In Graphics l Why is Mount Everest so difficult to scale?

On this day in 1953, two climbers adventurer Edmund Hillary and his fearless Nepalese sherpa companion, Tenzing Norgay achieved what seemed impossible before. The duo conquered the summit of Mount Everest, becoming the first people to reach the peak. Since then, taking inspiration from the duo more than 6,500 people have reached the summit.

But more than seven decades later, scaling the world’s highest mountain is no easy feat. Several lives are lost – this year, there have been eight deaths; overcrowding is also a concern.

As the world observes International Everest Day on 29 May, we take a look at what makes an expedition to the world’s highest mountain so difficult.