There are many doubts – and, in some points of view, even some controversy – about which is the biggest mountain on the planet. The answer to this question, apparently obvious to many, depends on the frame of reference of what considers it as the “biggest mountain”, which is not very simple and generates a lot of divergence between the people.
You've probably heard that the Mount Everest is the biggest mountain on the planet, right? As we have already said, this will depend on what is analyzed.
Highest mountain compared to sea level
When we consider the sea level (altitude) as a reference, then the first place really belongs to the Mount Everest and to its imposing 8,850 meters of altitude. The region where it is located – the Himalayas, in Asia – presents a young relief formed by tectonic activities. Thus, all ten highest points on planet Earth are in this same area.
Biggest mountain compared to base
If we take into account the size of a mountain or the point of the Earth in relation to its base, regardless of sea level, Mount Everest is easily overtaken by
Mauna Kea, a mountain formed from a volcano in Hawaii. From its top to its “foot”, the Hawaiian volcano reaches incredible 10,023 meters. This mountain is 4,205 meters above sea level, as the rest is submerged in the ocean, since we are talking about an entire island!But if we consider only the continental mountains – as Mauna Kea is oceanic – the title changes again and goes to Dhaulagiri, which is also located in the Himalayas and has a height of 8,167 meters from top to bottom.
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Mauna Kea is a tourist spot because it offers a beautiful view.
World's biggest mountain in proximity to space
The shape of the Earth, as we know, is not a perfect sphere, but a “geoid”, with a slightly misshapen configuration and flattened at the poles. Therefore, this formation totally changes the perspective of the biggest mountain on our planet if we ask the question: which point on Earth is closest to outer space?
What happens is that the areas closest to the Equator are found naturally in the outermost range of the planet. Therefore, based on this issue, the outermost point of our planet is at the Mount Chimborazo, located in Ecuador. Calculations say it is 2.4 km closer to space than Everest. However, in relation to sea level, it has “only” 6,268 meters.
Mount Chimborazo, the Earth's closest point to space*
Curiosity: the highest mountain among the planets and moons of the solar system is on Mars and is called Mount Olympus, over 27 km high, which is more than three times Everest! On the red planet, this natural formation remained in that high-altitude state because there practically no exogenous relief agents act, responsible for the wear of the external forms of the surface.
*Image credits: amalavida.tv | Wikimedia Commons
By Me. Rodolfo Alves Pena
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
PENA, Rodolfo F. Alves. "What is the biggest mountain on the planet?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/qual-maior-montanha-planeta.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
