According to a new study, a river roughly 46 miles (75 kilometers) from Everest was "captured" by another around 89,000 years ago. The erosion from this event carved away a huge gorge, leading to a loss of landmass that made the mountain experience a major growth spurt.

Mount Everest is Earth's tallest mountain - towering 5.5 miles (8.85 km) above sea level - and is actually still growing.

Essentially, the immense pressure and force generated by the collision causes the crust to thicken, resulting in the uplift of peaks like Mount Everest. Additionally, the ongoing movement of the Indian Plate into Eurasia continues to push the mountains higher each year.