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New estimates on Everest height

The world`s tallest mountain, Mount Everest, is shorter than previously thought. The news comes from Chinese scientists who measured the peak earlier this year. They now think Everest, the world?s highest peak, is about 12 feet shorter than their own past estimates.

Chinese mountaineers and researchers climbed to the top of Mount Everest in May to determine whether the world?s tallest mountain was still growing. Their survey found the mountain was 29,017 feet, or 12 feet shorter than when it was last measured 30 years ago.

In 1975, Chinese scientist measured the height of Everest at just over 29,000 feet, just a tad bit higher that an Indian survey found in the 1950?s. Then in 1999, a U.S. team measured the mountain and discovered it was just a few feet higher than the 1975 measurements.