Mount Everest Dethroned: Scientists Discover Hidden Mountains 100 Times Taller Beneath Earth’s Surface

In a discovery that redefines our understanding of Earth’s structure, scientists have found two colossal mountains hidden deep beneath the planet’s surface that are over 100 times taller than Mount Everest. This groundbreaking research, recently published in the journal Nature, marks a monumental shift in the geological narrative.

A Monumental Seismic Revelation

Mount Everest, towering at 5.5 miles above sea level, has long been considered Earth’s tallest mountain. However, seismic studies have now uncovered Large Low Seismic Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs) — massive, mountain-sized structures buried nearly 1,200 miles below the surface, nestled on the boundary between the Earth’s core and mantle.

These formations were detected through the analysis of seismic waves, which change speed depending on the density of the material they travel through. The LLSVPs significantly slow down these waves, indicating their unusual composition and size.

Giants Beneath Africa and the Pacific

The two newly discovered LLSVPs lie beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean. Unlike traditional mountains formed on Earth’s surface, these structures are dense and massive, offering rare clues into the planet’s ancient geological past.

According to researchers, the LLSVPs may be remnants of subducted tectonic plates — vast slabs of Earth’s crust that sank into the mantle billions of years ago. These “slab graveyards” serve as time capsules, preserving the structure and dynamics of Earth’s early geological history.

A Challenge to Long-Held Geological Assumptions

The prevailing scientific belief has long held that the Earth’s mantle is a dynamic and constantly moving layer. However, this discovery presents evidence that some parts of the mantle may have remained unchanged for billions of years.

The stability and size of these LLSVPs contradict the notion of a constantly evolving mantle. In fact, they may be hotter and more chemically distinct than their surrounding material, prompting scientists to reconsider existing models of mantle convection and heat distribution.

The Implications of Hidden Mountains

Though invisible and unreachable, these subterranean giants redefine our perception of Earth’s topography. Everest may still be the tallest peak above sea level, but in terms of sheer size and scale, these LLSVPs dwarf anything known on the surface.

As seismic imaging technology advances, researchers are hopeful that even more hidden features within Earth’s deep interior will come to light. These insights not only reshape geological science but also deepen our understanding of Earth’s evolution and internal mechanics.

The revelation of these buried behemoths beneath our feet serves as a powerful reminder: the most massive structures on Earth may be the ones we can’t see at all.