Nepal, home to Mount Everest and half of the world’s 14 highest mountains, has never measured the peak on its own and uses its snow height of 8,848 metres (29,028 feet) that was measured by the Survey of India in 1954. Everest straddles the border between Nepal and China, and in 2005 Chinese mountaineers and researchers put its height at 8,844.43 metres (29,017 feet). Ganesh Prasad Bhatta, director general of the Nepal government’s Survey Department said an expedition would be made next year to settle the debate. Officials said they would seek to establish whether a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in April 2015 had altered the mountain’s height. The earthquake occurred during the peak climbing season, and massive avalanches killed 18 people at the base camp.

Source: bd News24 September 22, 2017 09:45 UTC