Today, I Learned: About The Tallest Mountain // About The Most Southern Tip of Africa
Today, I learned the facts about the tallest mountain and the most southern point of Africa.
What is the tallest mountain in the world?
It is not Mount Everest. It is Mauna Kea.
Mauna Kea stands at least 10,000 m above oceanic floor, and 4,207 m above sea level. It is over 1 km taller than Mount Everest (Chomolungma). According to scientific measurements, the tallest mountain is the one measured from the bottom of its base in the sea to its peak, and the highest is measured from the sea level to the top.
Mauna Kea means "white mountain" in Hawaiian. It is the highest mountain in Hawaii and is also a dormant volcano (active but not erupting). It has been considered sacred by natives for thousands of years. Before the arrival of Europeans in 18th century, only selected ruling individuals were allowed to climb it. Because of its excellent environmental conditions (dryness, wind and altitude) it is home to some of the best astronomical observatories in the world.
What is the most southern tip of Africa?
It is Cape Agulhas.
Many people mistakenly consider Cape of Good Hope to be the most southerly point of African continent, where in reality it is located 170 km northwest of Cape Agulhas. The cause of Cape of Good Hope's fame can be found in history - it was important geographical landmark that was giving hope to sailors navigating to Asia, because it was the point where ships finally started to sail eastward rather than southward.
Cape Agulhas name comes from "Cabo das Agulhas" (Cape of Needles). It was the name given by Portuguese sailors because of its treacherous rocky shoreline, as well as being the place where magnetic north corresponds with true north - as it was detected by their compasses' needles. The waters near the cape are so dangerous that few hundreds of ships have been wrecked there within last few centuries.
Today, I learned!
Other source used, not included under hyperlinks:
Live Science - "Which Mountain Is the Tallest in the World?".
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Today, I Learned: What Is The Colour of Oranges? // What Is The Highest Mountain?
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-logic
If I can convince my buddies to keep their phones put away, I think you just won me a bar bet! They would definitely say Mount Everest. I'll send you a beer if I win one.
Hahaha ok. Thank you!!! Corona or Sol please :D
Just pour it into your DVD drive. I will suck it up on my side ;p
For the tallest mountain, it is at the end a matter of how you define tall, isn't it?
Yes it is. It seems to be scientific differentiation between tall and high. I think it is because not every planet has surface oceans (sea level).
Could be, definitely!
Interesting facts:)