Why is MT Chimborazo also unique and often compared with Mr. Everest?

Chimborazo: Earth’s Highest Peak from the Core

Mount Chimborazo, towering over the Ecuadorian Andes, holds a unique distinction that sets it apart from the legendary Mount Everest: it is the highest point on Earth from the planet’s core.

Unlike Everest, whose fame stems from its immense altitude above sea level, Chimborazo’s claim to fame lies in its distance from Earth’s center. This extraordinary geographical position, placing it further away from the planet’s core than Everest, elevates it to an unparalleled status.

The Earth’s equatorial bulge, a result of its rotation, causes its circumference to be slightly larger at the equator than at the poles. As a consequence, points located closer to the equator are further from the core than those at higher latitudes.

Chimborazo, standing at the equator in Ecuador, benefits from this phenomenon. Despite having a summit elevation of 6,263 meters (20,548 feet), which is approximately 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) lower than Everest’s 8,848 meters (29,029 feet), it is actually the summit closest to space, measuring 2,160 meters (7,087 feet) farther from the core than Everest.

This unique location grants Chimborazo a remarkable prominence in terms of its distance from Earth’s center. While Everest may reign supreme in terms of altitude above sea level, Chimborazo holds the distinction of being Earth’s highest peak when measured from the core, making it an awe-inspiring and scientifically fascinating mountain.