The Seven Summits are the highest mountains on each continent, including Mount Everest in Asia and Aconcagua in South America. The climbing challenge is based on two lists, the Bass list which includes Mount Kosciuszko as Australia's peak, and the Messner list which features Puncak Jaya instead, claiming to be more difficult. As of January 2010, around 275 climbers have successfully summited all seven peaks from either list.

1. The Seven Summits

2. The Seven Summits are the highest mountains
of each of the seven continents.
Denali
Aconcagua
Vinson
Kilimanjaro
Everest
Elbrus
Puncak Jaya

3. Mount Everest in Asia stands at about 29,029 feet (8,848 meters),
Everest boasts the top spot for the tallest mountain in the world. It
is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and
Tibet, China and is part of the Himalayan Mountain Range.

4. With its rocky 22,841’ summit, Aconcagua located in Argentina is
the highest mountain not only in South America but both the
Western and Southern Hemispheres. It claims the title as the tallest
peak on earth outside of the Himalayas.

5. Mt. Elbrus is a stunning volcanic peak located in the Caucasus
Mountains of Russia and at 18,510' it is Europe's, as well as
Russia's, highest peak.

6. Surrounded by the massive glaciers and peaks of the Alaska Range
and overlooking Alaska's interior stands 20,320' Mt. McKinley, also
known as Denali, the highest mountain in North America.

7. Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro is the "Roof of Africa". Climbing from
Kilimanjaro’s rainforests to its glacier capped 19,340’ summit
is an unforgettable experience.

8. Located only 660 nautical miles from the South Pole,
Vinson Massif (16,067') is the highest peak in Antarctica

9. Puncak Jaya at 16,024 ft. is the highest mountain on the island
of New Guinea and the highest on the continent of Australia
(which comprises New Guinea, the country of Australia, Timor,
other islands, and submerged continental shelf).

11. Mountaineering challenge
The mountaineering challenge to climb the Seven Summits is
traditionally based on either the Bass or the Messner list named
after two famous mountaineers.

12. The Bass List vs. Messner List
There is a bit of a dispute on the list of the Seven Summits by
mountaineers.
The first Seven Summits list by Richard Bass chose the highest
mountain of mainland Australia, Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m or
7,310 ft), to represent the Australian continent's highest summit, the
ascent of Kosciuszko is an easy hike and is considered by most to be the
less challenging expedition.
Reinhold Messner postulated another list (replacing Mount Kosciuszko
with Indonesia's Puncak Jaya (4,884 m or 16,024 ft). From a
mountaineering point of view the Messner list is the more challenging
one.

13. The mountaineering challenge to climb the Seven
Summits As of January 2010, approximately 275
climbers climbed all seven of the peaks from either
the Bass or the Messner list; about 30% of those
have climbed all of the eight peaks required to
complete both lists.