The Tallest Mountains Depend on Perspective
Have you ever heard that Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world, reaching 8,848 meters above sea level? This fact, like many others, was presented to us as children, along with geographical curiosities, encyclopedias, and school books. However, as with any general culture, this idea depends on a certain point of view.
The highest peak in the Himalayas is indeed the farthest from sea level, which is the standard measurement used by experts to determine altitude. But what happens if we change the perspective and focus solely on the Earth's surface? Would Mount Everest still be the tallest mountain in the world? The answer is no, and the reason is Mauna Kea, an inactive volcano located in Hawaii.
Mauna Kea, also known as "White Mountain," is 4,205 meters high above sea level, which is significantly lower than Everest's height. However, if we measure it from its base, which is underwater, the results are different. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Mauna Kea measures 10,211 meters from its base to its peak, a height that is "considerably greater than the height of the tallest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest."
What is the reason for Mauna Kea's colossal size? The answer lies in its volcanic origin. When magma comes into contact with water, it cools down and solidifies, forming a rock base that supports the volcano's massive structure. Mauna Kea is a "shield volcano," which means its base is extensive, and its slopes have a low inclination, allowing it to reach great heights.
Mauna Kea's neighbor, Mauna Loa, is the largest active volcano on the planet, with over 30 eruptions since 1843. Although Mauna Loa is slightly shorter than Mauna Kea, with a height of 4,169 meters above sea level, it has a similar secret hidden beneath the ocean's surface.
The USGS highlights the enormous surface area that Mauna Kea hides underwater, mainly due to the pressure of the ocean floor caused by the volcano's mass. The Mauna Loa volcano has also recently made headlines for its potential eruption, which could be the first in nearly four decades.
The characteristics of Mauna Kea have gone unnoticed by professional astronomers for a long time. However, this has changed in recent years, with more than a dozen telescopes now in operation. Additionally, an international project with a budget of $1.4 billion has been proposed to add a new observatory with a 30-meter device, a proposal that has faced opposition from those who advocate for preserving the space.
If we change the criteria and measure the distance from the center of the Earth instead of sea level, the results would be different. In this case, Mount Chimborazo in the Andes would stand out, with an altitude of 6,263 meters above sea level, which is significantly lower than Everest's height. However, if we measure the distance from the center of the Earth, Chimborazo's height is 6,384.4 kilometers, compared to Everest's 6,382.6 kilometers.
The reason for Chimborazo's height is not its watery base, as with Mauna Kea, but its location on the Earth's surface. The Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid, meaning it is wider at the equator than at the poles. Chimborazo's location on the equator puts it in an advantageous position to win the race to become the tallest point on the Earth's surface.