Apr 12 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Officials from both China and Nepal have finally reached an agreement in the issue of the actual height on Mount Everest, according to media reports from several sources.

The Survey of India measured Everest as being 29,028 feet tall This measurement, however, used the snow height for the mountain. The Chinese mountaineers and researchers stated that this height was not accurate because of the snow. They climbed to the top of Mount Everest and measure the rock height which was 11 feet less, or 29, 017.

These founding opened up a can of worms that has just recently been settled. Nepal consistently stated that the 1954 findings were correct, and China opposed this theory, which made the two countries remain at odds over the issue, until this week that is. According to BBC News, “During talks in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, China accepted that claim… This means the official overall height of Everest is now designated as 8,848m. Nepal also recognizes China’s claim that the rock height of Everest is 8,844m.”

This does not mean the end of the dispute over the official height of Mount Everest. It pretty much means that the two countries agree. This is important since Mount Everest is located on the border between the China and Nepal. There are still, however, other disputes over it’s height. In 1999 the Boston Museum of Science and The National Geographic Society determined that Mount Everest stood 29,035 feet or 8,850m tall. Climbers are also reporting that the snow and ice height has shrunk due to climate changes.

Whatever the official height is ever decided to be, Mount Everest is still officially the highest mountainous point above sea level and the highest continental point on the earth.