The definition of the tallest mountain is not just about semantics but also depends on the base measurement chosen. While Everest's official height includes the Himalayan plateau it sits on because of using sea level as the base, shifting to the center of the earth (at the equator) as a base measurement alters the perspective. Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador, though shorter than Everest on paper, becomes the closest mountain to space due to the earth's bulge, making it a competitor for the tallest mountain along with Mountachea and Denali.