Did you know that the highest points of countries are often not their tallest mountains? For example, Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain at 29,029 feet, is actually located in Nepal. The highest point in the United States is Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, which stands at 20,310 feet. So what are the highest points of countries around the world?
10. China
China is home to the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest, as well as the Tibetan Plateau, often called the ‘Roof of the World.’ With an average elevation of 6,035 feet above sea level, China boasts high elevations across much of its topography.
9. Chile
Chile is a country with an average elevation of 6,140 feet above sea level. The highest point in Chile is Volcán Ojos del Salado, which stands at 22,615 feet. The Andean cordillera in the east and the low coastal mountains on the west creates Chile’s elevated topography. In addition, The Andes has peaks that typically reach 15,000 feet above sea level at its peak. One example is Ojos del Salado.
8. Colombia
Located in Central America, Colombia is home to the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, Pico Cristobal Colon. This peak reaches an elevation of 17,450 feet above sea level. The mountain is located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range and is part of the larger Andes mountain range. Colombia is a country with an average elevation of 5,900 feet above sea level.
7. Afghanistan
Most of Afghanistan’s land is mountainous, with nearly half the country having an average altitude above 6,000 feet. The Hindu Kush mountain range extends through the country from northeast to southwest. Some of the highest peaks in Hindu Kush are located in Wakhan Corridor. The highest point in Afghanistan is Mount Noshaq, which stands at 24,580 feet.
6. Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country located in East Asia. It has an average elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level and the highest point in the country is Mount Khuiten, which stands at 17,564 feet. The Mongolian Altai Mountains run through the center of the country and are home to many of Mongolia’s highest peaks.
5. Andorra
The Pyrenees Mountains dominate much of Andorra, a tiny country located in southwestern Europe. These mountains create small, narrow valleys between their ranges. The Pic de Coma Pedrosa is the tallest point in Andorra at 9,665 feet above sea level. However, the average elevation for the entire country is 6,650 feet.
4. Antarctica
Although not a country, Antarctica’s name should be included in this list. It is the world’s highest continent with an average elevation of 7,545 feet above sea level. Antarctica’s South Pole has an elevation of 9300 feet. The Australian Antarctic Territory contains the continent’s highest peak, Mount Vinson (seen), which rises to 13,451 feet. Mount Vinson is the continent’s tallest mountain peak at 16,050 feet tall.
3. Bhutan
Bhutan is a landlocked country located in the eastern Himalayas. It has an average elevation of 10,760 feet above sea level, making it the highest average elevation of any country in the world. The highest point in Bhutan is Gangkhar Puensum, which stands at 24,840 feet.
2. Kyrgyzstan
The landscape of Kyrgyzstan is made up of young mountain ranges with tall, pointy peaks divided by deep valleys. The Tian Shan and Pamir mountain ranges take up 65% of the country’s land. There are also large glaciers in the region with Engilchek Glacier being the biggest one . On average, the elevation of the country is 9,805 feet above sea level. The highest point in Kyrgyzstan is Jengish Chokusu, which stands at 24,406 feet.
1. Tajikistan
The Turkestan Mountains stretch from north to south along the country’s border with China and Kyrgyzstan, rising gradually toward elevations of over 18,000 feet. The highest peak in western Tajikistan is the Turkestan Range, which rises to a height of 18,077 feet. The entire nation has an average elevation of approximately 10,455 feet above sea level. Because Tajikistan falls within a seismogenic zone, earthquakes are not uncommon in this area.