Mount Everest is the world’s tallest mountain. It said to be approximately 29,000 feet tall. Many people would want to climb it. However, climbing Mount Everest is really challenging. And it only gets tougher because the mountain is still growing taller!
According to experts, Everest is receiving an additional push to its size. These are from rivers surrounding it. The Himalayas, where Everest lies, had been formed over 50 million years ago. This happened when the Indian subcontinent collided into the Eurasian tectonic plate. As would be expected, the edges of these plates were already very high before they collided together.
Even today, the process is still taking place. This mountain chain continues to be pushed up. Yet there are landslides and other happenings resulting in the loss of rock. Which means that though Everest is rising, at the same time, it is also losing part of its rock.
It has been proven through research that Everest has increased in height by as much as 49 to 164 feet. This is due to changes that have occurred in rivers along its edges. A long time ago, around 89,000 years ago, the Ki River had merged with the Arun River. This fusion changed the courses of the rivers and amplified erosion.
What is Erosion?
Erosion is when wind, water, or ice wear away rocks and soil. In the case of Everest, the rivers caused a lot of erosion. The merging of the rivers has removed a lot of rock and soil from the area around Everest. Because of this, the weight on the land has decreased. When the weight of the Earth’s surface decreases, the land can rise. This process is called isostatic rebound.
What is isostatic rebound?
The phenomenon of isostatic rebound refers to the removal of heavy loads of ice or eroded rock from the Earth’s crust. Gradually, the land beneath rises up. It is just like a boat rising when some cargo is removed from it. In the case of Mount Everest, the confluence of the Ki and Arun rivers led to much erosion. This process removed substantial amounts of rock and soil.
This, in turn reduced the weight on the land near Everest, and with that, the land rose even higher. Researchers use special models to determine how this river system has changed through time. The result was that isostatic rebound accounts for around 10% of Everest’s annual uplift rate.
How Do Rivers Influence Everest?
The rivers have played a very important role in the rising of Mount Everest. The Ki River did not just merge with the Arun River, it took over. This takeover changed the course of the river and its subsequent erosion. There is substantial erosion that has actually eliminated a great deal of rock from the area. This has allowed Everest to grow taller.
Mount Everest is not a mountain but a giant that is still changing. The forces of nature never stop. Every year, Everest continues growing. It reminds us of how powerful and dynamic the earth is.
Why Is This Important?
The growth of Mount Everest is so important for a vast number of reasons. It proves how our planet is always in a state of change. Furthermore, it helps scientists gain deeper understanding of those geological processes involved in their work. Learning how mountains grow provides knowledge to learn more about Earth’s history.
Mount Everest: The Growing Giant
Mount Everest also typifies adventure and challenge. Every climber worldwide has the interest to climb to its summit. With the growth of the mountain, climbing to the top may even be difficult. This may also change the preparations of climbers for their journey.
Conclusion
In short, Mount Everest is an exquisite and continuous growing mountain. The various rivers close to the mountain cause erosion and allow the land to rise. A lot of its growth is contributed by the process of isostatic rebound.
As we get to understand Mount Everest, we find out the wonder of nature. This knowledge allows us to appreciate the grandeur and power of our earth. Therefore, before you stand on the top of this mountain to climb, let me remind you that it is not a mountain but a living giant always in the process of change!