Everest is, with 8850 m. (29035 ft.), by far the highest mountain on the planet. In Tibet it is called 'Chomolungma', which means 'Mother goddess of the Earth'. Tibettans gave this name long befor western scientists had concluded that Everest was the highest mountain. In Nepal, Everest is called 'Sagarmatha' which means 'goddess of the sky'.
     For years, Everest was believed to have a height of 8848 m. (29028 ft.). Recent GPS-meassurements however have concluded that Everest is even 2 meters/7 ft. higher then until recently assumed.
     The height of Everest is however always questionable because of large quantities of snow that build up on the summit constantly which can get blown away again in little time. In the picture above you can see the typical plume of snow which is blown away from the summit.

More facts

• Longitude: 86º55’40" E
• Latitude: 27º59’16" N
• First Climb: Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) & Edmund Percival Hillary (New Zealand) 5/29/53 via the South-East Ridge Route
• First woman: Junko Tabei (Japan) 5/16/75 via the South-East Ridge 
• Most Ascents: 11 by Apa Sherpa. Ten by Ang Rita Sherpa (born 1947), 1983,1984,1985,1987,1988,1990,1992,1993,1995, and 1996 all ascents were oxygen-less. Ten, by Babu Chiri Sherpa.
• Solo: Reinhold Messner (Italy) 8/20/80 via the North Col to the North Face and the Great Couloir. He climbed for three days entirely alone from his base camp at 6,500 meters without the use of artificial oxygen. 
• First Ascent without bottled oxygen: Peter Habeler (Austria) and Reinhold Messner (Italy) 5/8/78 via the South-East Ridge 
• Youngest person: Shambu Tamang (Nepal) 16 on 5/5/73 
• North Side: Fastest Ascent via the standard North Col-north ridge-north face Route: Hans Kammerlander (Italian) 5/24/96, 16 hours 45 minutes from base camp. He left BC at 6400 meters at 5pm on May 23, 1996 and was on the Summit 16 hours 45 minutes later at 9:45am the next day. He descended most of the route on skis.
• First Winter ascent Krzysztof Wielicki (Poland) 2/17/80 
• First woman without oxygen Lydia Bradey (New Zealand) 10/14/88. 
• Speed Record Nepal Side: Babu Chiri Sherpa 
• First true Ski descent: Davo Karnicar 

Time line

1841: Sir George Everest, surveyor of India from records location of Everest labeling it Peak XV

1856: Surveyor Andrew Waugh completes first height measurement, declaring Everest to be 8840 meters high. (29,002 feet)

1859: Peak XV re-named Mt. Everest to honor Sir George Everest

1921: British expedition: None reach the summit.

1924: British team with Lt. Col. Norton reaches 8580 meters without oxygen. George Mallory and Andrew Irving are seen somewhere above Camp 1. They never return.

1934: Maurice Wilson attempts to solo Everest - his body is later found at 6400 meters. 

1950: Tibet falls under Chinese rule , expeditions are  is closed. Nepal allows expeditions from the south.

1953: Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay summit via South Col route. 

1955: Height of Everest is adjusted by 26 feet to 8,848 meters.

1960: Chinese team summits via the North Ridge (some dispute it).

1973: Shambu Tamang of Nepal, summits at 16 years old.

1975: Junko Tabei of Japan became the first woman to reach the summit. 

1978: Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler become the first climbers to Summit without bottled oxygen. 

1979: China opens up the north side again. 

1980: Reinhold Messner solos Everest via the North Col/North Face route.

2000: Appa Sherpa Summits for the 11th time. 

Summits & Deaths

The Early Days: 1922-1972

Summits: 28
Deaths:   28

The Modern Era: 1973-2000

Summits: 1286
Deaths:   137