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What is the tallest mountain on Earth? It turns out that this query is more contentious than one might 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, is undoubtedly 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 extinct 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.


 Measured from sea level, Chimborazo stands approximately 8,500 feet below Everest which reaches up to 29,029 feet (about 8,848 meters) but interestingly, its summit extends an additional 6,800 feet closer towards space compared to Everest. This makes Chimborazo the spot on Earth nearest to the cosmos when measured from our planet’s core.


 "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," says Derek Van Westrum, a physicist working for NOAA.
 National Geodetic Survey
 the federal organization responsible for mapping and charting


 The cause stems from Chimborazo’s position, situated 1.5 degrees south of the equator.


 Van Westrum points out that the planet, similar to numerous humans, has a slight bulge around its middle. "The Earth consists of rock and is largely spherical, however, due to its rotation, it expands at the equator," he states.


 The centrifugal force generated by the planet’s continuous spin compresses the rock, allowing Chimborazo to be farther from Earth’s center compared to taller mountains above sea level in the Himalayas or even those in the Andes—all situated closer to the poles.


 Recently, Ecuador has seized upon this interesting statistic to highlight Chimborazo as a rising tourist attraction. The concept is that, unlike Everest or Aconcagua (which stands tall as the tallest peak in the Andes range), this remarkable mountain is not only geographically accessible but also affordable for typical adventure seekers. These travelers often venture about four hours south from Quito right into its frost-covered slopes.

<h3>
 Climbing Chimborazo
</h3>

 Chimborazo ranks as number 39
 
 th
 
 the highest mountain in the Andes, when measured from sea level, but for a short period 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 but then descended into the elevated valley which he subsequently named the Avenue of the Volcanoes.


 Nevertheless, his extensively read narratives of conquering this towering Andean peak attracted a continuous flow of European adventurers to Ecuador. Notable among these was the British climber Edward Whymper. After achieving famed first ascents on the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc in the Alps in 1880, he made history as the first recorded 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 time the climate becomes more temperate and the mountains are typically covered with a heavy blanket of snow. However, according to Granda, one of the attractions of the Ecuadorian Andes is that it remains an all-year round destination, quite distinctively differentiating itself from most climbing centers around the world.


 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 readily reached 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. "Here, 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's a significant attraction.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1rTGEQ" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1rTGEQ.jpg"/>

 Those who aim to reach the peak of the mountain usually do so within two days, unlike the approximately two months required for climbing Mount Everest. Naturally, climbers also need around one week of acclimation activities beforehand, according to Christian Valencia, 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. He advises climbing during the day but returning to lower altitudes at night to help your body adjust gradually. Additionally, before tackling Chimborazo, Valencia emphasizes the importance of training with crampons and ice axes since this ascent requires technical skills.

<h3>
 Merchants of ice and Incan sacrifices
</h3>

 Similar to other Ecuadorian outfitters, Valencia provides milder adventure tours to Chimborazo.


 Treks reaching heights of up to 17,000 feet (5,180 meters) usually come after four days of previous adjustment at the adjacent lodge-to-lodge facilities.
 Quilotoa Loop
 Visitors to Chimborazo can subsequently explore the stonework Whymper Refuge, the reflective Condor Cocha Lagoon, and the tropical glaciers.
 Which serve as indicators of global warming
 .


 Many people visit these glaciers specially to encounter Baltazar Ushca, known as the last
 hielero
 (ice merchant) of Chimborazo.


 For generations, indigenous Ecuadorian men used to work as ice vendors, delivering glacial chunks to the settlements beneath them until the advent of refrigeration. Today, this octogenarian is the sole individual still transporting these icy blocks downhill to the neighboring city of Riobamba, where they are mixed into a renowned beverage known as the "neck-breaker."

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1rTGEU" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1rTGEU.jpg"/>

 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, even those who aren’t aiming for the peak often visit for the lake, now a highly sought-after attraction.


 The mountain serves as a sanctuary for 8,000.
 rewilded vicuñas
 , the wild predecessors of domesticated alpacas, and inhabited by the planet’s largest hummingbirds, which dart about a blooming evergreen bush named
 chuquiraga
 There are also groves of twisted trees.
 queuña
 , capable of thriving at elevations greater than those sustained by any other tree species.


 An additional attraction is the mountain's history from before Columbus' time.


 Chimborazo served as the location for sacrificial rituals involving young girls and boys during the time of the Incas. These practices were believed to placate the deities and ensure bountiful crops. Even today, native communities hold great respect for Tayta Chimborazo, also known as "Father Chimborazo," viewing him as a potent force.
 apu
 , or mountain deity. Tales tell of his intense affair with the smaller but more dynamic Tungurahua volcano.


 Valencia explains 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 if I've been here multiple times," he remarks. "Each visit leaves me with an intense feeling of energy.


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What is the tallest mountain on Earth? It turns out that this query is more contentious than one might initially assume. When measured from the average sea level, Mount Everest, standing at 29,032 …