Editing Mount Everest (section)

=== Comparisons ===
{{Main list|List of highest mountains on Earth}}

The summit of Everest is the point at which Earth's surface reaches the greatest distance [[above sea level]]. Several other mountains are sometimes claimed to be the "tallest mountains on Earth". [[Mauna Kea]] in Hawaii is tallest when measured from its base;{{NoteTag|name=base|The "base" of a mountain is a problematic notion in general with no universally accepted definition. However, for a peak rising out of relatively flat terrain, such as Mauna Kea or Denali, an "approximate" height above "base" can be calculated. Everest is more complicated since it only rises above relatively flat terrain on its north (Tibetan Plateau) side. Hence the concept of "base" has even less meaning for Everest than for Mauna Kea or Denali, and the range of numbers for "height above base" is wider. In general, comparisons based on "height above base" are somewhat suspect.}} it rises over {{convert|10200|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} from its base on the mid-ocean floor, but only attains {{convert|4205|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level.

By the same measure of base to summit, [[Denali]], in [[Alaska]], federally designated as Mount McKinley, is taller than Everest as well.{{NoteTag|name=base}} Despite its height above sea level of only {{convert|6190|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, Denali sits atop a sloping plain with elevations from {{convert|300|to|900|m|ft|abbr=on}}, yielding a height above base in the range of {{convert|5300|to|5900|m|ft|abbr=on}}; a commonly quoted figure is {{convert|5600|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/denali/expedition/mission.html |title = Surviving Denali, The Mission |publisher = [[PBS|Public Broadcasting Service]] |website = PBS.org |year = 2000 |access-date = 7 June 2007 |archive-date = 20 November 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101120103239/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/denali/expedition/mission.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.upi.com/blog/2013/09/12/Mount-McKinley-83-feet-shorter-than-thought-new-data-show/4061379016741/ |title = Mount McKinley 83 feet shorter than thought, new data show |work = [[United Press International]] |access-date = 18 March 2014 |archive-date = 26 March 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220326072757/https://www.upi.com/blog/2013/09/12/Mount-McKinley-83-feet-shorter-than-thought-new-data-show/4061379016741/ |url-status = live }}</ref> By comparison, reasonable base elevations for Everest range from {{convert|4200|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}} on the south side to {{convert|5200|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}} on the [[Tibetan Plateau]], yielding a height above base in the range of {{convert|3650|to|4650|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="washburn_map">''Mount Everest'' (1:50,000 scale map), prepared under the direction of [[Bradford Washburn]] for the Boston Museum of Science, the Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research, and the [[National Geographic Society]], 1991, {{ISBN|3-85515-105-9}}.</ref>

The summit of [[Chimborazo]] in [[Ecuador]] is {{convert|2168|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} farther from Earth's centre ({{convert|6384.4|km|mi|1|abbr=on|disp=or}}) than that of Everest ({{convert|6382.3|km|mi|1|abbr=on|disp=comma}}), because the Earth bulges at the equator.<ref name="Robert Krulwich">{{cite web |url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9428163 |title = The 'Highest' Spot on Earth? |date = 7 April 2007 |website = NPR.org |publisher = [[National Public Radio]] |first = Robert |last = Krulwich |access-date = 4 April 2018 |archive-date = 30 January 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130130164111/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9428163 |url-status = live }}</ref> This is despite Chimborazo having a peak of {{convert|6268|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} above sea level versus Mount Everest's {{convert|8848|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}.