China and Nepal Finally Agree on Mount Everest's Height

(April 8) -- Everyone knows Everest is the world's highest mountain. But how high is it? That's a question that has divided China and Nepal for years.

The Chinese said 29,015.748 feet. But neighboring Nepal took a bigger view: To them the mountain that straddles the two countries' border was just a touch higher, at 29,028.871 feet.

The difference lay in what was actually being measured. China said the mountain ended at Everest's rocky peak. Nepal insisted that the snow encasing the peak be included.

AFP / Getty Images

How high is Everest? The Chinese have said 29,015.748 feet, while Nepal has argued it's 29,028.871 feet. Both sides now agree that each is right.

This week, both sides reached a compromise at talks in Nepal's capital, Katmandu, each finally recognizing that their figures were referring to different levels.

A senior official at Nepal's Department of Surveys told The Katmandu Post, an English-language daily: "The Chinese side, led by Li Qingyuan, accepted Nepal's claim that the snow height of Mount Everest is 8,848, while the Nepali side recognized the Chinese claim that the rock height of the mountain is 8,844.43 meters."

The height of Everest -- known as Mount Qomolangma in China -- was first measured in 1856.

An Indian survey in 1955, which included the snow cap, came up with the figure of 29,028.871 feet, the generally accepted figure.

But it seems likely, according to geologists, that all the measurements, whether agreed or not, might in fact be wrong.

Because of the shifting of continental plates, Everest may be gradually getting higher as India slowly pushes its way under China.

A National Geographic Society expedition in 1999 using GPS technology calculated Everest's height at 29,035 feet.

Everest, first climbed by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary of New Zealand in 1953, continues to attract thousands of tourists each year, and continuing expeditions.

The record for the most successful climbs is held by Sherpa Apa, who's scaled the peak 19 times. But he's not going to stop there.

He went back to the base camp of Lukla, Nepal, last week to prepare for another attempt.

"I have three goals during my 20th climb of Everest," the 49-year-old Nepali told The Associated Press. "I will be taking and scattering the ashes of Edmund Hillary at the summit, clean up the mountain and promote Nepal as tourism destination."

Because of all the attempts to climb to the top, Everest is strewn with litter.

Apa, who will be accompanied by 17 other Sherpas and 12 climbers from the West, told the Chinese state press agency Xinhua that he expects to bring down 13,200 pounds of garbage.