Scientists have determined why Everest continues to grow.

The highest mountain on our planet, Everest, located in the Himalayas, boasts a record height of 8,849 meters. Interestingly, it continues to grow. British and Chinese researchers have uncovered the reasons behind this phenomenon. In their study, they utilized computer modeling and GPS measurements. Mount Everest, also known as Chomolungma in Tibetan and Sagarmatha in Nepali, stands 238 meters taller than its nearest neighbor. According to the authors of the new research, Everest’s extraordinary dimensions represent a remarkable anomaly that can be explained by the behavior of the neighboring river system.

Lead author Adam Smith from University College London remarked, “Mount Everest is a magnificent mountain steeped in myths and legends, and it continues to rise. Our research shows that as the surrounding river system carves deeper, the loss of material causes the mountain to grow even higher.” The primary culprit behind this anomaly is likely the Arun River, which flows past the mountain to the east before merging with the larger Koshi River. Over thousands of years, the Arun has carved a deep gorge in the heart of the Himalayas, removing billions of tons of rock.

The erosion of such colossal volumes of material has triggered a process known in science as isostatic rebound, as reported by IFLScience. This process occurs when “the interaction between the erosion of the Arun River and the upward pressure from the Earth’s mantle gives Mount Everest a boost, raising it higher than it would otherwise be.” This explanation for the mountain’s growth was provided by Dr. Xu Han from the China University of Geosciences.

By calculating the erosion rates of several waterways in the river network, the researchers determined that the Arun and Koshi rivers merged about 89,000 years ago. This confluence led to an increase in the magnitude of isostatic rebound, resulting in more land and sediment being washed away. This phenomenon is known as drainage piracy. The team of scientists estimated that since the rivers merged, Mount Everest has grown by an astonishing 50 meters!

Previously, scientists claimed that Everest rises by one millimeter each year. However, they now suggest that the peak is adding two millimeters annually. The findings of this research were published in the journal Nature Geoscience.