Everest, the highest peak in the world, has long been considered a symbol of human achievement and the ultimate test of mountaineering skill. However, recent studies have shown that the height of the mountain is not fixed and has been steadily increasing over time.
The reason for this increase is due to the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Indian plate is slowly moving north and pushing up the landmass that includes Everest. This process, known as uplift, has caused the mountain to gain a few centimeters in height every year.
In 1856, the first known measurement of Everest's height was made by the Great Trigonometric Survey of British India, which estimated the mountain's height to be 29,002 feet (8,840 meters). In 1955, the height was officially recognized as 29,029 feet (8,848 meters) by the Survey of India. However, in 1999, a team of surveyors using GPS technology measured the mountain's height to be 29,035 feet (8,850 meters).
More recently, in 2019, a joint survey by the Nepali and Chinese governments determined the height of the mountain to be 29,032.7 feet (8,848.86 meters) .
It is important to note that the increase in height is incredibly small and not significant enough to affect climbing or mountaineering. However, it is still a fascinating reminder of the dynamic nature of our planet and the ongoing geological processes that shape it.
Everest continues to inspire people from all over the world to test their limits and push their boundaries. It will be interesting to see how the mountain continues to change in the years to come.
