Named the mountain that turned out to be higher than Everest

Leading researcher of the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Osadchiev made a sensational statement, refuting the generally accepted opinion about the status of Everest as the highest mountain on our planet. According to the scientist, the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Kea actually exceeds the famous Himalayan peak in its true height.

Osadchiev proposes to reconsider the traditional approach to measuring mountain heights. If we evaluate not from sea level, but from the actual base of the mountain, then the palm of primacy goes to the majestic Mauna Kea, located on the Hawaiian Islands.

Although Mauna Kea rises "only" 4200 meters above the ocean level, most of this colossal volcano is hidden under the water. When measured from its base, the total height of Mauna Kea reaches an impressive 10,200 meters, which is more than two thousand meters higher than Everest (8848 meters).

The origin of this underwater giant is associated with a unique geological phenomenon - a mantle plume. This powerful flow of hot matter rises from the very core of the Earth for hundreds of kilometers. Burning through the earth's crust, it creates a volcanic hot spot from which magma pours onto the ocean floor, gradually forming islands.

The Hawaiian archipelago was formed in this way about 500 thousand years ago. Interestingly, the process of forming new volcanoes in this region continues even now - next to Mauna Kea, a new volcano Loihi is growing, the height of which has already reached a thousand meters, as Osadchiev reported in his Telegram channel.