What is the tallest mountain in the world?
VerifiedAnswer: Mount Everest
Explanation:
Mount Everest stands as the tallest mountain in the world at an impressive height of 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet) above sea level. This majestic peak is located in the Himalayas on the border between Nepal and Tibet (China). The mountain is known as "Sagarmatha" in Nepali and "Chomolungma" in Tibetan, both names carrying deep cultural significance for the local communities.
The mountain was named Mount Everest in 1865 after Sir George Everest, a British surveyor-general of India. What makes Mount Everest truly remarkable is not just its height, but also the incredible geological processes that formed it. The Himalayas, including Mount Everest, were formed millions of years ago when the Indian tectonic plate collided with the Eurasian plate, pushing up massive amounts of rock and creating these towering peaks.
The first successful summit of Mount Everest was achieved on May 29, 1953, by Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal. This historic achievement opened the door for thousands of climbers who have since attempted to reach the summit. However, climbing Mount Everest remains one of the most challenging endeavors on Earth due to extreme weather conditions, altitude sickness, and the infamous "death zone" above 8,000 meters where oxygen levels are critically low.
It's fascinating to know that Mount Everest continues to grow approximately 4 millimeters each year due to ongoing tectonic activity. The mountain's height has been measured and remeasured multiple times using advanced technology, with the most recent official height being jointly announced by Nepal and China in 2020. The extreme conditions at the summit include temperatures that can drop below -40°C (-40°F) and winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour during winter months.
