Greater Ranges

The Greater Ranges comprise the high mountain ranges of Asia:

• the Himalayas,
• the Karakoram,
• the Hindu Kush,
• the Pamir Mountains,
• the Hengduan Mountains,
• the Tien Shan,
• the Kunlun Shan,
• the Transhimalaya.

The UIAA gives a broader definition of the Greater Ranges than the traditional one. With the increasing popularity of global travel and adventure sports, this definition is now somewhat more popular than the original. In addition to the ranges listed above, the ranges also comprise:

• the Seven Summits (Messner list)
• the Andes of South America
• the Alaska Range and the Saint Elias Mountains of North America
• the Rwenzori Mountains and Mount Kenya of Africa

All of these ranges have peaks over 4,800 metres (15,750 ft), and most have peaks over 6,000 metres (19,690 ft). The Greater Ranges contain all of the world's peaks higher than 7,000 metres (22,970 ft).[1]

The term was popular amongst alpinists in the Victorian period and was used to distinguished the high peaks of Asia from the European Alps.