The sport of mountain climbing was born in 1760, when a young Genevese scientist, Horace-Benedict de Saussure, offered prize money for the first person to reach the summit of Mount Blanc, Europe’s tallest peak.
But long before that time humans have been climbing mountains for the challenge it poses. Or “because it’s there” as English mountaineer George Mallory famously replied when he was asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest. A few months later he disappeared on the way to the summit.
Some of the mountains on this list still provide a great challenge for the professional mountaineer. Others can be visited more easily by foot or cableway. But all of them can be appreciated from a safe distance providing magnificent vistas and spectacular scenery.
Cherry blossoms and Mt Fuji in Japan

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Chocolate Hills, China

© George Steinmetz
Lena Pillars, Yakutia, Russia

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Railway in the Swiss Alps

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Majestic Altai Mountains, Russia

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Descent on Mount Rainier, USA

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Meditation Retreats. Shlegeysspayher, Austria

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Hanging on the edge of a cliff in the Alps, Switzerland

© Florin Biscu
Hot air balloon ride over Yangshuo, China

© Carl Wilson
Mountain lion, Sri Lanka

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Buffer zone “Jurassic Coast”, England

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Seoraksan National Park, South Korea

© An Chung Ho
Dolomites, Italy

© David Bhutan
Sunset in the mountains, Egypt

© Sergey Pesterev
Rise to the top

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One of the highest mountain Nanga Parbat, Pakistan

© John Martin
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

© Kyle Mijlof
Travel through the mountains, Argentina

© Yu Fumero
Windmills in the mountains of Spain

© Tony Park
Surreal mountains of Colorado, USA

© Stephen Collector
Mighty Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia

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Walking tour through New Zealand

© Nico Nuzakki
On the border of Switzerland

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The trail trolls, Norway

© freeezzzz
The highest point of Siberia – Belukha, Russia

© Sergey Ilkov