Mount Everest is taller than it should be — and a weird river may be to blame

[Still Waters]

A "weird" river in the Himalayas may have pushed the peak of Mount Everest up by 164 feet (50 meters), scientists say.

According to a new study, a river roughly 46 miles (75 kilometers) from Everest was "captured" by another around 89,000 years ago. The erosion from this event carved away a huge gorge, leading to a loss of landmass that made the mountain experience a major growth spurt.

https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/geology/mount-everest-is-taller-than-it-should-be-and-a-weird-river-may-be-to-blame

Published Study:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01535-w

[Alex_Rogan]

When I was hoping for more uplifting things in the world, this isn't exactly what I expected.

lol?

[jethrofloyd]

Now I understand my dad who used to say to me: A mountain can move my son, but you can''t get out of a bed and go to the school. 

[jethrofloyd]

This is not fair. Mount Everest is growing while my mother-in-law is decreasing.

[MissJatti]

I read somewhere a few years ago that the India's tectonic plate is moving north at a faster rate then usual, so the himalayers is always constantly growing in the first place