Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Mount Everest is widely recognized as the tallest mountain in the world, standing at an elevation of 8,849 meters above sea level. This designation is based on its height relative to sea level.
When considering the measurement from base to peak, the tallest mountain is Mauna Kea in Hawaii, which rises only 4,205 meters above sea level. However, over 6,000 meters of Mauna Kea’s base is submerged beneath the Pacific Ocean.
If measured from its base on the ocean floor to its summit, Mauna Kea would exceed 10,000 meters, making it at least 1,150 meters taller than Mount Everest.
Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano that formed over a hotspot in the Earth’s crust. The movement of the Pacific Plate over this hotspot led to the formation of its base and the surrounding volcanic landscape.
Mauna Kea is the youngest volcano on Earth, with an estimated formation around one million years ago. Although it remains active, its last eruption occurred over 45,000 years ago.
The mountain is home to the world’s largest astronomical observatory, benefiting from high altitude and clear skies, making it an ideal location for astronomical research.
Interestingly, if measured from the centre of the Earth, Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador is the highest point, standing at 6,310 meters. Due to Earth’s oblate shape, it is closer to the sun than Mount Everest, which is located further north at 28 degrees latitude.