Denali, tallest peak in North America, loses 10 feet

The tallest peak in North America not only just lost the name it carried for a century, it also lost 10 feet in stature due to modern-day measurements, scientists said Wednesday.

"A new, official height for Denali has been measured at 20,310 feet (6,190 meters), just 10 feet less than the previous elevation of 20,320 feet (6,193.5 meters) which was established using 1950's era technology," the US Geological Survey said in a statement.

The mountain has not shrunk over time, experts said.

Rather, the more accurate summit height came about through a "precise Global Positioning System (GPS) measurement of a specific point at the mountain's peak."

Earlier this week, the White House announced that the peak's name was being officially changed from Mount McKinley to Denali, ahead of President Barack Obama's historic visit to Alaska.

The mountain had been named in 1896 for a future US president, William McKinley, but local authorities had worked on the change for years, restoring an Alaska Native name with deep cultural significance.
Source: AFP