The question of which country is closest to the edge of space is intriguing and has a surprising answer. While many might assume that the tallest mountain, Mount Everest, is the closest point to space, this is not the case due to the unique shape of the Earth.
Space is officially defined as beginning at an altitude of approximately 100 kilometers above sea level, at a boundary known as the Kármán line. However, Earth”s shape is not a perfect sphere; it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator. This means that the distance from the center of the Earth to its surface varies depending on geographic location, impacting which points are closest to space.
Therefore, while Mount Everest reaches the highest elevation above sea level, its peak is not the closest to the outer reaches of space. In fact, because the Earth bulges at the equator, locations near this region are situated further away from the Earth”s center compared to those closer to the poles.
The title of the closest point to space goes to Ecuador, where Mount Chimborazo, a dormant volcano located near the equator, is found. Although Mount Everest is taller in terms of sea level, the peak of Chimborazo is actually farther from the Earth”s core due to its equatorial position. This makes Chimborazo the closest point on Earth to outer space.
Interestingly, if one were to stand atop Mount Chimborazo, they would be approximately 2,000 meters closer to space than if they stood on Mount Everest. This fact highlights the fascinating interplay between geography and our understanding of space.
