K2 (also known as Mount Godwin-Austen, Lambha Pahar, Chogori, Kechu or Dapsang) is a mountain in the Karakoram range, part of the Himalayas, on the border between China and Pakistan.
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On July 31, 1954, Italian mountaineers Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli became the first people to reach the summit of K2, the world's second-highest mountain peak. K2 is part of the Karakoram mountain range between China and Pakistan, and rises 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) above sea level.
Even though K2 (Chhogori or Ketu in indigenous languages) has a lower elevation than Mount Everest, many mountaineers say it is steeper and much more difficult to climb. Nicknamed the “Savage Mountain,” K2 has never been successfully climbed in winter. -
Term Part of Speech Definition Encyclopedic Entry elevation Noun height above or below sea level.
Encyclopedic Entry: elevation indigenous Adjective characteristic to or of a specific place.
mountain range Noun series or chain of mountains that are close together.
Mount Everest Noun highest spot on Earth, 8,850 meters (29,035 feet). Mount Everest is part of the Himalaya range, in Nepal and China.
sea level Noun base level for measuring elevations. Sea level is determined by measurements taken over a 19-year cycle.
Encyclopedic Entry: sea level summit Noun highest point of a mountain.
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Editor
Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society
Producer
Mary Crooks, National Geographic Society
Last Updated
Dec. 16, 2013
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