Mount Everest: Its Measurement and Other Facts

Mount Everest, standing at 8,848.86 meters (or 29,031.7 feet), is more than just the tallest mountain on Earth it is a symbol of human ambition and nature’s awe inspiring power. But how exactly do we measure such an imposing height, and why does Everest’s altitude capture our imagination?

In this guide, we will explore Everest’s science, history, cultural significance, how we determine its height, and why it changes. Whether you are an adventurer, a nature enthusiast, or just curious about the mysteries of the world, this article delves into the fascinating world of Everest’s height and its significance.

What Defines “Altitude”?

Before diving into the specifics of Everest’s height, it is essential to understand what altitude actually means. Simply put, altitude refers to the height of an object or location above a reference point, often sea level. In the case of Mount Everest, altitude refers to how high the summit is above mean sea level (MSL), which is the average height of the ocean’s surface, used as a reference point.

Types of Altitude Measurements

There are different ways to measure altitude, especially in mountainous regions like Everest:

• Elevation above sea level: This is the most common measurement for mountains and is considered the official standard for Mount Everest.
• Vertical height from the base: This measurement takes into account the starting point of the mountain, typically from its base at the edge of the ocean. For Everest, this height can vary significantly based on what base is chosen (e.g., sea level vs. base camp).

Famous Mount Everest Climbers

Mount Everest has seen remarkable feats of mountaineering, from the first ascent in 1953 to modern records. Below is a table of notable climbers who have made their mark.

Name	Country	Year of Ascent	Key Achievement
Edmund Hillary	New Zealand	1953	First successful ascent with Tenzing Norgay
Tenzing Norgay	Nepal	1953	First successful ascent with Edmund Hillary
Reinhold Messner	Italy	1978	First to summit without supplemental oxygen
Junko Tabei	Japan	1975	First woman to summit Mount Everest
Apa	Nepal	1990s-2011	Record holder with 21 summits
Kami Rita	Nepal	1994-Present	Most summits (28 times as of 2023)
Erik Weihenmayer	USA	2001	First blind person to summit
Nawang Sering	Nepal	2011	First paraplegic to summit Everest
Kyla Prato	USA	2013	Youngest American female to summit
Jordan Romero	USA	2010	Youngest person to summit at 13 years old
Mingma Gyalje	Nepal	2019	First to summit in both spring and autumn in the same year
Dawa Temba	Nepal	2019	Youngest person to summit Everest (at age 13)
Lhakpa	Nepal	2022	First woman to summit Everest 10 times
Tsang Yin-Hung	Hong Kong	2021	Fastest ascent by a woman, from base camp to summit in 26 hours
Nirmal Purja	Nepal	2019	Part of “Project Possible,” scaling all 8,000 meter peaks in under seven months
Adriana Brownlee	UK	2022	Youngest British woman to summit Everest, targeting all 8,000 meter peaks.
Kristin Harila	Norway	2023	Fastest woman to climb all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters in 92 days
Sanu	Nepal	2022	First person to summit each of the 14 8,000 meter peaks twice
Gelje	Nepal	2023	Rescued an injured climber from the “death zone” to safety.

Climbers Who Reached the Summit

Over the years, thousands of climbers from different countries have made their way to the summit of Mount Everest. While the number of successful summits continues to rise, it is important to acknowledge the perseverance and strength required for such an achievement.

Name	Country	Year of Ascent	Notable Achievement
Sir Edmund Hillary	New Zealand	1953	First successful ascent with Tenzing Norgay
Tenzing Norgay	Nepal	1953	First successful ascent with Sir Edmund Hillary
Reinhold Messner	Italy	1978	First to summit without supplemental oxygen
Junko Tabei	Japan	1975	First woman to summit Mount Everest
Kami Rita	Nepal	1994-Present	Holds record for most summits (28 times as of 2021)

Climbers Who Died on Mount Everest

Mount Everest, while a symbol of triumph, also reflects the sobering reality that many climbers have lost their lives attempting to summit. The extreme altitude, unpredictable weather, and treacherous terrain have led to numerous fatalities over the years.

Name	Country	Year	Key Details
George Mallory	UK	1924	Disappeared during early attempt; remains found in 1999
Andrew Irvine	UK	1924	Disappeared with Mallory; ascent status remains unknown
Rob Hall	New Zealand	1996	Noted guide and expedition leader, died in 1996 Everest disaster
Yasuko Namba	Japan	1996	Oldest Japanese woman to summit, died in 1996 Everest disaster
Scott Fischer	USA	1996	Experienced climber and guide, died in 1996 Everest disaster
Francys Arsentiev	USA	1998	First American woman to summit without supplemental oxygen; died during descent
David Sharp	UK	2006	Died during solo attempt; sparked debate on mountaineering ethics
Shriya Shah-Klorfine	Canada/Nepal	2012	Died during descent from summit; brought attention to overcrowding on Everest
Ueli Steck	Switzerland	2017	Acclaimed climber known as the “Swiss Machine,” died preparing for a new route
Nobukazu Kuriki	Japan	2018	Attempted Everest several times solo and without oxygen, died on final attempt
Seamus Lawless	Ireland	2019	Professor who summited; tragically fell during descent
Anjali Kulkarni	India	2019	Experienced climber, died during overcrowded descent
Donald Lynn Cash	USA	2019	Died after summiting at age 55; part of a year marked by high traffic and delays
Pemba	Nepal	2021	climber, died after completing his 13th summit
Abdul Waraich	Switzerland	2021	Died during descent after reaching the summit, highlighting continued risks
Ngima Nuru	Nepal	2023	Experienced guide, died after a successful summit during the 2023

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Everest poses constant risks, including altitude sickness, exhaustion, hypothermia, falls, and overcrowding. Climbers must balance their ambition with the mountain’s inherent dangers.

Mount Everest Elevation

Mount Everest’s official height is 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet), a figure agreed upon by both China and Nepal in 2020. However, this number was not always set in stone. In fact, the height has changed several times throughout history, with the most significant update occurring in recent years.

Why the Height Changed

For over a century, the height of Mount Everest was thought to be 8,848 meters (29,029 feet). This figure was first established by the Survey of India in 1955, and it remained widely accepted. However, in 2020, Nepal and China conducted their own independent surveys, which led to a revised official height of 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet).

This change was not due to a shift in the mountain’s actual altitude but rather the result of more advanced measurement technologies. Let us explore the primary factors that led to this updated measurement:

1. Advanced Technology: The use of satellite technology and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) allowed for much more precise measurements than earlier methods. GNSS technology, which uses a network of satellites to calculate positions on Earth, provided highly accurate data.
2. Modern Surveying Techniques: Ground based surveys and laser scanning also contributed to refining Everest’s height. These methods allowed for better precision in measuring Everest’s summit.
3. Geological Changes: The shifting of tectonic plates and natural movements, such as earthquakes, can subtly affect a mountain’s height over time. In fact, the 2015 Nepal earthquake caused some scientists to reassess Everest’s height.

Despite the change, the updated figure is still within a small margin of the earlier estimate, proving the stability of the mountain’s towering presence.

Historical Attempts at Measuring Everest’s Height

Measuring Mount Everest’s altitude has been a long and challenging process, requiring both scientific ingenuity and physical endurance. The first attempts to measure Everest’s height date back to the 19th century, with key milestones paving the way for modern surveying techniques.

Early Measurements

The first official measurement of Mount Everest was made during the Great Trigonometric Survey of India in 1806. Surveyor Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India, was tasked with calculating the mountain’s height. Using traditional surveying methods, Waugh and his team determined that Everest’s height was 8,840 meters (29,002 feet), a figure that would become widely accepted for nearly a century.

In 1865, they officially named the mountain Mount Everest to honor Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843.The name replaced Peak XV, which was unknown outside surveying circles.

20th Century Advances

By the mid 20th century, surveying technology advanced significantly. In 1955, an Indian survey used trigonometric methods to determine Everest’s height as 8,848 meters (29,029 feet). The global scientific community accepted this figure.

However, this measurement was only approximate, as the tools and technology were still in their early stages by modern standards.

In 1999, an American expedition used GPS to measure Everest’s height, providing an alternative figure of 8,850 meters (29,035 feet). However, the Indian measurement remained the most widely recognized.

The Science Behind Measuring Mount Everest

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Understanding how altitude is calculated for Mount Everest requires delving into the science behind modern surveying techniques. Measuring such a massive and remote mountain is not a simple task. Let us break down the key methods used to measure Everest’s altitude.

Surveying Techniques

• Triangulation: This technique consists of angle measurements made from two reference points to the third one, which enables the scientists to figure out the separation between the two reference points. With regard to Mount Everest, this technique was one of the major methods used in the earlier graphics.
• Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS): The Global Positioning System and similar technologies have changed the game of measuring heights, for the better. These share a common approach: Systems determine coordinates of an Earth surface point via distance from a satellite.
• Laser Scanning and Radar: Laser scanner (LiDAR) scans terrain with a laser. Radar measures altitude by sending and receiving signals from the ground and is used to accurately map Everest under adverse conditions.
• Aerial Photogrammetry: It entails taking photographs from a craft to obtain photographs which are used to take measurements of relative distances and heights.

Challenges in Measuring Everest’s Altitude

Despite the advanced technology available today, measuring Everest’s altitude is still a challenging task. Several factors contribute to these difficulties:

• Extreme Terrain: The sheer size of the mountain and its remote location present significant challenges for surveyors. Combined with the rugged terrain, this makes accessing Everest’s summit extremely difficult.
• Weather Conditions: Everest is notorious for its extreme weather, which includes strong winds, freezing temperatures, and heavy snowfall. These harsh conditions make surveying the mountain even more challenging.
• Shifting Tectonic Plates: Mount Everest is part of the Himalayan range, which is still being formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. This tectonic movement can subtly shift the height of Everest over time, complicating efforts to measure its altitude with precision.

Tectonics & Global Warming

Over the centuries Mount Everest’s altitude has been influenced by various geological and environmental factors. Let us examine two key drivers that continue to impact its height.

Tectonic Activity

Mount Everest is located in the Himalayas, a mountain range that is still rising due to the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate. This tectonic activity causes the mountain to slowly rise over time, adding to its altitude.

• The uplift rate of Everest is estimated to be about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) per year, which means its height gradually increases.
• Earthquakes also play a role in shifting Everest’s height. The devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake caused a slight subsidence (sinking) of the mountain’s summit, which led to recalculations of its height.

Effects of Climate Change

The impact of global warming on Everest is another important factor to consider. As temperatures rise, glaciers on Everest are melting, and the snow that once capped the summit is slowly disappearing. This melting has two effects on Everest’s height:

1. Melting Glaciers: As glaciers retreat, they can lower the base of the mountain, affecting measurements taken from base camp or lower elevations.
2. Changing Ice Cover: Changes in the amount of ice and snow on the summit can affect the exact altitude measurements.

While these effects are small in the short term, they may have more significant impacts in the future.

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Mount Everest Importance

Beyond the scientific and geological significance of Mount Everest’s height, there is also a cultural and symbolic dimension. Everest has captured the imagination of people around the world for centuries, and its summit has become the ultimate goal for mountaineers.

Cultural Significance

For Nepal and Tibet, Mount Everest holds deep spiritual and cultural value. In Nepal, Everest is Sagarmatha, meaning “Forehead in the Sky,” and in Tibet, it’s Chomolungma, meaning “Mother Goddess of the World.” For centuries, Everest has been a sacred symbol of the natural world’s power and beauty.

Role in Mountaineering

Everest’s height has made it the holy grail of mountaineering. Reaching the summit is the ultimate mountaineering achievement, and Everest remains the highest challenge for climbers.

• The first successful ascent of Everest was achieved in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay from Nepal.
• Today, thousands of climbers attempt to summit the peak every year, but only a small fraction succeed.

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FAQs About Mount Everest

How long does it take to climb Mount Everest? 

Climbing Mount Everest usually takes around two months. This duration includes the trek to the base camp, acclimatization to high altitudes, and the ascent itself, which can take up to nine weeks​.

What is the death rate on Mount Everest? 

As of 2018, the death rate on Everest has been around 3.2%. More than 295 climbers have died on the mountain since 1924​..

How much does it cost to climb Mount Everest? 

The cost for an expedition to Everest can range from $30,000 to $85,000, depending on the level of support required. On average, climbers spend about $67,000​.

Can anyone climb Everest in the winter? 

Climbing Everest in winter is extremely rare and dangerous due to harsh conditions. Only 15 people have successfully summited during this time​.

How many routes are there to the summit? 

There are nearly 20 different routes up Mount Everest, with the two most popular being the Southeast Ridge from Nepal and the Northeast Ridge from Tibet​.

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Conclusion

Mount Everest, standing at 8,848.86 meters, is much more than just the highest point on Earth. Its altitude has been the subject of scientific study, cultural significance, and mountaineering ambition for centuries. Modern surveying technology refines Everest’s height continually.

Its towering presence however remains unchanged. As Everest’s height evolves and new data emerges, the mountain will continue to stand as a symbol of human perseverance and the power of nature.

Mount Everest altitude reflects the mountain’s grandeur. It also highlights the scientific advances and human perseverance behind its measurement. Whether for scientific, spiritual, or personal reasons, the allure of Everest’s summit will likely endure for generations to come.

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