If you were asked, “What is the tallest mountain in the world?” or “What is the highest point on Earth?”, more often than not, Mount Everest would be the expected answer. We’ve known since childhood that Mount Everest, located in Nepal, is the tallest mountain in the world.
Understanding Mountain Height Measurements
According to geologists, the correct answer for both of these questions is Mount Everest. Its peak is 8,849 meters (29,032 feet) above sea level, seemingly making it the highest point on Earth. However, when considering a few other factors, Mount Everest’s status becomes a bit shaky. The question is: how are you measuring the height of the mountain? From where does the mountain start? From sea level? Or from the very center of the Earth?
Mouna Kea: Taller Than Everest From Base To Summit
In the Pacific Ocean, there is a volcanic island chain known as the Hawaiian Islands, the 50th state of the United States of America. On one of these islands, there’s a volcano called Mauna Kea. Don’t be alarmed by the word “volcano”—Mauna Kea is actually a dormant volcano that last erupted 4,500 years ago. From sea level, Mauna Kea stands at 4,207 meters (13,803 feet). In other words, it’s not even half the height of Everest. So why are we discussing Mauna Kea? The reason is like an iceberg, most of Mauna Kea is below the water. If you measure it from the ocean floor, Mauna Kea’s height becomes 10,210 meters (33,500 feet), far surpassing Mount Everest. So, Mauna Kea, located in Hawaii, is taller than Mount Everest when measured from its base on the ocean floor.
Therefore, if someone answers the first question by saying Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain when measured from base to summit, they wouldn’t be wrong.
Chimborazo: Closest Point To The Sun
Now let’s expand our thinking a bit more. When measuring from the center of the Earth, the highest point on Earth is not Everest. In fact, the summit of Mount Chimborazo is the closest point to the Sun making it the highest point on Earth.
Mount Chimborazo is a dormant volcano located in Ecuador, part of the Andes mountain range, which spans seven countries in South America. Chimborazo last erupted in 550 AD, and its height from sea level is 6,310 meters (20,702 feet). You might wonder: how can Chimborazo, shorter than Everest, have its summit closer to the Sun? The reason lies in the Earth’s shape. The equator, an imaginary line that encircles the Earth, is farther from the Earth’s center due to the planet’s slight bulge at the equator. To put it simply, the distance from the Earth’s center to Everest’s summit is 6,382.3 km, while the distance to Chimborazo’s summit is 6,384.4 km undoubtedly the highest point on Earth. So, Chimborazo, in Ecuador, may not be taller than Mount Everest by sea level standards, but it holds the record for being the closest point to the Sun.
The Final Verdict: Which Mountain Holds the True Title?
So, considering the entire mountain, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the tallest mountain on Earth. If you measure the height from the Earth’s center, Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador has the highest point on Earth. However, in terms of elevation from sea level, Mount Everest in Nepal holds the title of the highest mountain. That said, if you’re a mountaineer looking to conquer the highest point, Mount Everest is still the peak you’ll want to climb.
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