How do you measure Everest? It's complicated by frostbite—and politics.

How do you measure Everest? It's complicated by frostbite—and politics.

Measuring the world’s tallest mountain

Nepal is braced to announce a new official height for Mount Everest — a measurement that cost surveyor Khimlal Gautam a toe lost to frostbite. Slow-motion plate tectonics, a powerful 2015 earthquake and the uneven shape of Earth all contribute to a surprisingly thorny problem. Not to mention diplomatic considerations: the border dividing Nepal and Tibet runs through the summit.

National Geographic | 11 min read