What do the colors on the contour map of Gyachung Kang (7952m) mean?

The contour map uses a hypsometric color scale where green represents lower elevations, yellow and orange indicate mid-range altitudes, and white marks the highest zones near the summit. Thicker contour lines (index contours) are drawn at wider intervals to help you quickly estimate elevation.

What is the contour interval for Gyachung Kang (7952m)?

The contour map of Gyachung Kang (7952m) uses a 100m contour interval. This means each line represents a 100m change in elevation. Closely spaced contours indicate steeper terrain, while widely spaced contours show gentler slopes.

What does the elevation profile of Gyachung Kang (7952m) show?

The elevation profile is a cross-section through Gyachung Kang (7952m) from west to east, passing through the summit at 7,952m. It reveals the mountain's shape, steepness, and relative height compared to the surrounding terrain. The horizontal axis shows distance in kilometers from the peak.

What is the snow line on Gyachung Kang (7952m)?

At Gyachung Kang (7952m)'s latitude (28°), the estimated permanent snow line is approximately 4,500m. Since Gyachung Kang (7952m) reaches 7,952m, about 3,452m of the mountain extends above the snow line. This is shown as a dashed blue line on the elevation profile.

Why does Gyachung Kang (7952m) have elongated ridges?

Gyachung Kang (7952m) was formed by tectonic folding, which compressed rock layers into long, parallel ridges. The contour map shows elongated lines that follow the axis of the fold, rather than circular patterns.

Gyachung Kang (7952m)

Gyachung Kang stands at 7952 meters in Nepal, part of the Himalayas, Asia. This peak is classified as a Fold Mountain.

Gyachung Kang stands at 7,952 metres in the Mahalangur Himalaya of Nepal, between Cho Oyu and Everest, and is frequently cited as one of the highest peaks in the world that does not surpass 8,000 metres. For all that stature it attracts little attention, overshadowed by the eight-thousanders on either side. It is a Himalayan fold mountain, first reached by climbers in 1964. The site classifies it grade 5, its most severe tier, reflecting sustained difficulty and the supplemental oxygen most parties carry at such altitude. A remote glaciated approach and modest fame leave it among the least-visited high summits of the Khumbu region.

Elevation

7952 m

Prominence

— m

Coordinates

28.097778, 86.716944

Type

fold_mountain

On this page

Elevation Comparison

About This Mountain

Gyachung Kang (7952m) is a fold mountain in the Himalayas, Nepal. Grade 5/5: extreme expedition where supplemental oxygen is typically required. Formed by tectonic compression, it displays layered rock strata typical of fold ranges.

Routes

Southwest Face (Gyachung Kang) 5

35.00 km · 456.0h

Seasonal Conditions

Topographic Analysis

Contour Map

The topographic contour map of Gyachung Kang (7952m) in the Himalayas shows elongated parallel contours following the ridge axis. Contour lines are drawn at 100m intervals, with index contours (thicker lines) every 500m. The hypsometric color scale ranges from green (lower elevations) through yellow and orange to white (highest elevations near the 7,952m summit). Above 4,500m, the estimated snow line at this latitude, contours transition to cooler tones indicating permanent snow and ice.

Elevation Profile

The east–west elevation profile of Gyachung Kang (7952m) in the Himalayas shows the terrain cross-section through the summit at 7,952m. The color gradient transitions from green (valley floor) to white (summit zone), with the red summit marker indicating the peak. The dashed blue snow line at 4,500m marks the approximate elevation above which permanent snow persists year-round.