How far is it around the earth?

How far is it around the earth?

The circumference of the earth depends on where you measure. Across the North and South Poles, that is, along one of the earth’s longitudes, the official circumference is 40,007,863 meters. Measured around the equator, the circumference is slightly larger, more specifically 40,075,017 meters.

So the earth is not a perfect globe. It is slightly compressed and curves out at the equator.

The difference, which is about 0.3 percent, is due to the earth rotating around its own axis.

The fact that our planet is somewhat compressed has, among other things, the funny consequence that Mount Everest is not the highest mountain in the world if it is measured from the center of the earth. That title goes instead to Chimborazo in Ecuador.

Chimborazo is located just one kilometer from the equator, where the circumference and radius of the earth are greatest. The bulge at the equator means that it is 6,384.4 kilometers from the center of the earth to the top of Chimborazo, while to the top of Mount Everest, which is over 300 km from the equator, it is only 6,382.3 kilometers.

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