If you were to ask people, “How tall is Mount Everest?” you’d likely hear the same answer repeated over and over: 29,029 feet. It’s a number so ingrained in popular knowledge that few stop to question it. But, like so many things about the natural world, Everest’s true height is more complicated than a simple number. From shifting tectonic plates to the ice-capped summit, and even differing measurement methods, Everest’s height is anything but static.
The Official Height: A Long-Standing Misconception?
The iconic 29,029 feet (8,848 meters) came from a 1955 Indian survey and held its place for decades. It was the result of labor-intensive triangulation methods, where surveyors used a series of theodolites (instruments for measuring angles) from several points on the ground. At the time, it was the most accurate method available.
Fast forward to today, and we know that measurement methods have changed dramatically. With modern GPS technology, we can pinpoint almost any location on Earth with extraordinary precision. But in Everest’s case, new measurements have only raised more questions than answers.
So, Is Everest Growing?
It turns out Everest isn’t just sitting still. Tectonic activity in the region plays a significant role in its height. The collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which created the Himalayas millions of years ago, is still ongoing. These plates continue to shift, with the Indian plate pushing northwards into the Eurasian plate at a rate of about 4-5 cm per year. This geological force is causing Everest and surrounding peaks to rise by about 0.16 inches (around 4 mm) each year.
But before you assume Everest is constantly getting taller, there’s more to the story. Earthquakes can reverse some of that growth. The massive 2015 earthquake in Nepal, for example, is thought to have caused Everest to shrink slightly, though exact figures remain elusive.
China and Nepal Agree, But Only Recently
In 2020, Nepal and China finally agreed on a new, official height for Mount Everest: 29,031.7 feet (8,848.86 meters). This joint survey settled years of debate between the two nations, as Nepal had previously included the snow and ice at Everest’s summit in its measurements, while China only measured the rock height. The 2020 figure includes both, recognizing that Everest’s peak is covered by a thick layer of snow and ice, which fluctuates slightly with the seasons and weather conditions.
How Do We Measure Everest Today?
Modern measurements use GPS receivers placed on Everest’s summit, which rely on satellites to provide a near-precise location in three dimensions. Teams of surveyors brave the thin air and treacherous conditions to haul this equipment up the mountain, which is no small feat given the risks and costs associated with expeditions to the summit.
But even GPS has its limits. Everest is so high that surveyors also have to account for a phenomenon called geoid undulation—the irregular shape of Earth due to its rotation and variations in gravitational pull. There’s also atmospheric refraction, which affects the GPS signals at high altitudes. In short, measuring Everest isn’t just a matter of slapping a ruler on its peak. It involves accounting for a range of factors that distort the results.
What About Satellite Data?
You might think satellites, floating above Earth, would offer a foolproof method for measuring Everest’s height. And while satellite data has improved our understanding of the mountain, it’s still not perfect. The accuracy of satellite altimetry depends on many factors, including atmospheric conditions, and the resolution of the data isn’t quite fine enough to settle Everest’s height definitively.
The Everest of the Future
As climate change melts glaciers and ice caps around the world, there’s concern that Everest’s snow and ice may shrink. In fact, research shows that glaciers in the Everest region have already lost a significant portion of their mass in the past few decades. This could mean that Everest’s height, as we perceive it, might decrease in the coming years, even as the underlying rock continues to rise.
The Fascination With Everest’s Height
Why do we care so much about Everest’s exact height? Perhaps it’s because Everest represents something larger than life. It’s the tallest point on Earth, a place where the human spirit is tested against nature’s most extreme conditions. For many, it’s a symbol of human achievement and resilience. And as long as it holds that mythical status, the world will continue to obsess over its precise height.
So, how tall is Mount Everest? Well, the current best answer is 29,031.7 feet. But, like so many things about our ever-changing planet, that number isn’t set in stone. Everest will continue to grow, shift, and evolve, as will our understanding of it. It’s a living monument, not just to nature’s raw power, but to human curiosity. And perhaps, that’s what makes Everest—and its height—so endlessly fascinating.