when, led by General José de San Martín, the Argentine soldiers crossed the dangerous Andes in 1817 for a key victory in the Independence Wars against the Spanish royalty in Chile.
Mount Everest
Yes, Aconcagua might have great symbolic value, but Mount Everest holds an amazing record: it’s the tallest mountain on Earth, with a mind-boggling elevation of 29,000 ft above sea level. Mount Everest is located in a section of the Himalayas called Mahalangur.
Just look at the picture for a couple of seconds. Do you notice any curious detail? Here’s a clue: take a good look at the clouds… yes, that’s right, the mountain’s peaks are way higher than the clouds! I can’t help but picture how the view might look from the peak… it’s simply beyond my imagination!