How did people measure the height of mountains in the past? Why are K2 and Annapurna considered more difficult to climb than Everest? Why is there debate about who was the first person to summit it? Who was the first woman to climb Everest?

... We explain like i'm five!

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Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community as always and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: kouhoutek, moonkeyman120, eamisagomey, moodoperator, msmelxx, axenhalligan, kelkulus, foragerr, itrandall & cynic_male

Great Trigonometrical Survey Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Trigonometrical_Survey

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