Height of farce as China and Nepal squabble over size of Everest
Ever since Everest was identified as the world’s highest peak in the th century its height has been a subject of debate.
China and Nepal appear to be locked in a squabble over who has correctly determined the latest official height of the mountain, which straddles the border of both countries.
A Chinese team mounted a survey in May, with state media promising that it would measure the peak with unprecedented precision. Beijing declared that the best surveyors with the most advanced technologies would give a definitive height.
The previous year Nepalese researchers, supported by New Zealand scientists, climbed the mountain to install equipment to collect data to help surveyors complete their calculations.
Under a mutual agreement the results were supposed to be released jointly
