15 most beautiful mountains in the world

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

There is something mysterious, incredible and enticing about the beauty of mountain peaks. They hide the forces of nature and its inscrutable path, creating absolutely majestic pictures. The beauty of the mountains has always attracted artists, artists, climbers and tourists. It is to the heights that we go to retire with nature, get to know ourselves and understand something incredibly important about life.

And for those who want to marvel at the magic and forces of nature, we have compiled a rating of the 15 most beautiful mountains in the world. We used data from tourist and cultural portals. It is worth noting that the places in the rating are randomly arranged, so you should not assume that one mountain is much more beautiful than the other – each of the peaks has its own attractiveness.

Overview of the most beautiful mountains in the world

Nomination	a place	name	Rating
Rating of the most beautiful mountains in the world	1	Chocolate Hills (Philippines)	4.1
	2	Otemanu (Bora Bora)	4.2
	3	Cerro Torre (Patagonia)	4.3
	4	Bangle Bangle (Australia)	4.4
	5	Kinabalu (Malaysia)	4.5
	6	Fairy Chimneys (Turkey)	4.5
	7	Devil's Tower (USA)	4.5
	8	Rainbow Mountains (China)	4.6
	9	Mouaroa (French Polynesia)	4.7
	10	'Hallelujah Mountains' (China)	4.7
	11	'Table Mountain' (South Africa)	4.7
	12	Cime di Lavadero (Italy)	4.8
	13	Fuji (Japan)	4.8
	14	Kirkjufell (Iceland)	4.9
	15	Matterhorn (Switzerland)	5.0

Chocolate Hills (Philippines)

Rating: 4.1

The most beautiful Chocolate Hills, as the name implies, are not really mountains. The peak of the highest of them is only 120 meters, you can climb on foot and not even get out of breath. But this is not why they won their place in our rating.

The Chocolate Hills are covered in a special herb that only grows in the Philippines. In spring and early summer, it is dark green. But with the arrival of the dry season, it turns into a characteristic chocolate brown color – and each hill becomes like a huge truffle candy.

The chocolate hills, which have the correct 'truffle' shape, are located on a relatively small area – only 50 square kilometers. But there are a lot of them! In such a small area, there are more than 1,250 hills, and together during a dry period they make up a unique composition. It seems as if there are chocolates all over the site, surrounded by 'cream' (bright green jungle, in which the fog lurks almost constantly).

Otemanu (Bora Bora)

Rating: 4.2

Once upon a time a huge volcano reigned on Bora Bora. It was his eruptions that formed this island, which now attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. Now the volcano has gone out – and left behind two mountains, the highest of which is Otemanu, whose peak is at 727 meters.

Mount Otemanu has an amazing appearance. Punctured and cut, it rises like a wall above the beaches and jungle of the island. Moreover, it is green, there is vegetation even on steep slopes. Composed of volcanic rock, it is painted in dark colors and is almost always surrounded by translucent clouds and fog. This gives it not only beauty, but also grandeur.

Admiring the beautiful mountain Otemanu, however, can only be from the beach and its 'shoulders'. Climbing the summit is currently prohibited. The volcanic rock, although it seems unshakable, is still quite fragile, so climbers – even experienced ones – can easily fall off.

Cerro Torre (Patagonia)

Rating: 4.3

Cerro Torre is one of the highest peaks in South America. This mountain can be called amazing – despite the fact that it is surrounded by jungle with a tropical climate and corresponding heat, the ice never melts on its top. Cerro Torre Peak is located at 3128 meters!

Cerro Torre is impressive not only in appearance – a huge ice cap over the bright green Patagonian jungle – but also in its 'disposition'. Only the most experienced and professional climbers are able to conquer it. The entire top of the mountain is covered with never-melting ice, and when climbing you will have to fight not only with an unstable surface, but also with bad weather. Strong winds come here from the Pacific Ocean, freezing the ice and literally blowing away the climbers.

But the climb is worth it. The peak of the mountain is a sharp, almost sheer rock, cutting into the clouds with a knife. And together with other peaks, it completely resembles a jagged crown, showing the triumph of nature.

Bangle Bangle (Australia)

Rating: 4.4

Bungle Bungle is a mountain range of amazing beauty and nature. It is a chain of cone-shaped tops, consisting of rocks of black, orange and white colors. They are arranged in layers, which makes the mountains resemble either bee hives or honey cake.

The main rock is sandstone. Under the influence of erosion, which lasted for thousands and hundreds of thousands of years, it took on such unusual forms and was painted in amazing colors. But at the same time, the sandstone has retained its fragility, so climbing Bangle Bangle is prohibited.

The most interesting thing is the origin of the mountains. About 20 million years ago, a meteorite fell on Australia, which raised a layer of sandstone. Then, during wet periods, water streams rolled down it, which carved out these amazing, beautiful formations, similar to hives.

Now the Bangle-Bangle mountains are protected by the state and are part of the national park. Once upon a time, local tribes lived in them, which gave this ridge the name Purnululu. During wet seasons, animals found refuge in these mountains, and therefore people went here to hunt.

Kinabalu (Malaysia)

Rating: 4.5

Mount Kinabalu has a very unusual appearance. It is a large plateau, over which a sharp, almost sheer peak rises. Due to the vertical distance between the peak and the horizontal contour base, it is ranked among the world's most outstanding mountains.

Despite the relatively high altitude – Kinabalu peak is at an elevation of 4095 meters – the mountain is round green and practically does not freeze over. That is why, and also due to the large horizontal plateau, a huge number of amazing animals and plants live here.

Kinabalu is protected by UNESCO and is a World Heritage Site. Here you can find unusual orchids, a huge number of orangutans and other great apes, as well as more than 300 species of birds! At the same time, Kinabalu is open to tourists, but one simple rule applies here: 'You can not take anything except photos; you can not leave anything but footprints; leave only memories. ' Nature must be untouched.

Interestingly, Kinabalu is not only beautiful, but also one of the youngest mountains in the ranking. It continues to grow to this day! Its top becomes about 5 millimeters higher annually.

Fairy Chimneys (Turkey)

Rating: 4.5

A volcano erupted in Turkey several million years ago. And the flows of his lava, descending, left extremely unusual rock formations, very similar to, ahem, mushrooms. The Turks themselves also noted their similarity with, ahem, arrows, and therefore called this mountain range 'Fairy Chimneys'.

The region of Cappadocia, in which this mountain formation is located, was later occupied by monks. They also liked Fairy Chimneys. The monks hollowed out in the rock that make up these chiseled peaks, the caves where they lived and indulged in meditation. One of them even climbed to the top!

It should be noted that the rock structures 'Fairy Chimneys' can be found not only in Turkey. There are similar mountain ranges in France, Serbia, and even in the United States. But only in Turkish Cappadocia they are surprisingly chiseled, narrow, and also boast a rich history. That is why they are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and are protected internationally – and you cannot climb them.

Devil's Tower (USA)

Rating: 4.5

The Devil's Tower is a very unusual mountain. It is a volcanic monolith that rises above the Bell Fourche River Valley in Wyoming. Streams of rainwater flowing down from an almost flat plateau at an altitude of 1.5 km have formed extremely unusual, rugged slopes, making the mountain look like a huge stump. In addition, it is distinguished by a non-standard color – the breed of which it is composed is painted in a brick-red hue. Therefore, the Devil's Tower contrasts markedly with the bright blue sky and becomes truly impressive against the backdrop of sunsets or sunrises.

However, the tourist popularity of the Devil's Tower was brought not by its impressive appearance, but by modern history. It was on this site that the filming of the film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' took place, which, in turn, influenced the formation of a huge number of urban legends. And now tourists flock here to see the site where, according to Steven Spielberg, the first encounter with aliens took place.

Devil's Tower has been declared a US National Monument. Therefore, to climb it, you will need to obtain a lot of permits. But it is better not to do this – the almost steep slopes and fragile volcanic rock make it dangerous for climbers.

Rainbow Mountains (China)

Rating: 4.6

The Rainbow Mountains get their name from their extremely unusual structure. They consist mainly of sandstone, which is colored with various minerals. Therefore, the mountains themselves are 'striped'. They are painted in brick-red, yellow, white, gold, blue, emerald and other colors, overlapping each other in layers. The shades are very bright, contrasting, so this area looks as if from another planet.

The Rainbow Mountains are protected by the Chinese government and are part of the Denxia National Geological Park. However, they are open to the public, so every tourist can come to Gansu province and see with his own eyes this unusual, impressive and very vivid landscape.

However, the Rainbow Mountains themselves are not too high. Their peaks are at around 300-400 meters. Therefore, these beautiful mountains impress not with their height, but with the variety of shades and surrealism of the landscape itself.

Mouaroa (French Polynesia)

Rating: 4.7

Mount Mouaroa, located on one of the volcanic islands of French Polynesia, is one of the most impressive peaks in the world. It rises sharply above the rest of the peaks, and has almost steep slopes. And at the same time, the 761-meter mountain is open to the public, so experienced climbers may well try to conquer it.

Like other mountains of the Pacific Islands, it is of volcanic origin. But its slopes are not as fragile as those of other peaks of the same nature in our rating. In addition, this mountain is covered with vegetation – the Polynesian jungle reaches almost the very top.

Peak Mouaroa, thanks to its characteristic shape, is visible from almost all corners of French Polynesia. Although not the tallest in this country. But it is precisely because of the vertical distance between the 'shoulders' and the peak that it attracts the attention of climbers looking to defy gravity.

'Hallelujah Mountains' (China)

Rating: 4.7

Zhangjiajie Massif of China, also known as the 'Hallelujah Mountains', is a group of columns made of quartz and sandstone. Located in a wooded valley, it is almost always foggy. And the contrast of dark green vegetation and shining brown sandstone makes it look like an alien landscape.

Actually, the famous director James Cameron took advantage of this similarity. It was here that Avatar was filmed, and Hallelujah Mountains became the basis for the landscape of the fictional planet Pandora. This is why they may seem familiar.

After the release of the film, the tallest of 3,000 pillars in this mountain range was officially renamed – and now it is called Avatar Hallelujah Mountain. Zhangjiajie Park still attracts a huge number of tourists who want to see these almost alien landscapes with their own eyes.

'Table Mountain' (South Africa)

Rating: 4.7

'Table Mountain' is quite capable of surprising – even in a photograph, when viewed from the bottom up. While its base is quite traditional, the summit … is absent. It seems to be cut off. The mountain ends in a huge, absolutely flat plateau.

According to one theory, it was the 'Table Mountain' that gave the name to the city of Cape Town located at its foot. In English, its name is spelled Cape Town, or 'cap town'. The absolutely flat plateau at the top of the 'Table Mountain' looks like a headdress draped over the hills.

The top of the 'Table Mountain' is directly connected to Cape Town by a cable car. It is worth climbing the plateau in order to admire the panoramic view of this port city, which has played an important role in world (and even Russian) history, and has become a trading gateway between Africa and other countries.

Cime di Lavadero (Italy)

Rating: 4.8

Cime di Lavadero is not just a mountain, but a group of three peaks located in the southern part of the Alps. Due to the shape of the peaks, it seems that this mountain was simply hit twice with a huge ax. In addition, the brick-red dolomite, of which the three peaks are composed, add to the showiness.

Cime di Lavadero is popular with tourists. Travelers who have not succeeded in climbing the mountains come here simply to enjoy the amazing and impressive views of these 2,999-meter peaks. But for climbers, Cime di Lavadero is interesting because a variety of routes are laid along them – from simple to very difficult.

The surroundings of Cime di Lavadero are no less beautiful than the mountains themselves. The characteristic mountain valleys, in which cold gray stones with sharp edges break out of the grass cover now and then, amaze with their alpine spirit – harsh, but mysterious and inviting.

Fuji (Japan)

Rating: 4.8

Due to its almost perfect conical shape, Fuji Peak is one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. In addition, she is a recognized symbol of Japan. The image of Fuji can be found on almost all travel materials calling to visit the Land of the Rising Sun.

But Fuji is not just a mountain. It is a dormant volcano with a very 'sensitive sleep'. It last erupted in 1707 and it is possible that we will see Fuji awakening soon.

But while Fuji is dozing. And this mountain is conquered by a huge number of tourists and climbers – according to official information, its peak is visited by about 200 thousand people a year. At Fuji Peak there is a temple, post office and meteorological station.

Mount Fuji is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, therefore it is protected by international services. The vicinity of the peak is part of the Japanese National Park.

Fuji is a key element of Japanese culture. It was believed that people who conquered the top of this mountain will gain immortality. According to legend, the smoke emanating from the summit was generated by the elixir of eternal life, burning in the mouth of the volcano. In addition, the cultural image of the mountain is different from the real one. So, two months a year on the surface of Fuji – even at the top – there is no snow. Therefore, if you want to admire the mountain as it is depicted in paintings and engravings, you should not go to Japan in mid-to-late summer. Better in autumn, when the summit is covered with ice. Or in the spring to enjoy the cherry blossoms.

Kirkjufell (Iceland)

Rating: 4.9

Kirkjufell is the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Therefore, if you search for the geotag of this country on Instagram, most likely you will see dozens of pictures of this peak. And this is not surprising. Despite its relatively low height, only 463 meters, Kirkjufell is distinguished by its harsh, Nordic beauty.

This mountain, built of dark rock in layers, and located in a green valley, looks completely unreal. She literally embodies all the northern beauty for which tourists travel to Iceland.

And it's worth going here in the fall. This is when the Northern Lights can also be seen at the top of Kirkufell! However, in summer it also looks impressive – thanks to the proximity of the ocean and a large number of mountain rivers with rustling waterfalls at the foot. One of them is located at the very top. It is called Kirkjufellsfoss.

Matterhorn (Switzerland)

Rating: 5.0

The British edition of The Telegraph named the Matterhorn alpine peak the most beautiful mountain in the world. And this title is fully justified. The Matterhorn embodies all the views of the Pennine Alps.

You don't have to travel to Switzerland to see the Matterhorn. It is enough to go to the nearest supermarket and buy Toblerone chocolate there. It is this mountain that is depicted on the packaging, and at the same time inspired the creator to design the tile itself.

The Matterhorn is one of the most popular alpine mountains among climbers. Tens of thousands of people every year try to conquer its impregnable peak. The mountain is characterized by sharp, sharp slopes with dangerous ridges. The Matterhorn is the last mountain to be conquered in the Alps, as it literally inspires fear in climbers. The first successful ascent took place in 1865 – and it was with this that the 'golden age of mountaineering' ended.

Today the Matterhorn is a popular cultural symbol. Films are made here. This mountain is depicted in paintings and sung in music. The peak can even be seen on the cover of Depeche Mode's Construction Time Again album. The Matterhorn is depicted on commemorative coins. And in the Swiss city of Zermatt there is a museum dedicated to the history of the generation of the summit.

And there is another interesting fact. In 1993, Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier went into space on the STS-61 mission aboard the shuttle Endeavor. In flight, he took two stones from the top of the Matterhorn. On his return, one of them was returned to the mountain, and the second was sent to a museum in Zermatt.

---

Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.