Everest, part of the majestic Himalayas in South Asia, is the highest mountain in the world (above sea level), standing at 8,849 meters, according to data from the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Located along the Tibetan and Nepalese belt, the world’s highest peak remained unknown to humanity until 1852, when surveyors discovered it while mapping India for the British government.
Since then, 172 years have passed, yet no peak has surpassed Everest’s record. This means that we do not find any mountain (above sea level) on Earth taller than 10,000 meters.
Everest is the highest mountain in the world and also the highest point on Earth.
Why are there no mountains (above sea level) on Earth taller than 10,000 meters? What prevents mountains on our planet from growing taller? This question has puzzled many.
Throughout human history, explorers and scientists have continued to seek answers, but a complete explanation remains elusive. However, advancements in modern science have provided us with some clues to better understand why the height of mountains is limited.
First, we need to understand that Earth is a self-regulating ecosystem. Various natural phenomena and laws on the planet interact with each other, maintaining a unique state of balance. This balance is reflected not only in the diversity and stability of the biosphere but also in the composition and movements of the atmosphere. The limitation in mountain height is closely related to this state of equilibrium.
According to scientists, there are three factors that hinder the development of terrestrial mountains, including:
Factor One: Geological Conditions
According to research by scientists, many mountains are formed due to the movement of the Earth’s surface layer, known as plate tectonics.
The Earth’s crust has a certain degree of plastic deformation; if pressure exceeds its threshold, it can cause cracks or earthquakes in this crust. This can lead to partial collapse or damage to the mountain.
This theory describes the Earth’s crust as mobile and dynamic, divided into large plates that move over time. When two plates collide, the impact forces material from their contact edges to move upwards. This is how the Himalayan mountain range in Asia, including Mount Everest, was formed.
Since the Earth’s crust is made up of different layers of rock, and each type of rock has varying strength and stability, the height of mountain peaks is limited because the Earth’s crust cannot support the accumulation of rock at a certain height.
Some mountains form in different ways. For example, volcanoes are formed from molten rock that erupts through the planet’s crust and begins to pile up.
However, no matter how a mountain is formed, it eventually becomes too heavy and cannot withstand gravity—this is the second factor that limits mountain height.
Factor Two: Gravity
Mountains are very heavy, and on Earth, the forces that create them must fight against gravity, which constantly tries to pull them down. At some point, a mountain becomes too heavy, and its own mass prevents further upward development due to the collision of two tectonic plates.
Illustration of gravity.
As a mountain’s height increases, the natural materials will also bear the increasing gravitational force of Earth. When the gravitational force on the material exceeds its own adhesive force, the mountain will collapse or be deformed. This is also why we only observe a limited number of mountain peaks that adhere to stable geological rules on the Earth’s surface, with very few mountains exceeding 10,000 meters.
In other words, if Earth had less gravity, the mountains on it would be taller. This is indeed what has happened on Mars, where mountains are significantly taller than those on our planet, attributed to Mars having only one-third of Earth’s gravity.
Olympus Mons on Mars, the tallest known volcano in the Solar System, reaches a height of 25,000 meters, nearly three times taller than Mount Everest.
Factor Three: Rivers
At first glance, rivers seem to contribute to taller mountains—due to water and flow eroding material, creating deep crevices near the mountain’s base. However, over time, the continuous erosion process can lead to landslides, which in turn limits mountain growth.
Erosion processes cause landslides, thereby limiting mountain development. (Illustration).
Everest is often regarded as the highest mountain on Earth above sea level, but there are other contenders for the title of “highest mountain in the world.” Mauna Kea, an inactive volcano in Hawaii, is the tallest mountain in the world IF measured from its base—which lies deep beneath the Pacific Ocean—to its summit.
The total height from the base to the peak of Mauna Kea is 10,210 meters, higher than Mount Everest. However, the base of Mauna Kea is located 6,000 meters below sea level, while its summit reaches 4,205 meters above sea level. Therefore, when measured from sea level, Everest is over twice the height of Mauna Kea, making Everest the highest point in the world.
Mountains like Mauna Kea, despite being massive, still have buoyancy, and the ocean bears part of their weight.
In the Solar System, Venus has slightly less gravity than Earth, but due to the immense heat of the planet known as “hell,” it easily melts the materials that comprise high mountains.
