MOUNT VINSON IS THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN ANTARCTICA (4,892 M (16,050 FT) LOCATED IN THE SENTINEL RANGE OF THE ELLSWORTH MOUNTAINS. IT IS A PART OF A LARGE MOUNTAIN GROUP CALLED VINSON MASSIF THAT IS 21 KM LONG AND 13 KM WIDE. THE MASSIF IS JUST 1200 KM AWAY FROM THE SOUTH POLE.

A high peak was long suspected in this part of the continent before it was eventually discovered in 1958 by the US Navy plane from Byrd Station. It was first climbed in 1966 by the members of American Alpine Club, and stayed quite a popular climbing destination ever since, with more than 1400 people attempting to reach the peak since 1966.

The weather conditions at and around the mountain sometimes can be harsh, with high winds, hazards and frequent snowfall, due to the polar climate. However, under clear conditions, the climb is of moderate difficulty and requires little technical equipment, making it a popular climbing destination in the recent years.

THE FIVE HIGHEST PEAKS IN ANTARCTICA:

Mount Vinson - 4,892 m (16,050 ft), in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica.
Mount Tyree - 4,852 m (15,919 ft), 13 kilometres northwest of Vinson Massif, Antarctica.
Mount Gardner - 4,685 metres (15,370 ft), in the west-central part of the Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica.
Mount Shinn - 4,661 m (15,292 ft), in the Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica.
Mount Kirkpatrick - 4,528 m (14,856 ft), in the Queen Alexandra Range, Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica.