After years of debate the world’s highest mountain has been officially declared taller – adding 86cm to its previous height.

The highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, is officially a little bit bigger, thanks to a joint agreement by Nepal and China – the national border of which runs over the summit.

After surveys carried out by each nation, Nepalese and Chinese authorities have finally come to an agreement that the mountain is 8,848.86 metres (29,031.69ft) tall.

The revised height makes Everest 86cm taller than Nepal’s previously believed height, and more than four metres higher than China’s.

A nearby catastrophic earthquake in 2015 led to a theory that moving tectonic plates, could have affected Everest’s height, resulting in calls for it to be measured again.

Surveyors from both countries used the same methods to carry out their measurements, leading to an agreement on the revised figure.

ENVIRONMENT: Mount Everest just got a little bit bigger
GN40858 Graphic shows Mount Everest and explains why it has become taller.
(107mm by 160mm deep)

December 9, 2020 — After years of debate the world’s highest mountain has been officially declared taller – adding 86cm to its previous height. Graphic shows Mount Everest and explains why it has become taller.