Mauna Kea: The Real King of the Mountains (and You’ve Probably Never Heard Of It)

Mauna Kea: The Real King of the Mountains (and You’ve Probably Never Heard Of It)

Okay, so everyone knows Mount Everest, right? Highest point on Earth, blah, blah, blah. At nearly 29,032 feet, it’s a beast, no doubt. But what if I told you there was a mountain even taller? A mountain that puts Everest to shame, but hides most of its glory underwater?

Meet Mauna Kea.

This dormant volcano chilling on the Big Island of Hawai’i might not be the first name that springs to mind when you think “tallest mountain,” and that’s fair. Its peak rises to a respectable 13,803 feet above sea level. Not bad, right? But here’s the kicker: that’s just the tip of the iceberg – or, should I say, the tip of the volcano.

See, Mauna Kea’s a sneaky giant. It stretches down, down, down into the depths of the Pacific, all the way to the ocean floor. We’re talking about another 19,685 feet underwater. Do the math, and suddenly you’re looking at a mountain that’s a staggering 33,480 feet tall from base to summit. That’s over 1.4 kilometers taller than Everest! Mind. Blown.

And get this – the weight of the Hawaiian Islands themselves has actually squished the ocean floor down, creating a kind of “moat” around the islands. This just adds to Mauna Kea’s already insane height. Talk about a heavyweight champ!

Why does measuring from the ocean floor matter? Well, it gives you a true sense of the mountain’s scale. It tells the story of the immense volcanic forces that birthed the Hawaiian Islands. Picture this: for millions of years, the Pacific plate has been inching its way over a volcanic hotspot deep within the Earth. Lava, layer upon layer, oozed out, building this colossal shield volcano from the seabed up, up, up until it finally broke the surface and formed the island we know today. Pretty epic, huh?

But Mauna Kea is more than just a big pile of rock. It’s a place of deep cultural significance for native Hawaiians. They consider it a sacred piko, a connection to their ancestors and the gods. The summit, often shrouded in mist, is believed to be the home of deities, including the sky father Wākea. I can only imagine the breathtaking views from up there.

And speaking of breathtaking, Mauna Kea’s summit is also one of the best places on Earth to stargaze. The air is thin and dry, and the atmosphere is incredibly stable. That’s why you’ll find thirteen international telescopes perched up there, peering into the far reaches of the universe. It’s a place where science and spirituality meet, high above the clouds.

Of course, the ocean has its own record-breakers. While Mauna Kea reaches for the sky, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench plunges to an unfathomable 35,876 feet below sea level. To put that in perspective, if you dropped Mount Everest into the Challenger Deep, its peak would still be more than a mile underwater! The Mariana Trench itself is a massive gash in the Earth’s crust, stretching nearly 1,600 miles long and 43 miles wide.

From the towering heights of Mauna Kea to the crushing depths of the Challenger Deep, our planet is full of surprises. So, next time you’re asked about the tallest mountain on Earth, remember Mauna Kea. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the greatest wonders are hidden just beneath the surface.