Sydney, May 30 (IANS/EFE) New Zealand Wednesday celebrated the 60th anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
Hillary and Norgay reached the summit of Everest, which is 8,848 meters (just over 29,000 feet) tall, on May 29, 1953, as part of the ninth British expedition to try to reach the top of the world.
The mountaineers stayed on the summit for about 15 minutes before beginning the long trek down the mountain.
Hillary and Norgay blazed a trail that has been followed by nearly 6,200 climbers.
About 230 mountaineers have died while trying to conquer Everest, which is located in the Himalayas between China and Nepal.
Hillary (1919-2008) was 33 when he conquered Everest.
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The news that Hillary and Norgay (1914-86) had conquered Everest arrived in London June 2, 1953, the day of Elizabeth II's coronation.
--IANS/EFE
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