Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, stands about 5.5 miles (8.85 km) above sea level and continues to grow. This growth has been occurring for about 50 million years, beginning when the Indian subcontinent collided with the Eurasian plate. Recent studies indicate that Everest’s height has increased by roughly 49-164 feet (15-50 meters) due to changes in nearby river systems, especially from the merging of the Kosi and Arun rivers around 89,000 years ago. This merger has resulted in a yearly uplift of about 0.01 to 0.02 inches (0.2 to 0.5 millimeters). One key factor in this uplift is called isostatic rebound. When erosion removes weight from the Earth’s crust, the land rises, similar to a boat floating higher when it loses cargo. Researchers estimate that isostatic rebound accounts for about 10% of Everest’s annual uplift. Other mountains nearby, such as Lhotse and Makalu, also experience similar changes. GPS data confirms that the Himalayas are still rising, showing that geological changes are greater than the erosion caused by wind and rain. Geoscientist Jin-Gen Dai emphasizes that this ongoing transformation of Mount Everest highlights the dynamic nature of the planet.