Which Country is the Closest to Space? Check Here

Intuitively, one would argue that Nepal and China are home to the closest place to space on Earth: Mount Everest, towering above at 8,848 meters or 29,032 feet above sea level. However, the answer is surprisingly different due to the shape of Earth and some unique geographical facts.

The shape of Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid, meaning it bulges at the equator because of its rotation. This makes the radius at the equator approximately 21 kilometers (13 miles) longer than the radius at the poles. Because of this bulge, the farthest point from the Earth's center is not Mount Everest but another peak located near the equator.

Space is scientifically defined from the Kármán line, which is about 100 km (62 miles) above sea level. No country literally touches space, but the mountain with the highest altitude relative to Earth's center is considered "closest to space."

Which Country is the Closest to Space?

It is a distinction held by Ecuador because it happens to be situated almost precisely on the equator. The crown jewel is Mount Chimborazo, an inactive volcano standing 6,263 meters (20,548 feet) above sea level. Although the summit of Chimborazo is lower than that of Everest above sea level, its proximity to the bulge at the Earth's equator makes the peak the farthest point from the center of the Earth.

This means, measured from the center of the Earth to the summit, Chimborazo's peak is about 2,150 meters (7,054 feet) farther out than Everest's peak. In other words, standing on Chimborazo's summit puts you closer to space than standing on Everest, despite Everest's greater elevation above sea level.

Mount Everest and Other High Points

Mt. Everest is located between Nepal and China and is still the highest mountain above sea level and is unquestionably the tallest from base to summit and the pinnacle of human mountaineering achievement. It represents the highest "elevation" point on Earth’s surface by traditional measurements. However, because of the Earth’s equatorial bulge, it is closest to "space" only in terms of elevation above sea level, not distance from Earth's center.

Other countries also have high altitudes: Bhutan, Tajikistan, and Chile do indeed host some of the world's tallest peaks; however, none is higher than Ecuador's Chimborazo when measured from Earth's center. 

Why Does This Matter? 

This geographical quirk brings to light the interesting physics of our planet's shape and rotation, pointing out that common perceptions based on sea-level elevation don't always tell it as it is. Chimborazo is where space enthusiasts and geographers turn to in Ecuador to prove that being closest to space does depend on perspective and measurement criteria.

Fun Fact: Ecuador's Equatorial Importance Ecuador gets its name from the equator line that passes through it. This unique position not only places Chimborazo at the optimal bulge point but also makes the country a very interesting destination to learn about Earth's geography, climate, and culture.

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