The highest mountain in the world is not Everest and geologists give a curious explanation

The highest mountain in the world is not Everest and geologists give a curious explanation

September 18, 2023 – 12:25

Almost anyone would claim that there is no other mountain higher than Mount Everest, however this is not so. Find out why.

He Mount Everestwith its majestic 8,848 meters above sea level, it is widely known as The highest mountain in the world. However, in reality, there is another peak that surpasses Everest in height measured from its base to its summit. This mountain, relatively unknown compared to Everest, is called the Mauna Kea and it is in Hawaii.

He Mauna Kea It is located on the Big Island of Hawaii and rises from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Although its summit reaches an altitude of 4,205 meters (13,796 feet) above sea level, the key to understanding why the Mauna Kea It is considered the tallest mountain in the world lies in the way its height is measured. Instead of being measured from mean sea level, Mauna Kea is measured from its underwater base to its summit.

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Why isn’t Mauna Kea among the tallest mountains in the world?

The base of Mauna Kea is located about 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) below sea level. This means that, if we take into account its underwater base, Mauna Kea has a total height of approximately 10,205 meters (33,480 feet), far exceeding the height of Mount Everest when measured in the same way. Although if we were to measure it in the traditional way, the Mauna Kea It doesn’t even come close to being among the 100 highest mountains in the world.

The reason why Mauna Kea has this peculiar geological characteristic is due to its volcanic origin. For millions of years, Underwater lava eruptions built up layers and layers of material that eventually emerged above sea level, forming the island of Hawaii.. As the island grew, so did the mountain, until it reached its current height.

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Mauna Kea and its use for observations

Another peculiarity of Mauna Kea is its summit, which It is covered in snow for much of the year. Despite being located near the equator, its altitude makes it prone to cold weather conditions at its summit, making it an attractive place for astronomical observation. Several internationally renowned telescopes are located atop Mauna Kea due to its strategic location in the night sky.

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Source: Ambito

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