Name Class Date
© NGSP & HB
Mt. Everest (Sagarmāthā) (29,035)
Hillary Step (28,776)
Lhoste (27,890)
Lhoste Shar (27,493)
Shartse II (Peak 38)
(21,620)
Nuptse
(25,791)
18,400
18,400
18,400
18,400
19,700
19,700
19,700
21,000
22,300
23,600
23,600
18,400
18,400
19,700
21,000
22,300
22,300
23,600
23,600
24,900
24,900
26,200
26,200
26,200
27,500
19,700
21,000
22,300
18,400
21,000
21,000
22,300
22,300
22,300
21,000
23,600
23,600
21,000
24,900
CHINA
NEPA L
NGWG_GEO_U09_C17_S1.2_M017
NGM66 GA2 Mount Everest Contours
First Proof
Use with South Asia Geography & History, Section 1.2, in your textbook.
Go to Interactive Whiteboard GeoActivities at
myNGconnect.com to complete this activity online.
SECTION
GEOGRAPHY
GeoActivity
1.2 EXPLORING THE HIMALAYAS
Explore South Asia’s Mountains
Learn more about the terms and tools that geographers use to explore
mountainous areas by studying the graphics and map shown here.
Elevation and Altitude The terms elevation and altitude both describe
a distance above sea level. The graphic below shows the difference
between the terms. Study the graphic and answer the questions.
1. What elevation is shown for
Gangkhar Puensum?
2. Into which elevation range does
this mountain fall?
3. How far is the airplane flying
above the land surface?
4. How far is the airplane flying
above the peak of the mountain?
Passenger Airplane: 35,000 feet
Summit of Gangkhar Puensum: 24,836 feet
Sea level: 0 feet
Elevation: distance above sea level to a
point on Earth’s surface
Elevation Ranges:
Extreme: 18,000 feet and above
Very High: 11,500-18,000 feet
High: 5,000-11,500 feet
Altitude: height above sea level
of a point above Earth’s suface
Facts about Gangkhar Puensum
• Its name means, “White Peak of the Three
Spiritual Brothers.”
• It is the highest mountain in Bhutan and the
highest unclimbed mountain in the world.
• In 2004, all mountaineering was banned in
Bhutan out of respect for spiritual beliefs.
Mountain
5. Mark the contour line at 22,300 feet. Now look at the contour line just
below that line. What interval is shown between these two contour lines?
6. Closely spaced contour lines show the steepest route up Mount Everest.
Circle the areas on the map that show the steepest routes.
7. Pick a site on the map for your base camp. Then draw your proposed
route up Mount Everest.
Contour Map A contour map uses lines and numbers to show the shape of a land
surface and its slope. Points along a contour line are of equal elevation. An interval is
the difference in elevation between two contour lines.
ELEVATIONS OF MOUNT EVEREST
10 South Asia Geography & History SECTION 1.2
001-006_GA90166_U09C17S1.indd 2 12/30/10 1:58 PM
