Which mountain is the highest in Antarctica?

Mount Vinson is the highest mountain in Antarctica. Its summit reaches 4,892 meters (16,050 feet) above sea level, making it the continent’s highest point.

The mountain is part of Vinson Massif in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, about 1,200 kilometers from the South Pole. The massif was first spotted by U.S. Navy aircraft in 1958 and named for U.S. Congressman Carl Vinson, a supporter of Antarctic exploration.

Mount Vinson was first climbed in December 1966 by an American Antarctic expedition led by Nicholas Clinch. It is one of the Seven Summits, the highest peak on each continent, although its climbing challenges come mainly from extreme cold, isolation, glaciers, and unpredictable weather rather than exceptionally technical rock climbing.

A common mix-up is Mount Sidley, which is Antarctica’s highest volcano, not its highest mountain overall. The name also causes confusion: Mount Vinson is the summit, while Vinson Massif is the larger mountain complex surrounding it.