Study finds river erosion is raising Mount Everest's height

A new study suggests that Mount Everest is growing taller due to erosion from a nearby river. Researchers found that the Arun River, located about 75 kilometers away, has increased Everest's height by 15 to 50 meters over the past 89,000 years. The river's erosion creates a gorge, allowing the mountain to rise by about two millimeters each year. This process, known as isostatic rebound, occurs as the Earth's crust adjusts to the loss of material from erosion. The study highlights that this uplift affects not only Everest but also neighboring peaks like Lhotse and Makalu. The findings were published in the journal Nature Geoscience.