Sagarmatha National Park occupies 124,400 hectares in Nepal’s Solu-Khumbu district, spanning an elevation range of roughly 6,000 metres. Mount Sagarmatha—known internationally as Everest—rises to 8,848 metres, while glaciers, deep valleys and several other peaks above 7,000 metres define the wider landscape. The park was established in 1976 and entered UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979. Its significance extends well beyond the summit: the protected area joins dramatic geology, high-altitude habitats and communities whose lives are closely connected to the mountains.
UNESCO describes the region as home to rare wildlife including the snow leopard and red panda, and emphasizes the relationship between the ecosystem and Sherpa culture. The park contains villages and long-established settlements, not an empty wilderness set aside for expeditions. Agriculture, trade, religious practice and tourism shape daily life. Visitors who understand that context see the Everest route differently: it crosses a lived cultural landscape as well as a protected natural area.