#9: Monstrous Mountain

That mountain you see in the background, towering over the city below? That’s Mount Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan, seen from the streets of the nearby town, Fujiyoshida, in Japan. Cresting at 11,076 feet, the mountain brings tourists from all over the world to trek to the top of the volcano. Over 400,000 people climb the slopes during the summer months.

It’s not an easy trek, and several people die each year on the hike. This is further proof that maybe megalophobes have the right idea. Perhaps we shouldn’t be messing with things that much larger than us! However, it’s been a tradition since 663 when a monk underwent the first known ascent. Women were not allowed until late into the 19th century.