Fascinating Mountains Around the World: Everest, Kilimanjaro, and More Wonders of Nature

Mountains are like “folds” of the earth. We’re all familiar with various mountains in Israel and abroad, but these are a few especially interesting ones:

The Highest Mountain in the World

Located in the Himalayas between Nepal and China, most of Mount Everest lies in Tibet. The Himalayas form the highest mountain range in the world, and towering above them all is Everest, with a height of 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above sea level.

For comparison, the highest mountain in Israel is Mount Hermon, which reaches 2,814 meters (9,232 feet).

The Shining Mountain

Mount Kilimanjaro stands out dramatically, because unlike most mountains that belong to a range, Kilimanjaro rises all by itself from a mostly flat landscape. It is the highest mountain in Africa, at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet). Despite being located near the equator in a hot region, its peak is permanently covered with snow, due to its great height.

A Mountain, or a Table?

In South Africa lies one of the most unusual mountains, Table Mountain. It got its name from its unique flat summit, which looks just like a giant table. The summit is about three kilometers wide and sits at an elevation of 1,086 meters (3,563 feet). Climbers reaching the top are rewarded with stunning views of Cape Town, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Rainbow Mountains

Most mountains are earthy in color, with occasional green vegetation. The Rainbow Mountains in China however, are unlike anything else. Found in northern China along the Silk Road, they appear as if an artist poured thousands of bottles of colored sand over them. The mountains are streaked with vibrant stripes in countless shades. While other colorful mountains exist in different parts of the world, they usually display just one or two dominant hues. In the Rainbow Mountains, however, you can see dozens of dazzling colors all together.