Picture of the Day: Everest from A Balloon

I have seen a lot of pictures of Mt. Everest, but this is one of the best ones I have seen yet:

This awe-inspiring photograph captures the majesty of Mount Everest as you’ve never seen it before – from more than a mile above.

The spectacular panorama shows the breathtaking landscape of the Himalayas from six miles above sea level.

It was shot by an intrepid British photographer wearing breathing apparatus in -56C temperatures 36,000 feet up.

The summit of Everest, the world’s highest peak at 29,035ft, takes centre stage above the 11,000ft vertical drop of the Kangshung Face, on the eastern side of the mountain.

British filmmaker and adventure cameraman Leo Dickinson took the photo from the stratosphere during his record-breaking balloon flight over Everest.

It is believed to be the highest panoramic picture taken by hand from a balloon, and has been described by the great mountaineer Reinhold Messner as the ‘best snap on earth’.  [Daily Mail]