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{{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. Summit may also refer to the highest point along a line, trail, or route.
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}}]]
In many parts of the [[Western United States]], the term ''summit'' can also be 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.
==Gallery==
{|
|[[File:Damavand-Iran-2018.jpg|thumb|right|The summit of [[Mount Damavand]], Iran]]
|[[File:View_of_Doso_Doyabi_from_Wheeler_Peak.jpg|thumb|right|[[Doso Doyabi]], one of the highest peaks entirely within [[Nevada]], United States]]
|[[File:Mt Elbrus Caucasus.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Elbrus]] and its two peaks ([[Caucasus]], Russia)]]
|}
==See also==
* {{annotated link|Geoid}}
* {{annotated link|Hill}}
* {{annotated link|Nadir (topography)}}
* {{annotated link|Summit accordance}}
* [https://datalab24.com/earth_astronomy/mountain_peak_map World Mountain Peak Map] - Map of mountain peaks higher than 1000m.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Summits}}
* [http://www.peakfinder.org Peak finder]
* [https://bestoutdooritems.com/summit-climbing-gear/ Summit Climbing Gear List]
*[http://www.peakbagger.com  peakbagger.com] Information and statistics about the mountain peaks and mountain ranges of the world
*[https://www.peakbucket.com  peakbucket.com] The activity tracking website for peakbaggers worldwide
*[http://www.peakery.com  peakery.com] Worldwide peakbagging community with over 300,000 peak summit logs and peak lists
*[http://www.peakbook.org  peakbook.org] International peakbagging community with worldwide peak lists
*[http://www.peakhunter.org peakhunter.org] Global summit log project with crowd sourced peak data
*[http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk hill-bagging.co.uk] Database and logging of British and Irish hills
{{Earth science}}
{{Portal bar|Mountains}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Summits| ]]
[[Category:Geodesy]]
[[Category:Cartography]]
[[Category:Physical geography]]
[[Category:Slope landforms]]
[[Category:Surveying]]
[[Category:Topography]]
[[Category:Oronyms]]