What is the tallest mountain on Earth? It turns out that this query is far more contentious than one would initially assume.
When measured from the average sea level, Mount Everest, standing at 29,032 feet (8,849 meters) tall and located on the boundary between Tibet and Nepal, undoubtedly ranks as the tallest peak globally.
However, if you measure a mountain from its base to its summit, the 33,500-foot (10,211-meter) Mauna Kea, an inactive shield volcano located on the Big Island of Hawaii, would actually rise highest.
However, another competitor for the title of the tallest mountain emerges: Mount Chimborazo, an extinct stratovolcano located within the Cordillera Occidental range of the Ecuadorian Andes.
When measured from sea level, Chimborazo is about 8,500 feet shorter than Everest at 20,548 feet (6,263 meters). Yet, its peak is actually 6,800 feet farther from Earth’s center, making it the closest point on Earth to the stars.
"If you picture Earth as a small blue dot floating in space, it represents the single spot where you can stand and be equally distant from every point within that dot," clarifies Derek Van Westrum, a physicist working for NOAA. National Geodetic Survey the government body responsible for mapping and charting
The reason lies in Chimborazo’s location, which is 1.5 degrees south of the equator.
Van Westrum explains that the planet, like many of its human inhabitants, actually protrudes a bit around its waistline. “Earth is made of rock, and it’s pretty round, but because it’s spinning, it bulges out at the equator,” he says.
The centrifugal force created by the planet’s constant rotation squishes the rock, and Chimborazo takes advantage of that squish to be farther from Earth’s center than mountains higher from sea level in the Himalaya – or even the Andes – all of which are located further from the equator.
Recently, Ecuador has seized upon this statistical peculiarity to showcase Chimborazo as a rising tourist attraction. The concept is that, distinct from Everest or Aconcagua (which stands as the tallest summit in the Andes), this exceptional mountain is not only more accessible geographically but also less expensive for typical thrill-seekers. These adventurers are now traveling about four hours south from Quito into the heart of its snow-covered slopes with growing frequency.
Climbing Chimborazo
Chimborazo ranks as number 39 th tallest mountain in the Andes, when measured from sea level, but there was a brief time in the 19 th century when it was believed to be Earth's tallest mountain.
The story began with the prominent German geographer and explorer Alexander von Humboldt, who attempted to climb Chimborazo in 1802. He reached approximately 19,300 feet and then descended into an elevated valley which he subsequently named the Avenue of the Volcanoes.
Nevertheless, his extensively read narratives detailing his conquest of this towering Andean peak attracted a continuous flow of European adventurers to Ecuador. Notable among these was the British climber Edward Whymper. After achieving fame with the first recorded climbs up the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc in the Alps in 1880, he made history as the first documented individual to reach the summit of Chimborazo.
Each year, roughly 500 climbers try to reach the peak, says Santiago Granda, who serves as the Undersecretary of Promotion. Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism He mentions that slightly more than half of them reach the summit due to various elements such as elevation, readiness, and severe weather conditions.
The primary hiking period runs from late September through February, during which the climate becomes more pleasant and the mountains are often covered with a heavy blanket of snow. However, according to Granda, what makes the Ecuadorian Andes particularly attractive compared to many other climbing destinations is that it truly serves as an all-year round location for enthusiasts.
The country's tallest mountains have fairly mild climates despite being situated within tropical regions, and they experience minimal differences in day length throughout the year. Many summits can be reached without much difficulty from major highland urban centers like Quito or Cuenca. For instance, Chimborazo stands roughly midway between these two cities along the Pan-American Highway.
increasingly, individuals are beginning to come here to train and get ready for major challenges at Chimborazo," explains Granda. "You are farther from the Earth's center and nearer to the stars than you'll ever be when standing anywhere else on this planet — and that serves as a significant attraction.
People usually aim to reach the peak within two days, unlike Mount Everest which takes approximately two months. Naturally, climbers need around one week for acclimation beforehand, according to Christian Valencia, the CEO of Quito-based company. Activexpedition , which organizes climbing expeditions to the peak.
Valencia suggests starting with less challenging summits like Cayambe, Iliniza Sur, or Cotopaxi for acclimatization purposes. You should descend back to lower altitudes every evening to help your body adjust better. Additionally, before tackling Chimborazo, make sure to get some experience using crampons and ice axes since this ascent requires technical skills.
Ice merchants and Incan sacrifices
Valencia, like other Ecuadorian outfitters, offers softer adventures to Chimborazo.
Day hikes reaching up to 17,000 feet (5,180 meters) usually come after four days of previous acclimatization at the nearby lodge-to-lodge areas. Quilotoa Loop Visitors to Chimborazo can subsequently explore the stonework Whymper Refuge, the reflective Condor Cocha Lagoon, and experience the tropical glaciers. Which serve as indicators of global warming .
Many visit these glaciers specially to encounter Baltazar Ushca, the last hielero (ice merchant) of Chimborazo.
For generations, indigenous men from Ecuador used to work as ice vendors, delivering glacial chunks to people living downhill until the advent of refrigeration technology. Today, he stands as the sole remaining individual who transports these icy loads downslope to the adjacent city of Riobamba. There, they are crushed up and mixed into a renowned beverage known locally as the "neck-breaker."
Other visitors head to Chimborazo for its distinctive high-altitude ecosystem. As Granda points out, "Some Ecuadorians experience snow for the very first time here." Consequently, despite not all aiming for the peak, many flock to the lake, now a highly sought-after attraction.
The mountain is a refuge for 8,000 rewilded vicuñas , the wild predecessors of domesticated alpacas, and is also home to the planet’s largest hummingbirds, which dart about a flowering evergreen bush named chuquiraga There are also groves of twisted trees. queuña , capable of thriving at elevations greater than those sustained by any other trees.
Another attraction lies in the mountain's history predating Columbus.
Chimborazo served as the location for sacrificial rituals involving young girls and boys during the time of the Incas. These practices were believed to pacify the deities and ensure bountiful crops. Up until now, native communities honor Tayta Chimborazo, also known as "Father Chimborazo," recognizing his great power. apu , or mountain deity. Tales tell of his passionate affair with the smaller yet more dynamic Tungurahua volcano.
Valencia states that the mountain holds significant importance for all Ecuadorians and can be found depicted on the country's coat of arms.
It doesn't matter whether I've been here multiple times," he remarks. "Each visit leaves me with a powerful sense of energy.
To get more news and newsletters from Pawnation.com, sign up for an account there. Pawonation.com
Post a Comment