As an expert in high-altitude mountaineering, I can provide insight into the primary causes of death on Mount Everest. The Death Zone, as you've mentioned, is a critical factor. At altitudes above 8,000 meters, the human body is not designed to function normally. The main causes of death in this area include: 1. Hypothermia: The extreme cold can lead to a dangerous drop in body temperature. 2. Altitude sickness: Also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), this can progress to life-threatening conditions like high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) or high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). 3. Fatigue and exhaustion: The physical toll of climbing at such high elevations can be overwhelming. 4. Falling: The combination of technical climbing challenges and the effects of altitude can lead to falls. 5. Crevasse falls: These large cracks in glaciers can be deadly if climbers fall into them. It's important to note that most fatalities occur during the descent, as climbers may be more exhausted and the weather can change rapidly, leading to whiteout conditions that impair navigation. read more >>

Most of the climbers died while climbing back down the mountain, usually in the "Death Zone," which is 8,000 meters up (the mountain itself is 8,850 meters tall) and lethally combines blistering cold, low oxygen, and high elevation. The infographic calls Everest "the highest graveyard on planet earth."read more >>