And, perhaps just as interesting, the answer for Everest’s growth is down at ground level — specifically the Arun River north of the mountain. Thousands of years ago, its course of flow was changed due to erosion, and the Arun connected with its lower reach and became part of the nearby Kosi River system.

Scientists may finally have an explanation for why Mount Everest is so much taller than the other great Himalayan peaks – and still growing. Everest is known to be growing by about 2mm a year, and the official figure for its height was last revised upwards by almost a metre in 2020 to 8,848.86m.

Mount Everest or Sagarmatha (top), highest peak in the world with an altitude of 8.848 metres (29.028 ft) is seen in this aerial view next to 6.812 metres (22.349 feet) high Mount Ama Dablam (bottom R) April 22,

Researchers say that two rivers merged some 89,000 years ago and gave the mightiest peak in the Himalayas a huge growth spurt.

Mount Everest has long been regarded as the ultimate challenge in the realm of mountaineering. However, new research suggests that climbers in the future may face an even tougher ascent, as the world's tallest mountain is continuing to grow taller.

While the Himalayas have been rising for approximately 50 million years due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, scientists have discovered that Everest is growing even faster than expected.