Tuesday, May 5, 2015

What is the name of the tallest mountain in the world?

As far as mountain concerned, the current convention is that “highest” means measured from the sea level to summit: “tallest” means measured from the bottom of the mountain to the top.
highest mountain
http://geology.com/records/highest-mountain-in-the-world.shtml
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world but it’s not the tallest.


Mauna Kea is the highest point on the island of Hawaii. The inactive volcano is a modest 4206 m above the sea level, but when measured from the seabed to its summit. It is 10, 200 m about three quarters of a mile taller than Mount Everest.

Reference:
 Mount Everest is Not The Tallest Mountain - KnowledgeNuts. (n.d.). Retrieved May 6, 2015, from http://knowledgenuts.com/2013/07/21/mount-everest-is-not-the-tallest-mountain/  

Where is the highest mountain?

It’s on Mars.
Olympus Mons
https://penningtonplanetarium.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/the-9-tallest-mountains-in-the-solar-system/comment-page-1/
The Giant volcano Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in the solar system.

It is almost 3 times the height of Mount Everest and so wide that it’s base would cover Arizona, and the whole of the area of the British Isles. The crater on the top is big enough to swallow London.


Mount Olympus doesn't conform to most people’s idea of a mountain. It is flat-topped-like a vast plateau in a sea drained of water--- and its sides aren't even steep. Their slight incline of between one and three degrees means you wouldn't even break sweat if you climbed it. 

Reference:
 Ask an Astronomer. (n.d.). Retrieved May 6, 2015, from http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/ask/199-Where-is-the-highest-mountain-in-our-Solar-System-  

Where is the driest place on earth?

http://geog-ashu.blogspot.com/2010/04/driest-place-on-earth.html
Most of us think that Atacama is the driest places on Earth, but there are parts of Antarctica that have not experienced rain for two million years.

The unique conditions in the dry valleys of Antarctica are caused by so –called katabatic winds. These occur when cold, dense air is pulled downhill simply by force of gravity. The winds can reach speeds of 320kph evaporating all moisture, water, ice and snow--- in the process.


Though Antarctica is a desert, these completely dry parts of it are called, somewhat ironically, oases. 

Reference:
Lloyd, J., & Mitchinson, J. (2006). The book of general ignorance. New York: Harmony Books.
 GeographyBlog. (n.d.). Retrieved May 6, 2015, from http://geog-ashu.blogspot.com/2010/04/driest-place-on-earth.html