Ancient River Merger Lifted Mount Everest's Height

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Science News

Mount Everest,Himalayas,Tectonic Plates

Scientists have discovered that thousands of years ago, a river in the Himalayas consumed a smaller one, unexpectedly boosting Mount Everest's height. This geological event occurred alongside the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which formed the Himalayan mountain range millions of years ago.

Thousands of years ago in the Himalayas, a river ate a smaller river and gave an unexpected boost to Everest’s height, scientists have discovered. Mount Everest, or Chomolungma , is one of Earth’s tallest mountains, standing 29,031.69 feet above sea level.

Evidence of one ancient example still exists around the edges of the Himalayas, where long-ago river capture eroded deep gorges. This caused two regions — Namche Barwa in the east, and Nanga Parbat in the west — to rise about 0.2 to 0.4 inches per year, over millions of years, according to Orme. And today, in the Amazon drainage basin, “ongoing river capture is documented” and is thought to play a part in shaping the region’s steep topography.

 

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