The tallest mountains in the world are fairly well known but the smallest ones are less so.
Whilst many are able to name Everest as the tallest mountain in the world and others can point to iconic peaks such as Mont Blanc in the Alps or Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, few are aware of those on the other end of the scale.
Some mountains are in fact so small, that they are dwarfed by skyscapers, with many of London’s most iconic buildings taller than the world’s smallest mountain.
The smallest mountain in the world is in Australia, a country not known for its vast mountain ranges.
Mount Wycheproof, located in Terrick Terrick Range, sits at just 43 metres above the surrounding area and a mere 148 metres above sea level.
So tiny is the mountain, that London landmarks such as the Shard, the Leadenhall Building and One Canade Square would all tower above it.
Mount Wycheproof is named after the town it sits within, a small hamlet consisting of just 800 people.
The name “Wycheproof” was derived from the aboriginal language “Wichi-poorp,” meaning “grass on a hill.”
The mountain is a popular tourist attraction, with its diminutive size making it relatively easy to summit, aided by an abundance of walking trails and popular barbeque spots.
The peak is characterised by a rocky, conical peak, common in the western areas of Victoria. Phosphate materials are relatively rare in Victoria, yet the Wycheproof area is known to have its own unique mineral, known as wycheproofite.
There is however disagreement over what constitutes a mountain and whether Wycheproof meets the criteria to continue to be classed as one.
A mountain is commonly understood to be a landform with significant prominence over the land around them, generally with steep sides or sharp uplifts of terrain.
However, National Geographic’s most recent definition classes a mountain as “usually has steep, sloping sides and sharp or rounded ridges, and a high point, called a peak or summit.
“Most geologists classify a mountain as a landform that rises at least 1,000 feet (300 meters) or more above its surrounding area.”
