You think you know what’s the tallest in the world. Most of us do. We grew up learning about Mount Everest and the Burj Khalifa. It feels like settled science.
But honestly? It depends on who you ask and, more importantly, how they’re holding the measuring tape.
Take Everest. It’s the king of elevation, sitting at $8,848.86$ meters above sea level. That’s the "highest" point. But if you measure from the very bottom—the actual base of the mountain—it’s not even the winner. That title belongs to Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Most of it is underwater, which is kinda cheating if you’re a climber, but if you’re a geologist, it’s the undisputed heavyweight champ at over $10,000$ meters tall.
The Skyscraper Race: Jeddah Tower vs. Burj Khalifa
Right now, if you want to stand on the highest man-made floor, you head to Dubai. The Burj Khalifa is $828$ meters of steel and glass. It’s been the boss since 2010.
But things are getting weird in the desert.
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In Saudi Arabia, the Jeddah Tower (formerly known as Kingdom Tower) is finally clawing its way back into the conversation. For years, it was just a concrete stump in the sand because of funding issues and political drama. As of January 2026, construction is officially humming again. It has blown past the 80th floor and is aiming for the "one-kilometer" mark.
That’s $1,000$ meters.
Imagine a building so tall that the temperature at the top is significantly colder than the lobby. Engineers are literally designing the elevators to handle the air pressure changes so your eardrums don't explode. It’s supposed to be finished around 2028, but in the world of megaprojects, "on time" is a relative term.
Trees That Are Actually Off-Limits
Nature has its own vertical limits, and they are surprisingly fragile.
Deep in the California redwoods lives Hyperion. It’s a Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) that stands roughly $116$ meters tall. To give you some perspective, that’s taller than the Statue of Liberty.
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You can’t go see it.
Seriously. The National Park Service has closed off the area around Hyperion. Why? Because people are obsessed. Hikers were trampling the ancient fern undergrowth and damaging the tree’s shallow root system just to get a selfie with a trunk they couldn't even fit in a single frame. If you get caught trying to find it now, you’re looking at a $$5,000$ fine and potential jail time.
It’s better that way. These trees have been around for 600 to 800 years. They don't need us tagging them on Instagram.
The Human Element: Sultan Kösen
When we talk about the tallest in the world, we can't ignore the people. Sultan Kösen, a man from Türkiye, currently holds the record for the tallest living male. He’s $251$ cm tall. That’s $8$ feet $2.8$ inches.
He’s a legend.
I recently saw that he was in London for a book signing for the 2026 Guinness World Records. He seems like a genuinely kind guy, but being that tall isn't a fairy tale. He uses crutches because his joints take a beating, and he had to have brain surgery years ago to stop a tumor from making him grow even more.
It's a reminder that "tallest" usually comes with a cost, whether it's structural stress on a building or physical stress on a person.
Why Mount Chimborazo Is the Real Winner
If you want to be as close to the stars as possible without leaving the ground, you don't go to the Himalayas. You go to Ecuador.
Mount Chimborazo is technically the "highest" point on Earth if you measure from the center of the planet. Because the Earth isn't a perfect sphere—it bulges at the equator—the summit of Chimborazo sticks out further into space than Everest does.
You’re basically $2,133$ meters "higher" relative to the Earth's core when you're standing on Chimborazo.
What This Means for Your Next Trip
If you're a traveler chasing these records, you have to be specific about what you're looking for. Are you looking for the most iconic view? That's still Everest or the Burj. Are you looking for the most scientific extreme? That's Chimborazo.
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Actionable Steps for the Height-Obsessed:
- Check the Status: If you're planning a trip to see the Jeddah Tower, wait. It’s still a construction site. Stick to the Burj Khalifa for now, but book the "At the Top" SKY tickets for the 148th floor to avoid the worst of the crowds.
- Respect the Redwoods: Don't try to find Hyperion. Instead, go to the Tall Trees Grove in Redwood National Park. You need a permit, but it’s legal, and the trees there are nearly as tall without the risk of a federal arrest.
- Mind the Altitude: If you decide to tackle Chimborazo because it’s "closer to space," remember that the thin air doesn't care about definitions. You still need serious acclimatization.
The world is constantly growing. Or at least, our ability to build and measure it is. Whether it’s a pile of rocks in Nepal or a spire in Saudi Arabia, the "tallest" is always a moving target.
Keep your eyes up.
Next Steps for Your Research
- Verify local travel restrictions for Redwood National Park if you plan on visiting the old-growth forests, as permit systems change seasonally.
- Monitor the Jeddah Economic City official updates for the latest construction milestones if you are tracking the completion of the next world-record skyscraper.
- Consult a high-altitude specialist before attempting a climb of Chimborazo; despite being "shorter" than Everest from sea level, the equatorial weather patterns and rapid ascent can be dangerous.