Even by Australian standards, this post’s hero is a relatively modest mountain.
130 kilometres west of Alice Springs, Mount Sonder (1,380 metres) is the Northern Territory’s 4th highest peak; with the sole exception of Western Australia, all other Australian States (& the ACT) have considerably higher mountains.
Everest (which I have seen, “in person”, albeit from some distance) comprehensively dwarfs it, but is no lovelier.
Mount Sonder is one of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen.
Its loveliness is in part due to its shapeliness.
The way it responds to the sun’s direct presence/absence/position/intensity is also a key factor; as is generally true of central Australian landscape elements, Sonder has a great many, oft-changing colours and “faces”.
Equally crucial is the landscape in which it sits, and the vegetation which “clothes” it.
Photo is copyright Doug Spencer, taken at 9.44 am, 17 June 2023.