Mount Everest Growing Due to River Capture

Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, is growing faster than anticipated, with its height increasing by approximately 15 to 50 meters over the last 89,000 years. This anomalous growth is attributed to a geological process involving the Arun and Kosi rivers. Around 89,000 years ago, a river capture event caused the Arun River to merge with the Kosi River, leading to significant erosion and sediment removal. This erosion reduced the weight on the Earth's crust, resulting in isostatic rebound, which allows the land, including Mount Everest, to rise. The phenomenon continues to this day, contributing to Everest's current uplift rate of about 2mm per year. This discovery helps explain why Everest stands out so starkly from other peaks in the Himalayas.