At the summit of the Earth's tallest mountain lies what has been hidden in the ocean for hundreds of millions of years: what could it be?

Everest, also known as Chomolungma in Tibetan and Sagarmatha in Nepali — the highest mountain on Earth. The summit is covered with limestone that was once at the bottom of the ocean hundreds of millions of years ago, making it a site rich in geological history, as noted by Discover Magazine.

According to geologist Shawn Gallen from Colorado State University, Everest is a prime example of how dynamic our planet is over geological time. The Royal Geographical Society of Britain named Mount Everest in 1865 in honor of Sir George Everest, who served as Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843. However, Everest himself did not desire the peak to be named after him — he preferred using local names for geographical features.

Nonetheless, the successor to the position of Surveyor General was unaware of the local names for the mountain, which is why the world's highest peak eventually became known as Everest. It is noteworthy that this name is still widely used today, especially outside of Nepal and Tibet.

It is known that Everest stands at a height of 8,849 meters, and from its summit, one can see Tibet, India, and Nepal. For comparison, its height is equivalent to about twenty Empire State Buildings stacked on top of each other. Yet, this may not be the limit.

Research indicates that the entire Himalayan range continues to grow, including Everest. According to Gallen, it compresses slightly and then rises again, reflecting the dynamic nature of our planet. The Himalayan range was formed millions of years ago when the tectonic plates of Eurasia and India collided, pushing the Earth's crust upwards. Today, these plates are still in motion, which causes changes in the mountain's height.

In May 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the highest point on Earth. Since then, thousands of individuals around the world have attempted to summit Everest, but unfortunately, not everyone succeeds. Statistics show that over 300 climbers have lost their lives trying to conquer Everest, and many of their bodies remain on the slopes of the world's highest mountain. This is why Everest is sometimes referred to as "the highest cemetery" in the world.

It is important to note that climbing Everest is technically challenging and incredibly dangerous. Due to extremely low oxygen levels and severe weather conditions, areas above 8,000 meters have been dubbed the "death zone." This is why summiting Everest is not achievable for everyone. Winds in the death zone can reach an astonishing 241 km/h, and temperatures can sometimes drop to -60 degrees Celsius, feeling as low as -83 degrees Celsius due to the wind chill.

Climate change is having a troubling impact on Everest and the surrounding communities. A 2022 study revealed that the highest glacier on Everest, which took about 2,000 years to accumulate, has completely melted in the last three decades.

Scientists have also found that such climate change and ice melt put local residents at risk of flooding and water shortages. At the same time, increased precipitation at high altitudes raises the likelihood of avalanches and landslides.