This mountainis taller than Everest yet it’s not world’s highest peak.
By iastoppers.com
Why?
Mount Everest is recognized as the world's highest peak, standing at 8,850 meters
But there's a twist: Mauna Kea, a Hawaiian volcano, surpasses Everest in total length
Mauna Kea stretches 9,330 meters from base to peak, yet it's not deemed the highest
Measured from sea level, Mauna Kea's height is 4,207.3 meters, the highest in Hawaii
Why the discrepancy? It comes down to how mountain heights are officially measured
In topography, prominence measures the height of a mountain or hill’s summit, that are of 2 types- Wet prominence and dry prominence
Wet prominence is the standard measure that considers height from sea level, whereas Dry prominence looks at total length, but doesn't affect the official height ranking
By wet prominence, Everest wins because over half of Mauna Kea lies underwater, despite which, Mauna Kea is sometimes called the world's tallest mountain from base to peak
Beyond its height, Mauna Kea holds deep cultural significance for Hawaiians as its summit, sacred and rich in history, is now a leading site for astronomical research
Dormant for thousands of years, Mauna Kea's last eruption occurred 4,000 to 6,000 years ago