Editing Summit (section)

{{Short description|Point on a surface with a higher elevation than all immediately adjacent points}}
{{About|a topographic term|meetings between heads of state|Summit (meeting)|other uses|Summit (disambiguation)}}

[[File:Summitting Island Peak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.05|A climber taking the final few steps to the {{convert|6160|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nepalmountaineering.org/index.php?razer=peak_detail&&name=Imja-tse(Island%20Peak) |title=Nepal Mountaineering Association |year=2008 |access-date=2 June 2011}}</ref> summit of [[Imja Tse]] (Island Peak) in [[Nepal]], 2004]]
[[File:Monte Rosa summit.jpg|thumb|View from the summit of [[Switzerland]]'s highest peak, [[Monte Rosa]]]]

A '''summit''' is a point on a surface that is higher in [[elevation]] than all points immediately adjacent to it. The [[topography|topographic]] terms '''acme''', '''apex''', '''peak''' ('''mountain peak'''), and '''[[zenith]]''' are [[synonymous]].

The term '''{{vanchor|top}}''' ('''mountain top''') is generally used only for a [[mountain]] peak that is located at some distance from the nearest point of higher elevation. For example, a big, massive rock next to the main summit of a mountain is not considered a summit. Summits near a higher peak, with some [[Topographic prominence|prominence]] or [[Topographic isolation|isolation]], but not reaching a certain cutoff value for the quantities, are often considered ''subsummits'' (or ''subpeaks'') of the higher peak, and are considered part of the same mountain. A [[pyramidal peak]] is an exaggerated form produced by ice [[erosion]] of a mountain top. {{anchor|Snow height}} For summits that are permanently covered in significant layers of ice, the height may be measured by the highest point of rock (rock height) or the highest point of permanent solid ice (snow height).

The highest summit in the world is [[Mount Everest]] with a height of {{Convert|8848.86|m|ft|abbr=on|sp=us}} above [[sea level]]. The first official ascent was made by [[Tenzing Norgay]] and [[Sir Edmund Hillary]]. They reached the mountain's peak in 1953.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/21/part-of-mount-everest-has-collapsed-mountaineers-confirm|title=Mount Everest's Hillary Step has collapsed, mountaineer confirms|last=Lyons|first=Kate|date=2017-05-21|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-12-10|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231050407/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/21/part-of-mount-everest-has-collapsed-mountaineers-confirm |archive-date= Dec 31, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/topic/everest|title=Everest|work=[[National Geographic]]|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref>

Whether a highest point is classified as a summit, a sub peak or a separate mountain is subjective. The [[International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation]]'s definition of a 4,000 m peak is that it has a prominence of {{convert|30|m|ft|lk=}} or more; it is a mountain summit if it has a prominence of at least {{convert|300|m|ft}}.<ref name = "UIAA">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theuiaa.org/4000-alps/ |title=Mountain Classification: 4000m Summits in Alps|language=en |access-date=2024-01-29 |author=UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation |date=22 February 2023 }}</ref> Otherwise, it is a subpeak.

[[File:SiskiyouSummit.jpg|thumb|[[Siskiyou Summit|Siskiyou Mountain Summit]] sign along [[Interstate 5]] in [[Oregon]], marking the highest point along the highway at {{convert|4310|ft|abbr=on}}]]
''Summit'' may also refer to the highest point along a line, trail, or route. In many parts of the [[Western United States]], the term ''summit'' is used for the highest point along a road, highway, or railroad, more commonly referred to as a ''[[Mountain pass|pass]]''. For example, the highest point along [[Interstate 80]] in [[California]] is referred to as [[Donner Summit]] and the highest point on [[Interstate 5]] is [[Siskiyou Summit|Siskiyou Mountain Summit]]. This can lead to confusion as to whether a labeled "summit" is a pass or a peak.