Comments on: Mount Everest no longer world’s highest mountain

By: Jay-ar

Jay-ar — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:35:49 +0000

Like it..Like It…hahahaha ^_^

By: NISHA JOSHI

NISHA JOSHI — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:18:12 +0000

I ACEPAT HIGHT PEAK WHICH ANNAPURA IN NEPAL? 26.246FT. NEXT 28.000FT. IN EVREST?……………..

By: Chris Hannigan

Chris Hannigan — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:17:09 +0000

Here’s one to make your head hurt…

Everest is higher in our atmosphere, but Chimborazo is closer to space!

By: isacki

isacki — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:02:03 +0000

"Everest is the highest point on earth, there’s no question about that."

This very question is the crux of the article! You are using the definition of height as above a surface. But this definition is compromised if the surface itself has varying height! Hence Everest is the highest point above a lower part of the Earth's surface, but the Ecuadorian mountain is on a higher part of the Earth's surface and thus is higher, if height is taken as distance from the centre of the Earth.

This definition is defined in reference to a fixed point (the centre) and is not contingent on the local surface. To my mind this makes it plainly more robust.

By: Chris Hannigan

Chris Hannigan — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:16:11 +0000

Great points between both Craig and MichaelOak. It all really depends on how you measure it. The modern society has adopted sea level as the world’s datum, so Everest is crowned the highest. Climbers tend to agree because the atmosphere follows the curvature of the Earth, and Everest requires a LOT more oxygen than say Chimborazo.

By: Chris Hannigan

Chris Hannigan — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:10:15 +0000

I think it depends on whether you stop at sea level or not. Mauna Kea is “taller” from peak to base because the bottom of the mountain is the Pacific ocean floor. Mount McKinley I believe is the tallest mountain with a base above sea level.

By: Chris Hannigan

Chris Hannigan — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:04:45 +0000

The moon is mentioned more for visual purposes. How about the distance from peak to center of the Earth instead?

By: Chris Hannigan

Chris Hannigan — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:03:23 +0000

Well yes that’s how it’s measured, but is sea level really the best datum if it’s inconsistent around the planet?

By: Chris Hannigan

Chris Hannigan — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:59:41 +0000

To me, there is a big difference between the “highest” mountain in the world and the “tallest” mountain in the world. The tallest mountain (to me) is the one that has the greatest distance from base to peak, regardless of sea level. The highest mountain can be measured by either sea level or distance from the core, whichever you prefer.

By: Robert Smith

Robert Smith — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:49:14 +0000

Since when has height on earth been defined as proximity to the moon’s surface? The is the geophysical equivalent of a word game. Downright silly.