| The Seven Summits is a term known to all mountain | | | | There are two common seven summit lists in use |
| climbers. They are the highest mountains of each of | | | | today, the Bass and Messner lists. The first seven |
| the seven continents. This mountaineering challenge | | | | summit list produced by Bass used the highest |
| was first mentioned in the 1980s by Richard Bass. | | | | mountain of mainland Australia, but Reinhold Messner |
| There are different definitions of what the seven | | | | made another list using Puncak Jaya as the highest |
| summits are based on continental borders and | | | | Oceania summit. But neither list includes Mont Blanc as |
| number of continents. However the seven summit | | | | the European summit. Most mountaineers agree that |
| number of seven continents is based on the | | | | Messner's list is the true seven summit list as it is the |
| continents used by Western Europe, United States | | | | more challenging one and sticks to the ideals of a |
| and Australia. | | | | true mountain climber as the Oceania mount that |
| The first peak in dispute is the Oceania summit. The | | | | Bass uses is an easy hike to the top unlike ascending |
| highest mountain on the Australian mainland is Mount | | | | the Carstensz Pyramid. |
| Kosciuiszko at 2,228 meters. The highest mountain in | | | | The seven summit list according to Messner is |
| the Australian continent is Puncak jaya at 4,884 | | | | Kilimanjaro at 5,892 meters on the African continent |
| meters in New Guinea. This mountain is also known | | | | in the country of Tanzania. The first successful |
| as Carstensz Pyramid. There is a debate that Mount | | | | ascent was in 1889. Next is Vinson Massif at 4,892 |
| Wilhelm at 4,509 meters should be the highest peak | | | | meters on Antarctica and was successfully ascended |
| in Oceania as Indonesia is part of Asia. This mountain | | | | in 1966. Carstensz Pyramid at 4,884 meters on the |
| is in the Bismarck Range of Papua New Guinea. | | | | Australia continent in Indonesia was first successfully |
| The next peak of dispute is the European summit. | | | | ascended in 1962. Everest at 8,848 meters on Asia in |
| The highest mountain in Europe is Mount Elbrus at | | | | Nepal and China was first summitted in 1953. Elbrus at |
| 5,642 meters. It is in the Caucasus range that forms | | | | 5,642 meters on Europe in Russia was summitted in |
| the border between Asia and Europe. Since it does | | | | 1829. Mount McKinley at 6,194 meters on North |
| form the border, its inclusion in the seven summits list | | | | America in the United States was summitted in 1913. |
| is disputed. The highest mountain in Europe without | | | | Aconcagua at 6,962 meters on the South American |
| dispute is Mont Blanc at 4,810 meters on the border | | | | continent in Argentina was first ascended successfully |
| of France and Italy. | | | | in 1897. |