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Earth isn't a perfect sphere, so the answer might leave you astounded.
For adventure seekers, it might take them weeks to trek to Everest's summit. And this accomplishment brings pride to many.
However, Everest is merely the highest point above sea level, not the tallest mountain on Earth.
According to Business Insider, Everest is the tallest mountain when measured from sea level. But in terms of absolute height, measured from base to summit, it's Mauna Kea in Hawaii that claims the title.
Mount Everest's height is 8,850 meters above sea level, undoubtedly an immense altitude. Nevertheless, the title of 'tallest mountain in the world' when measured from base to summit belongs to Mauna Kea, with a height of only 4,205 meters above sea level.
In reality, this is a shield volcano on Hawaii's island with its base lying beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean about 6,000 meters deep. Put simply, over half of this mountain's height is submerged underwater. When measured from base (the part underwater) to summit, Mauna Kea stands over 10,000 meters tall, much higher than Everest's 8,850 meters. This makes it the tallest mountain on Earth. Additionally, it's also the tallest volcano on Earth.
Mauna Kea is believed to have formed over a hot spot in Earth's mantle, an area where magma from the mantle rises through the crust and erupts on the surface.
The hot spot is thought to be stationary while the Pacific Plate, where Mauna Kea is located, has moved over it. As this plate moves northwest over the hot spot, a series of volcanoes have formed, with each successive volcano becoming older and more eroded as the plate moves farther away from the hot spot.
Mauna Kea is the youngest of these volcanoes, forming only a million years ago, and it's still an active volcano, though it hasn't erupted in centuries. Scientists believe the last eruption of Mauna Kea occurred over 45,000 years ago.
In reality, the shape of Earth isn't a perfect sphere. It's an oblate spheroid. Earth bulges at the equator and flattens near the poles, so people in countries like Ecuador, Kenya, Tanzania, and Indonesia can be closer to the moon by up to 13 miles compared to those living at the North or South Poles.
Mauna Kea is also renowned for a distinct feature: it's home to the world's largest astronomical observatory - the Thirty Meter Telescope worth $1.4 billion. At this altitude, the summit is over 40% above Earth's atmosphere, enhancing the ability to observe distant celestial objects. The extremely dry and nearly cloud-free conditions also make it an ideal location for astronomical observations.
Mauna Loa is also a layered shield volcano and is the largest volcano on the planet in terms of volume and surface area covered. It rises to an altitude of 4,169 meters above sea level, making it the second highest mountain in Hawaii, but also the second highest mountain on Earth measured from base to summit.
Mauna Kea is the highest peak in Hawaii. The name of this mountain originates from the Hawaiian language and means white mountain. It is one of the oldest volcanoes and is considered a sacred mountain by native Hawaiians.
Mauna Kea is a volcano where you can find a fantastic biodiversity and ecosystem including vibrant native plant environments. So it holds great cultural and natural significance. It's considered a refuge for a large number of indigenous species, not only important in Hawaii, but globally.
This is a shield volcano with a summit covered in snow. Although Hawaii has a warm climate, Mauna Kea's height results in snowfall during the winter months.
These features make it a popular destination for sports like snowboarding. Due to its elevation, landscape, clean air, and distance from major cities, telescopes and observatories have also been installed on this mountain.
