The very highest mountains in the world are all located on the same continent: Asia.
The Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges boast a dizzy number of peaks that reach over 7,000 and even 8,000 meters in height.
No other continent can match that-but that doesn't mean there are no impressive mountains elsewhere.
Each continent has its own beloved ranges, with a few peaks that tower over all others.
Here are the highest mountains on each continent.
Asia: The largest continent has the highest mountains, and Everest is the great granddaddy of them all.
Mt.
Everest reaches 8,848 m above sea level.
Not far behind is K2, the toughest mountain in the world to climb, at 8,611 m.
Next follow Kanchenjunga at 8,586 m, and Lhotse at 8,516 m.
On a list of 109 highest peaks in the world, all of them are located in central Asia.
Africa: The tallest and most notable mountain on a continent knows for its deserts and savannahs is Kilimanjaro.
Located in Tanzania in central east Africa, it is actually the highest freestanding mountain the world, meaning it is not a part of a mountain range.
It's a strata volcano comprised of three volcanic cones, two of which are extinct.
The Kibo Summit, which at 5,895 m is the tallest, is considered dormant and could potentially erupt again, although the last eruption is thought to have occurred many thousands of years ago.
North America: Mt.
McKinley, also known as Denali for the park it's located in, is the highest mountain in North America.
It's extreme northern latitude in Alaska also makes it one of the most dangerous mountains in the world to climb, subject to extreme temperatures and to a very thin atmosphere.
Its peak is 6,194 m high.
South America: At 6,960 m, Mt.
Aconcagua is of Argentina is not only the highest mountain in South America, but the entire western hemisphere.
The name means "white peak," and while the first person to climb in recent history did so in 1897, there is evidence that an ancient civilization once lived near the peak.
Europe: Mt.
Elbrus in Russia is a part of the western Caucasus Mountains.
It's the highest mountain in Europe and western Asia, at 5,642 m.
Volcanic in nature, it's considered inactive, there have been some signs of resurging volcanic activity.
Elbrus is notable for its permanent ice cap, which feeds three different glaciers, supplying large amounts of fresh water to surrounding lands.
Antarctica: Vinson Massif is only 4,897 m high (modest compared with other mountains), but its location in the most extremely cold place and unpopulated place on earth makes it another very dangerous mountain for climbers.
Australia: The highest of the Snowy Mountains in Australia is Mt.
Kosciusko, which measures 2,228 m.
It's the only mountain on this list where the average person can simply walk to the top, thanks in part to a road which will take you to Charlotte Pass, which is only about 8 kilometers of walking to the summit.