Hi there! I'm Dr. Geo, a geologist with a passion for all things Earth. My research focuses on the powerful forces that shape our planet's surface, from towering mountains to deep ocean trenches.

You've asked a deceptively simple question: "What is the <span style="color:red">maximum elevation</span>?"

Now, you might be thinking, "Isn't that just the height of Mount Everest?" And you wouldn't be wrong, at least not in the way we typically think about it. Mount Everest, standing tall at approximately 8,848 meters (29,031.7 feet) above sea level, is indeed commonly referred to as the highest point on Earth.

But here's where things get interesting. The term "<span style="color:red">elevation</span>" itself requires some clarification. You see, we generally use "elevation" to describe the height of a geographical point relative to <span style="color:red">sea level</span>, which acts as our reference point. However, the Earth is not a perfect sphere. It bulges at the equator and flattens slightly at the poles due to its rotation. This means that sea level itself is not constant but varies slightly depending on location.

Furthermore, the Earth's crust, the outermost solid layer, is not uniform in thickness. It's thinner under the oceans and thicker under the continents, especially beneath mountain ranges. This is where things get even more fascinating.

If we consider the Earth's shape and the varying thickness of its crust, a different contender emerges for the "highest" point: Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador. While Chimborazo's summit reaches an elevation of approximately 6,268 meters (20,564 feet) above sea level, significantly lower than Everest, it sits on a bulge of the Earth's crust that's further from the Earth's center.

Let me explain. Because of the Earth's equatorial bulge, points along the equator are naturally farther away from the Earth's center than points closer to the poles. Mount Chimborazo, located just one degree south of the equator, benefits from this bulge. When measured from the Earth's center, Chimborazo's summit is approximately 6,384.4 kilometers (3,967.1 miles) away, while Everest's summit is about 6,382.3 kilometers (3,965.8 miles) away from the center.

So, what's the final verdict?

* Highest elevation above sea level: Mount Everest
* Furthest point from Earth's center: Mount Chimborazo

It ultimately depends on how you define "<span style="color:red">maximum elevation</span>." If you're talking about the highest point relative to the commonly accepted reference point of sea level, then Mount Everest takes the crown. But, if you're talking about the point furthest from the Earth's center, then Mount Chimborazo claims the title.

It's fascinating how a seemingly simple question can lead to such a nuanced discussion about our planet's shape, gravity, and the very way we measure things!
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Maximum elevation figure or MEF is a type of VFR altitude which indicates the height of the highest feature within a quadrangle area. It is of interest to pilots, who want to be aware of the highest mountain peaks and tall towers nearby, so that they can fly above them to avoid controlled flight into terrain.read more >>