Mount Everest Growing Every Year Thanks To Strange Geological Quirk Miles Away

For those confused about how all this is possible, it seems that the science of Mount Everest’s rise dates back to a river “capturing” event that occurred 89,000 years ago. According to researchers, this is when the Arun was first ensnared by the much larger Kosi River, turning the former into a tributary of the latter.

In doing so, water flow patterns through the Himalayans have caused the Arun to make a dramatic 90 degree turn, flowing in an odd L shape, instead of a natural branching shape. This L-shaped flow pattern has eroded at the base of the Himalayas, creating a massive gorge that gives Everest a few extra millimeters with each passing year.