TED-Ed: Why is Mount Everest so tall? - Michele Koppes

The video explores the allure of Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, and explains its formation through the collision of continental plates. It discusses the balance between uplift and erosion in shaping mountains, the impact of climate on mountain formation, and why Everest remains tall. Despite its current stature, changes in climate and plate movements may eventually reduce its height.

What is the primary reason many adventurers are drawn to Mount Everest?

• Its status as the highest mountain above sea level

• Its status as the tallest mountain from base to summit

• The unique wildlife found on its slopes

• The cultural significance of the surrounding region

How did Mount Everest form according to the video?

• Through volcanic activity

• By the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates

• From the accumulation of sediment over millions of years

• Due to erosion by glaciers

What happens when two continental plates collide?

• They create a volcanic eruption

• They cause a massive earthquake

• They form a deep ocean trench

• One plate pushes into or under the other, causing uplift

What is the snow line, and how does it vary?

• The altitude where snow never melts, varying with climate

• The point where snowfall is heaviest, changing with seasons

• The boundary between snow and ice, found only at the poles

• The line where glaciers begin to form, constant worldwide

Why is Mount Everest less affected by glacial erosion compared to other mountains?

• The mountain is made of erosion-resistant rock

• Its glaciers are too small to significantly erode it

• It is located in a region with no glaciers

• It is protected by a unique atmospheric condition