Chinese scale Everest down by 3.7
metres The World’s tallest
mountain ,Mount Everest ,is a few metres shorter than
previously thought, Chinese scientists, who measured the peak earlier this year said on Sunday.
Their survey determined the
mountain was 8,844.43 metres(29,017.16 feet) above sea level, or 3.7 metres (12.14feet) shorter than when it was last measured 30 years ago ,said Chen Bangzhu, director general of the Chinese State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping.
The elevation of Mt Everest ‘s
summit rock is 8844.43 metres, with a precision of 10.21 metres ,Chen told reporters here.
The elevation data of Mt Qomolangma (Chinese name for Mt Everest) published in 1975 will cease to be used within China, he said while acknowledging that it would take some time for other countries and World bodies to accept the newly acquired data.
The 1975Chinese survey had calculated the mountain at 8,848.13 metres (29,029.30feet) high. Other estimates put its height at 8,850 metres(29,035feet)
The team of 50 surveyors successfully climbed the peak on May22, 2005, Chen said at a press conference broadcast live on Chinese state television. The new figure is based on the most elaborate and precise data ever obtained by Chinese or foreign scientists, said Chen, This data … is lower than the one published in 1975.This is because the Qomolangma Mountain is located in an area with very active block movement ,he said stressing that more research was needed to determine whether Mt Everest had indeed shrunk in height.
This is the first time that we have been able to get accurate figure of the height of the summit rock .This was never done before, Chen said, noting that the surveyors spent 40 minutes at the mountain’s summit taking measurements.
On May 29th 1953 a British expedition comprising of Newzealanders Edmond Hillary and Indian Sherpa Tenzing Norgay for the first time reach the summit of Mt.Everest. This is highest mountain in the World and reaching the summit is consider to be a outstanding achievement.