The Highest Point Is Not Everest

You might think the top of Mount Everest is farthest from Earth, but it is actually a volcano in South America.

Mount Everest is the highest mountain on land. It touches the sky more than any other peak. But its top is not the point farthest from the center of the Earth.

The true champion is Chimborazo, a very tall mountain in Ecuador. This is because the Earth itself is not a perfect ball. The Earth bulges out at its middle line, which we call the equator.

Because the equator is wider than the poles, Chimborazo sits on top of a big bump. The land there is so far from the center that it beats Everest by a few kilometers.

This means if you stood on Chimborazo, your head would be the highest point in space. You are standing closer to the moon than anyone on Mount Everest is!