ALTHOUGH IT IS NOW UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED THAT MOUNT EVEREST IS THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD IT WAS NOT ALWAYS SO AND THERE ARE ARGUMENTS TO SAY THAT OTHERS RIVAL IT FOR THIS CROWN, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU JUDGE THE HIGHEST.

THE HIGHEST FROM BASE TO SUMMIT.

For example Mauna Kea, in Hawaii is a massive dormant volcano that stands at 4207 metres (13,802 ft) above sea level, but it rises from the ocean floor and of course the vast majority of it is under water. Measured from its base at the bottom of the sea it is over 10,000m (33,000 ft) in height, considerably higher than Everest when measured from the base to the top.

THE FARTHEST FROM THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH.

It might also be argued that the mountain which is farthest from the centre of the Earth constitutes the highest point on the planet, which in literal terms it does.

If this is the case, due to the ‘equatorial bulge”, which sees the Earth effectively expand around its middle, Chimborazo in the Andes of Ecuador is the highest point, although it is only 6263 metres (20,548 ft) above sea level.

Chimborazo was indeed believed to be the highest mountain in the world from the 16th century until the early 19th century.

OTHER MOUNTAINS PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED THE TALLEST IN THE WORLD.

•   Nanda Devi – 7816 metres (25,643 ft) With Nepal, being closed to outsiders in Nanda Devi was for some time erroneously listed as the highest mountain in the world.
•   Dhaulagiri – 8167metres (26,795 ft) Dhaulagiri preceded Kanchenjunga as the tallest.
•   Kanchenjunga – 8586 metres (28,169 ft) Considered the tallest before Everest’s confirmation.
•   K2 – 8611 metres (28,251 ft) There was a brief period, prior to the confirmation of Everest, in which this newly discovered mountain was mooted as the highest.
•   Mount Everest – 8848 metres (29,029 ft) Finally acknowledged universally as the tallest in 1856.