When asking "What is higher than Mount Everest?", the answer depends on how you measure "height". The reference provided highlights two distinct ways mountains are typically measured: height above sea level and total height from base to summit.
Understanding Mountain Height
Different measurements give different results for the world's tallest or highest peaks. The provided reference specifically contrasts height above sea level with height above the adjacent ocean floor.
Height Above Sea Level
Mount Everest is renowned as the highest mountain on Earth above sea level. According to the reference:
- Mount Everest is listed as the "Highest above sea level" at 29,082 feet.
This measurement is the most commonly cited and refers to the elevation of the summit relative to average sea level. Based on this standard measurement, no other mountain summit is higher above sea level than Mount Everest.
Total Height (Base to Summit)
However, if you measure the total height of a mountain from its base to its summit, some mountains whose bases are located below sea level are significantly taller than Mount Everest. The reference points to Mauna Kea in Hawaii as an example of this measurement:
- Mauna Kea is described as "'Tallest' above the adjacent ocean floor" at approximately 10,000 meters (around 33,000 feet).
While the summit of Mauna Kea is significantly lower than Everest's summit above sea level, the vast majority of Mauna Kea's mass is submerged beneath the Pacific Ocean. Measuring from its base on the ocean floor to its summit, Mauna Kea is indeed taller than Mount Everest is high above sea level.
Comparing Mount Everest and Mauna Kea
The reference clearly illustrates the difference between these two types of mountain height measurements:
| Mountain | Measurement Standard | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Everest | Highest Above Sea Level | 29,082 feet |
| Mauna Kea | Tallest From Ocean Floor | Approx. 10,000 m (~33,000 feet) |
Therefore, based on the information provided:
- Nothing is higher than Mount Everest when measuring height above sea level.
- Mauna Kea is taller than Mount Everest when measuring total height from base to summit (as its base is on the ocean floor).
In summary, while Mount Everest holds the record for the highest summit above sea level, Mauna Kea is the world's tallest mountain when measured from its true base on the ocean floor.
