Elevation and altitude have shaped much of my experience in South America over the past several weeks. Because of this, I thought I would share some of the heights at which I have been and will be later on this year. I have also included a few other locations to help give perspective.
Sea Level: 0 meters (0 feet), 20.9% Oxygen
Charlottesville, Virginia: 170 meters (557 feet), 20.5% Oxygen
Ashburn, Virginia: 240 meters (787 feet), 20.3% Oxygen
Mile-high Stadium, Denver, Colorado: 1,609 meters (5,280 feet), 17.4% Oxygen
Machu Picchu, Peru: 2,430 meters (7,970 feet), 15.4% Oxygen
La Paz, Bolivia: 3,631 meters (11,913 feet), 13.2% Oxygen
Tungurahua Volcano, Ecuador: 5,023 meters (16,480 feet), 11% Oxygen
Everest Base Camp, Nepal: 5,360 meters (17,590 feet), 10.7% Oxygen
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: 5,895 meters (19,340 feet), 10% Oxygen
Mount Everest Summit, Nepal: 8,850 meters (29,035 feet), 6.8% Oxygen
*Technical Note: The oxygen percentages stated are not the actual concentration levels, which always remain at 20.9%. They represent the theoretical, effective concentration levels due to a decrease in the number of oxygen molecules available per breath.
At higher elevations, temperatures drop dramatically and, more importantly, the body is forced to adjust to a lack of oxygen. During my recent climb of Tungurahua Volcano, for example, the temperature averaged 15 degrees Fahrenheit and I had to stop to gasp heavily for air about every 15 steps. Of course this is nothing compared to climbing Everest, where temperatures reach as low as -76 degrees Fahrenheit at the summit and almost no one climbs without an oxygen tank. (Don’t worry Mother I’m only climbing to base camp.)
If you have some extra time, I recommend Googling elevation, altitude and some of the surrounding issues related to travel and climbing.
New pictures. My time in South America has come to an end. Africa begins soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment