Pakistan

K2

K2

Welcome to the Karakoram range! K2 rises just a little shorter than Mount Everest, but its steep, icy slopes make it an even greater challenge for climbers.

Why is it famous?

It is the second-highest mountain on Earth, just a few hundred feet shorter than Mount Everest.

Many climbers consider it even harder to climb than Everest, earning it the nickname 'Savage Mountain.'

How was it formed?

Like the rest of the Karakoram and Himalayan ranges, it was pushed skyward as two giant pieces of Earth's crust slowly crashed together.

Its sharp, pyramid-like peak formed as ice and wind carved away at its steep rock faces over millions of years.

Amazing facts

It stands 28,251 feet (8,611 meters) tall.

Unlike some other tall mountains, K2 has no easy route to the top — every path involves steep, technical climbing.

Quick facts

  • It stands 28,251 feet (8,611 meters) tall.
  • Unlike some other tall mountains, K2 has no easy route to the top — every path involves steep, technical climbing.
  • It sits right on the border between Pakistan and China, deep in a remote, icy wilderness.
  • K2 was first climbed in 1954 by two Italian climbers, Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli.