Debunked Myths

The title of 'World's Tallest Mountain' depends entirely on how you measure. Mount Everest rightly claims the altitude crown—its summit reaches 29,032 feet (8,849 meters) above sea level, the highest point on Earth. Climbers brave extreme conditions to stand at the top of the world, where the air is thin and the views stretch to the curve of the planet.

However, if you measure from the mountain's true base to its summit, the title goes to Mauna Kea in Hawaii. This dormant volcano begins its rise from the Pacific Ocean floor, over 19,000 feet below the surface. From this submerged base to its 13,796-foot summit, Mauna Kea's total height is approximately 33,500 feet—making it nearly a mile taller than Everest from head to toe.

This distinction reveals different geological processes. Everest results from continental collision, where tectonic plates crunch together, thrusting rock upward. Mauna Kea is a shield volcano, built by countless lava flows piling up from the seafloor. So while Everest reaches highest into the sky, Mauna Kea is the true giant of Earth—a colossal mountain whose grandeur is mostly hidden beneath the waves.