What is the Tallest Mountain in the World?

You might be shocked to learn that the question "What is the tallest mountain in the world?" actually has three answers.

In Terms of Altitude

Mount Everest is famous for being so tall, yet it is the tallest only in terms of altitude. The highest peak of Mount Everest is 29,028 feet above sea level. Most measurements are taken from sea level; therefore, you should not feel as though we are putting Mount Everest's height down in any way. However, we need to recognize the important fact that there are other ways to go about measuring height.

In Terms of "Tall"

The tallest peak of Mauna Kea reaches 13,796 feet. Of course, this is not even half the height of the tallest peak of Mount Everest. However, since Mauna Kea is an island, measurements have also been taken from the bottom of the nearby ocean floor to the peak of the island. When that is done, Mauna Kea has a height of 10,000 meters, while Mount Everest has a height of "only" 8,848 meters. You probably never thought you would see the day when we found a mountain taller than Mount Everest!

Highest Above Earth's Center

Due to the shape of the earth, the center of the earth is technically "lower" than other parts of it. Therefore, we also have to measure in these terms as well. The award here goes to Chimborazo, located in Ecuador. Chimborazo goes up to the height of 20,703 feet above the earth's center.

Clearly, even asking a simple question often brings about some rather complicated answers, especially when it comes to defining the world's tallest mountain!