Mountains of overtourism
Unexpected Elements
BBC
4.4 • 565 Ratings
🗓️ 22 August 2025
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As Nepal makes 97 peaks free to climb, we look at the science of overtourism – especially on mountains. How do so many visitors affect these environments, and what can be done? Plus, are mountains carbon sources, or carbon sinks? And why do we feel the drive to summit these peaks anyway? A psychologist specialising in thrill-seeking explains.
Also on the show, we take your questions, read out your comments, and look at what it takes to physically measure the height of a peak like Everest.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Caroline Steel, with Chhavi Sachdev and Leonie Joubert Producers: Margaret Sessa Hawkins, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Imaan Moin and Lucy Davies
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | In 2019, we began investigating the disappearance of Dr. Ruzha Ignatva. |
| 0:08.0 | I believe we are a very special network. |
| 0:10.0 | A scammer who stole billions from investors around the world. |
| 0:15.0 | She's on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list. |
| 0:18.0 | And now, we have some unmissable updates. She has money and when you have |
| 0:23.0 | money, you have power. Join me, Jamie Bartlett, as the hunt for the missing crypto queen continues. |
| 0:29.5 | Listen first on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:34.4 | So this week has been a bit tough, but it's been made infinitely better by the support of my partner and my closest friends. |
| 0:42.1 | One friend in particular, Ellie, has sent me a good morning video every day. |
| 0:46.9 | And with friends by my side, I feel like I can get through anything. |
| 0:50.9 | And one of my favourite studies agrees. |
| 0:53.9 | Researchers took people to the bottom of a hill |
| 0:56.0 | and asked them to guess how steep it was. Those who stood there with a friend thought it looked |
| 1:01.1 | less daunting than those who stood there alone. Social support literally changes how we view |
| 1:07.1 | the challenges in front of us. How cute. I'm Caroline Steele from the BBC World Service. |
| 1:12.9 | This is Unexpected Elements. |
| 1:27.0 | And as always, I'm joined by two friends. |
| 1:30.0 | In Mumbai, India, we have Chavi Satchew. |
| 1:32.2 | Welcome Chavi. |
| 1:33.3 | Hello, Khmeri, and that's a greeting from the Lepcha language of Sikkim. |
| 1:37.4 | Beautiful. |
| 1:38.3 | And in the Kuzulu Natal Midlands, South Africa, we have science writer Lione Jube. |
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