Think Mount Everest is the Tallest? Think Again!

Mount Everest, standing at an elevation of 8,849 meters above sea level, is widely recognized as the tallest mountain on Earth—but only when measuring height above sea level. However, when mountains are measured from their base to their peak, Mauna Kea holds the title as the tallest.

Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island, rises only 4,205 meters above sea level, but much of its base—around 6,000 meters—lies submerged beneath the Pacific Ocean. When factoring in its underwater portion, Mauna Kea’s total height exceeds 10,000 meters, making it at least 1,150 meters taller than Mount Everest.

This makes Mauna Kea the tallest volcano on the planet. It formed over a hot spot in the Earth’s crust, with its base created as the Pacific Plate moved northwestward, leading to the formation of other volcanoes in the region.

Despite being over a million years old, Mauna Kea is still considered active, though its last eruption is believed to have occurred more than 45,000 years ago. The mountain is also home to the world’s largest astronomical observatory, thanks to its high altitude and clear, cloud-free skies.

Similarly, Mauna Loa, Hawaii’s second-highest volcano, ranks as the second-tallest mountain on Earth when measured from base to peak. It is also the largest volcano in terms of volume and area.