Mount Everest, best known as the highest point on Earth, is actually growing all the time, and has been doing so for millions of years. It is part of the Himalayas, which are being pushed up by giant tectonic plates colliding deep within the planet: the Indian plate is slowly but surely moving towards the Asian plate, causing this geological phenomenon. So, although the mountains appear to be frozen, they are actually constantly in motion. Surprisingly, scientists have recently discovered that Everest is “gaining altitude” much faster than they previously thought. The results of a new study have helped to explain why.
Everest is constantly growing, but we don't notice it. Image source: mobisun.com
Why Everest is growing taller
The results of a study published in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience have revealed the secret of why Everest is growing faster than expected. It turns out that the reason lies in the destruction of rocks (erosion), which is caused by the confluence of rivers located about 75 kilometers from the summit.
In steep mountainous regions such as the Himalayas, rivers wash away huge volumes of rock. At first glance, this process should reduce the height of the mountains, but the exact opposite occurs.
The Arun River near Everest. Image source: wikimedia.org
Scientists call this phenomenon isostatic rebound. To understand it, imagine a ship that has had its cargo dropped – it becomes lighter and rises slightly higher on the surface of the water. In the same way, the Earth's crust, becoming lighter due to erosion, rises higher on the planet's mantle. This is especially noticeable in the case of Everest, where severe erosion is amplified by an ancient change in the river system.
About 90,000 years ago, the Arun River entered the neighboring Kosi river system, which significantly increased the erosion of rocks in the Everest region. This caused the mountain to grow faster, adding up to two millimeters of height per year. Over thousands of years, this could have led to an additional 15-50 meters of height.
Read also: Are seashells on the summit of Everest proof of a global flood?
The height of Everest in 2024
As of 2024, the height of Everest is 8,849 meters, and it continues to grow gradually. Each year, the mountain increases by 0.16-0.53 millimeters. Interestingly, similar processes are occurring with the neighboring peaks of Lhotse and Makalu, which are also “growing” due to tectonic forces and erosion.
Mount Lhotse in the Himalayas. Image source: green-lotus-trekking.com
However, scientists believe that this growth will not last forever. According to Professor Jinggen Dai, the process will continue until the region's river systems reach a new state of equilibrium, after which the growth of the mountains will stop.
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Which mountain is the highest in the world
Although Everest rightfully ranks first among the highest points on the planet. But if you measure the height from sea level, there is a mountain that in some ways surpasses it – this is the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Kea.
Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii. Image source: wikimedia.org
Its base is hidden under water in the Pacific Ocean, and if you measure the height from the very bottom to the top, it is more than 10,000 meters. This is significantly more than the height of Everest at 8,849 meters, which makes Mauna Kea a real record holder for “real” height. It is as if a tall person were standing in waist-deep water – his height does not decrease, just part of him is hidden under water.
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Mauna Kea is not just a mountain, but an ancient volcano, whose age is about a million years. Today it is considered dormant, although it has erupted in the past and may wake up again. At its summit, easily accessible via a road built in the 1960s, is one of the world's most famous observatories. You can read about it in our article “Why is Mauna Kea the highest mountain in the world?”