Most people believe that Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world but that is not true. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world above sea level but when you count from base to summit including below sea level the tallest mountain in the world is Mauna Kea located on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Mount Everest (photo below) stands 29,029 feet high while Mauna Kea, counting from its base below sea level to its peak is 33,474 feet tall which is well over 4,000 feet taller than Mount Everest. Mauna Kea's height above seas level is 13,803 feet.
Located in the north-central part of the Big Island of Hawaii, Mauna Kea was designated a U.S. Natural National Landmark in 1972. The mountain is a dormant volcano and, along with its sister mountain nearby named Mauna Loa, receives annual snowfall at elevations of 9,000 feet and higher. The snow on the mountains is visible from space and from the island of Maui but the snow tends not to last too long on the peaks.
Located on top of the summit of Mauna Kea are a number of astronomical observatories (see photos above). The top of the mountain is a tremendous place to observe the heavens because there is no light pollution from city lights around, the summit is above most cloud cover (the inversion layer), and the mostly arid climate keeps the summit clear of atmospheric pollution.
Despite the fact that Mauna Kea is actually well over 4,000 feet taller than Mount Everest, it will never replace Mount Everest in terms of climbing cache because Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world above sea level. Besides, you can drive to the top of Mauna Kea along the Mauna Kea Access Road ( see below photo 4-wheel drive vehicles only) meaning just about anyone can summit the mountain with relative ease.
For more see:
No comments:
Post a Comment