Geologists investigate if ancient mountains exceeded Everest's height

Geologists are investigating whether mountains taller than Mount Everest have existed in Earth's history. While Everest is currently the highest peak at 8,849 meters, evidence suggests that ancient mountain ranges may have reached even greater heights hundreds of millions of years ago.

Researchers, including Professor Alan Collins from the University of Adelaide and geochemist Ziyi Zhu from Curtin University, are studying sedimentary remains trapped within the Earth's crust. Because mountains function similarly to icebergs—with only a small portion visible above the surface and a significant portion acting as roots below—scientists can estimate past heights by analyzing the depth of the crustal roots.

Key candidates for the title of the world's highest ancient mountain range include the Transgondwanan supermountain range, which formed approximately 650 million years ago, and the Nuna range, which appeared about two billion years ago. Geologists note that there is a physical limit to mountain growth, as a peak may become unstable and collapse under its own weight if it grows too large.