Mount Everest is famously known as the highest mountain on Earth. However, the answer to which mountain is truly the tallest depends entirely on how “tallness” is defined and measured. While the conventional method places Everest firmly on top, two other mountains, Mauna Kea and Chimborazo, claim the title using different, yet scientifically sound, criteria. The choice of measurement baseline—sea level, the mountain’s base, or the planet’s core—determines which peak stands as the greatest terrestrial giant.
Defining Height Above Sea Level: The Reign of Mount Everest
The universally accepted standard for mountain height is elevation above mean sea level, which establishes a baseline of zero meters for the world’s oceans. By this measure, Mount Everest, or Qomolangma, which straddles the border between Nepal and China, is the undisputed champion. The official height, jointly declared by Nepal and China in 2020, is 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet) above sea level.
This measurement represents the altitude of the summit’s snow and ice cap, making it the highest point on the Earth’s surface relative to the ocean. Everest’s colossal size results from immense geological forces, specifically the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This powerful process continues to push the Himalayan mountain range skyward. Using sea level as a reference point allows for consistent comparison of peaks across the globe, solidifying Everest’s reputation as the roof of the world.
The True Vertical Colossus: Mauna Kea
If the definition of height is changed to the total vertical distance from base to summit, Mount Everest loses its title to Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii. Mauna Kea’s summit reaches only 4,205 meters (13,796 feet) above sea level, significantly lower than Everest. However, the vast majority of this shield volcano is hidden beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
Measuring from its base on the ocean floor to its peak, Mauna Kea achieves a total height of approximately 10,210 meters (33,500 feet). This makes Mauna Kea nearly a mile taller than Everest from base to peak. Over 6,000 meters of the mountain are submerged below the waves, obscuring its true magnitude.
Farthest From the Core: Chimborazo’s Claim
A third measure considers the distance from a mountain’s summit to the center of the Earth; by this standard, the highest point belongs to Chimborazo. This inactive stratovolcano is located in Ecuador, and its summit is only 6,263 meters (20,548 feet) above sea level. Its lower elevation compared to Everest is overcome by its unique geographic position near the equator.
The Earth is not a perfect sphere; its rotation causes it to bulge slightly around the equator, creating an oblate spheroid shape. This equatorial bulge means that any point on the surface near the equator is naturally farther from the planet’s core than a point at a higher latitude. Chimborazo is located just over one degree south of the equator, benefiting maximally from this bulge. The summit of Chimborazo is approximately 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles) farther from the center of the Earth than Mount Everest, placing it geographically nearest to outer space.