Mount Everest, at 8,848 meters, is the highest mountain in the world and lies on the border between Tibet and Nepal. Known as the “roof of the world,” Everest has long attracted the attention of climbers and explorers from all over the world. However, the journey to conquer this mountain is not easy and is full of dangers, even death. Since the time explorers began trying to conquer Everest, more than 300 people have died on this mountain, making Everest a place containing many mysterious and scary stories.
Among the most famous accidents, the story of George Mallory and Andrew “Sandy” Irvine, two British climbers, stands out. In 1924, they set out to climb the mountain with the goal of conquering Mount Everest. However, after leaving the final point, they never returned.
Many believe they may have been the first people to reach the summit of Everest, but the mystery of their fate was not solved until 1999 when Mallory’s body was discovered. His body was found at an altitude of about 8,155 meters, in a nearly intact condition, but the photo of his wife that he had promised to leave at the summit was missing. This raised doubts about whether he and Irvine had actually succeeded in conquering Everest before their accident.
Everest is not only a place full of natural dangers, but also contains many mysterious phenomena that are difficult to explain. Many climbers have reported seeing ghostly apparitions during their climb, especially in the “death zone” – the area above 8,000 meters, where lack of oxygen and harsh weather conditions can lead to death within a few hours.
Some climbers have reported feeling the presence of mysterious spirits, sometimes the apparitions of climbers who have died before. These stories have spread throughout the climbing community, fueling the belief that Everest is a sacred, haunted place.
Another common phenomenon on Everest is strange sounds, such as screams, cries, or cracking sounds that echo at night. Initially, these sounds frightened many climbers, who thought they were hearing the echoes of souls trapped on the mountain. However, scientists have come up with a number of theories to explain this phenomenon, including the echoes of ice cracking due to sudden changes in temperature. However, not everyone is convinced by these scientific explanations.
The area known as Everest’s “death zone” is particularly dangerous. At altitudes above 8,000 meters, the thin air makes it difficult for the human body to absorb enough oxygen, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, hallucinations, and heart failure. Many people have died because they could not cope with these harsh conditions.
The bodies of the unfortunate are often not brought down due to the difficult and dangerous conditions, and the bodies remain where they are, becoming landmarks along the route to the summit of Everest. Some corpses have even become famous landmarks, such as the case of “Green Boots,” a corpse wearing green boots, known to many climbers.
In recent years, another mystery was discovered when an expedition team accidentally found the remains of a Soviet expedition from 1952. Documents about this group have completely disappeared from history, and no one knows why they were on Everest, nor what caused the group to die. Their bodies were found at an altitude of more than 7,500 meters in a poor state of preservation, with many signs that they had encountered unusually harsh conditions. The existence of this Soviet expedition has raised many unanswered questions, making Everest even more mysterious.
In addition to the stories of the explorers, Everest is also home to a number of animals that are specially adapted to the harsh altitude. The Himalayan jumping spider is an example, found at altitudes of up to 6,700 meters, they are the highest-altitude animals in the world. Along with that, the snow leopard – a symbol of resilience and mystery – is also said to appear in the Everest region, although they are very difficult to see and often live hidden in the rugged cliffs.
With such mysterious stories and strange phenomena, Mount Everest is not only a high mountain but also a symbol of unsolved mysteries, attracting the curiosity of explorers, scientists, and those who love mysterious things. Everest continues to challenge and attract people, becoming one of the legendary symbols of perseverance and the power of nature.
