The Mythen are the iconic landmarks of Schwyz and are located east of the capital of the canton with the same name. The highest summit is the Grosser Mythen in the south. In the north the lower Kleiner Mythen rises and even further north is its sub-peak Haggenspitz. While hiking trails lead up to the Grosser Mythen the two lower summits can only be reached via climbing passages.
Situated in the Western Himalaya, Nanga Parbat is the ninth highest mountain on Earth and the westernmost 8000er. The second most prominent peak in the Himalaya is one of the most impressive mountain massifs on the planet. Its southern Rupal Face is regarded as the highest mountain face of the world, with more than 4500 metres in height. Only 25 kilometres away from the summit lies the Indus valley, about 7000 metres lower. This is one of the most dramatic altitude differences on Earth, on such a short distance. Besides K2 and Annapurna, Nanga Parbat is regarded as one of the most difficult mountains to climb on the planet. The first ascent was accomplished by Hermann Buhl from Tyrol, Austria in 1953. The first successful summit attempt in the winter followed over 60 years later, in 2016.
Gora Narodnaya was named as the “People’s Mountain”. It is the highest peak in the Ural Mountains, on the border of Europe and Asia. It is also the highest summit in European Russia outside the Caucasus. Even though the mountain has an elevation of less than 2000 metres it is still an ultra-prominent summit, with more than 1500 metres in topographic prominence. Narodnaya was only discovered and confirmed to be the Ural’s highest peak in 1927. During that expedition the same explorers also became the first known people to reach the top of the mountain.
The Nebelhorn is a summit in the Daumen Group of the Allgäu Alps, rising east of Oberstdorf. The aerial lift Nebelhornbahn brings passengers almost directly onto the summit, making it the highest aerial lift of the Allgäu. Even the Nebelhorn Trophy, a yearly international figure skating competition at Oberstdorf is named after the mountain.
Lying in the mudflats off the Elbe estuary, the island of Neuwerk forms – together with the uninhabited neighbouring islands of Scharhörn and Nigehörn – the northernmost and westernmost district of Hamburg.
The impressive Niesen towers south of Lake Thun. Due to its pyramid-shape in the winter months, when the sun is low, the summit casts a large triangle shadow on the community of Spiez at the foot of the mountain. Since 1910 the mountain top can be reached with the Niesenbahn, a funicular railway.
Norderney was the first German seaside resort on the North Sea, as the historic spa buildings still testify today. In the west there are plenty of pubs and bars, in the east – solitary nature.
The Nordkette, also known as Northern Chain or Inn Valley Chain, is the southernmost mountain chain in the Karwendel. Its highest summit is Kleiner Solstein, which is nearly 100 meters higher than neighbouring Großer Solstein. The via ferrata Innsbrucker Klettersteig leads over seven summits of the chain, from Seegrubenspitze via Langer Sattel to the summit named Frau Hitt.
About 20 people live on the Hallig of Nordstrandischmoor, spread across four dwelling mounds. The island school is one of the smallest schools in Germany. A narrow-gauge trolley line connects the Hallig with the mainland.
The Oberalpstock is one of the highest mountains in the Glarus Alps and rises between the northern Maderranertal in the canton of Uri and Surselva, the Vorderrhein valley in Graubünden in the South. Among the major characteristics of the mountain are its four ridges which meet close to the summit. The first ascent of the Oberalpstock was accomlished from the south eastern side, which is still the normal route today. Apart from hikers and climbers the mountain is also a popular destination for ski mountaineering.
South-east of Klagenfurt, close to the Slovenian border, the Obir massif rises in the Karawanks. Its highest elevation is the Hochobir. Because of the ore deposits around the Obir, mining was probably carried out here from the 12th century until the end of the 19th. In the process the Obir dripstone caves were discovered – today a protected monument – which were partly damaged by the mining work. Until 1947 the summit of the Obir was also home to one of the first weather stations in the Alps.
Ojos de Salado is made up of two summits, one in Chile, one in Argentina. The difference in elevation between the two is less than a meter. The international border runs along in between the two summits. Earth's highest active volcano is also the second highest mountain in South America and the high point of Chile. Thus Ojos de Salado is part of the Seven Second Summits and the Volcanic Seven Summits. In spite of its height, reaching the top of Ojos de Salado is quite easy, with no climbing involved. Yet, the first recorded ascent was only made in 1937 by a Polish expedition.
At 3476 metres, the Olperer is the third-highest summit of the Zillertal Alps in Tyrol and the highest point of the Tux ridge. Seen from the east, the peak appears as an almost perfect rock pyramid. The ascent by the normal route from the south-east can be managed with easy climbing sections. More demanding is the way from the Geraer Hütte over the Olpererferner, the Wildlahnerscharte and finally the mountain’s north ridge.
Olympus Mons on Mars is the highest known mountain on the planets of our solar system. The shield volcano has a height of about 22 kilometers above the average ground level of Mars. It's base diameter is almost 600 kilometers wide. From a geological point of view Olympus Mons is still relatively young, and probably evolved about two million years ago.
Organ Needle is the highest peak of the Organ Mountains in southwestern New Mexico. These mountains consist mainly of granite stone, which in the north formed steep pointed summits, called “The Needles”. Reaching the top of Organ Needle is quite challenging and usually involves free pathfinding and scrambling.
Orkney Islands are a Scottish anarchipelago, which consists of the main island (Mainland) and approximately 70 smaller islands. The highest point of the group is Ward Hill, which rises to an elevation of 479 meters.
South Tyrol's highest summit is one of great historic importance. The first ascent took place in 1805 by command of the Archduke John of Austria, being one of the milestones of Alpinism. During World War I Austria-Hungary installed cannonry on the summit, the remains of which can still be seen by mountaineers today. The origin of the name is a matter of dispute. A legend tells that the mountain once was a giant turned into stone in rage over having been defeated by a dwarf.
Visible from far away, the Ötscher rises to a height of 1893 meters in the Ybbstal Alps, in the east of the Northern Limestone Alps. The Ötscher appears especially impressive when viewed from the north or south, when you can see the mountain massif in its full extension. The name of the mountain goes back to Slavic inhabitants, living in the area in the 9th century, who called the mountain “Othza” (father mountain). All year round Ötscher is a popular destination for hikers and climbers. The ski area Lackenhof is situated north west of the summit.
The Parseierspitze is the only three-thousand-metre peak in the Northern Limestone Alps and the highest mountain of the Lechtal Alps. It rises above the Inn valley as a jagged tower of rock. The name of the mountain and of the Parseier valley probably goes back to the Romance word ‘presür’, which described the gate of an alpine pasture.
Even though Patscherkofel is neither a particularly high peak in its area, nor considered very beautiful, its location south of Innsbruck make it the home mountain of the city. The transmission tower “Sender Patscherkofel” on the top rises another 67 meters above the summit. Patscherkofel became known to an international audience during the Olympic Winter Games of 1964 and 1976 when the Alpine ski competitions took place on the slopes of the mountain.
The Peitlerkofel, or ”Sass de Pütia” in Ladin, is situated in the northern Dolomites. The two Summits, “Grosser Peitler” and the 60 meter lower subpeak “Kleiner Peitler”, rise up steeply between Val Badia and Villnöß valley. The Kleiner Peitler can be reached on a hike. In the south climbers find easy routes to the summit of the Grosser Peitler, which offers one of the greatest views in the Dolomites.
Pellworm lies amid mudflats. The island is protected all around by a dyke, without which it would flood regularly. There is no sandy beach here, but plenty of peace and quiet.
The Ponta do Pico, often simply abbreviated to Pico, is a majestic stratovolcano on the Azores island of the same name. With its 2351 meters it is the highest mountain in Portugal and the mid-Atlantic ridge. The name means "summit" and its impressive panorama not only dominates its own island, which is also called "Ilha Preta", the "black island" after its dark volcanic rock, but can also be seen on the neighboring islands of Faial and São Jorge. Hikers should expect moderate temperatures, but also high humidity and constant wind.
Pico de Orizaba is also known as Citlaltépetl (star mountain) or Iztactépetl (white mountain). It is not only Mexico's highest and North America's third highest peak, but also the highest volcano on the continent. On clear days the snow-covered mountain top is visible in distances of more than 100 kilometers. Several glaciers can be found on the slopes of Pico de Orizaba, among them Mexico's largest glacier, Gran Glaciar Norte.
Pierra Menta is situated east of Albertville in the Beaufort region. The rougly 2700 meter high rock peak fascinates hikers and climbers alike, due to its characteristic shape. Pierra Menta is most of all known for the legendary skimountaineering race, which is named after the mountain and taking place in the area each year. It is one of the three most important races in the Alps in this sport.
The Pilatus is a massif of the Emmental Alps west of Lake Lucerne. It consists of a series of summits, the highest of them the Tomlishorn. Besides a cable car, the Pilatus railway also runs to the top; with a maximum gradient of 48 %, it is considered the steepest rack railway in the world.
The Piz Ault lies south of the Oberalpstock. Both mountains rise above the Vorderrhein valley and the town of Disentis. The ski lifts of the ski resort Disentis 3000 go up as high as 2800 meters, just below the summit of the Piz Ault. A popular stop in the summer and the winter is the hut of the Swiss Alpine Club Camona da Cavardiras west of the mountain, on the other side of the Brunni Glacier.
The name Badile means ‘shovel’ in Italian, because the mountain’s notorious north-east face really does resemble a shovel blade. Together with its neighbouring peaks, the Piz Badile is one of the most famous climbing mountains in the Alps. Its north face is considered extremely demanding.
Piz Bernina is the only four-thousander in the Eastern Alps and the most isolated mountain in Switzerland. The first ascent was made by Johann Coaz in 1850. His journal entries show his love for the Alps: “Serious thoughts took hold of us. Greedy eyes surveyed the land up to the distant horizon, and thousands and thousands of mountain peaks surrounded us, rising as rocks from the glittering sea of ice. We stared amazed and awe-struck across this magnificent mountain world.”
Between the Splügen Pass and Chur, the Piz Beverin rises in the eastern Adula Alps. The relatively free-standing summit offers an excellent view. Besides walking paths, climbing routes of varying difficulty lead up the Piz Beverin, and the mountain is a popular ski-touring destination. The Beverin nature park surrounds it: alongside the ibex, the heraldic animal of Grisons, a wolf pack lives here too.
Piz Buin is one of the most distinctive mountains of the Montafon, an Ill-valley in Vorarlberg. Being part of the Silvretta range the Austrian-Swiss border runs along the mountain summit. The Ill's headwaters are two glaciers on the Austrian side of the mountain. The ascent to the mountain becomes more difficult with the shrinking glaciers. During winter time however one can ski on beautiful trails all the way from the summit into the valley.
The highest mountain of the Grisons and the Albula Alps lies at the heart of Grisons. That central position makes the Piz Kesch a popular tour destination. As the highest point between the Silvretta and the Adula Alps, it offers one of the finest views in the region from its summit: in clear conditions it reaches as far as the Ötztal Alps, the Ortler and the Adamello, the Bernina group and the Valais Alps.
Piz Linard is the highest summit of the Silvretta group and is often named as one of the most beautifully shaped mountains in the Alps. It forms a symmetrical summit pyramid and looks striking from every direction. Piz Linard towers up to 2000 metres above its surroundings and is therefore visible from afar. Seen from Zernez in the Lower Engadin, it forms an impressive head of the valley and is often described as the landmark of the Lower Engadin.
Piz Medel is a peak in the Adula Alps, a part of the Lepontine Alps on the border between the Swiss cantons of Graubünden and Ticino. West of the summit is the Greina, an important Alpine pass between the two cantons, which was already used in ancient times. A number of huts are situated around the summit as starting points for tours around the mountain, among them the Medel Hut. As many other mountains in the area the Piz Medel is a worthwile destination for ski mountaineering.
The Piz Muraun rises on the southern side of the Grisons municipality of Disentis/Mustér. Opposite the summit, to the north, lie the Piz Ault and the Oberalpstock; to the south rises the Piz Medel, a good 300 metres higher. Although the climb to the summit of the Piz Muraun can be managed without any real climbing sections, it is still a demanding walking route. For the less athletic, a ride on the famous Glacier Express to Disentis is recommended, offering a spectacular view of the mountain.
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