Image source: https://umaine.edu/
Mount Everest is located in the Solukhumbu District of Nepal. It is the world’s highest peak. It is still expanding. Everest, which stands 8.85 kilometers (5.5 miles) above sea level, continues to grow alongside the rest of the Himalayas. Scientists have discovered that this expansion is occurring quicker than predicted, and the explanation is due to changes in nearby river systems.
Around 89,000 years ago, the Kosi and Arun rivers merged, causing massive erosion in the region. This erosion removed large amounts of rock and soil, which lightened the Earth’s crust. As a result, the land beneath Everest began to rise through an isostatic rebound process, where the Earth’s surface lifts after heavy materials are removed.
This geological process has contributed between 15 and 50 meters (49 and 164 feet) to Everest’s peak. Scientists believe that isostatic rebound causes around 10% of the mountain’s annual rise. Similar processes occur in other places of the world, such as Scandinavia, where land rises when glaciers melt.
GPS data reveal that Mount Everest and surrounding summits such as Lhotse and Makalu are still rising. These discoveries remind us that even something as big as Everest is always evolving, affected by natural forces. Everest remains a powerful emblem, both physically and culturally.
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