Olympus Mons: The Tallest Mountain In Solar System

Dec 09, 2024 Komal Das

Located on Mars, Olympus Mons stands as the tallest mountain in our Solar system, boasting an impressive height of approximately 21.9 km (17 miles) above the Martian surface

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Olympus Mons is located on Mars, near the planet's western hemisphere in the Tharsis volcanic region

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It stands approximately 21.9 kilometers (13.6 miles) tall, which is about 2.5 times taller than Mount Everest

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The base of Olympus Mons spans about 600 kilometers (370 miles) in diameter, roughly equivalent to the size of the state of Arizona

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Olympus Mons is a shield volcano, characterized by gentle slopes created by the eruption of low- viscosity lava

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The mountain's immense size is possible due to Mars' lower gravity (about 38% of Earth's), allowing structures to grow much larger than on Earth

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Its summit features a large caldera (collapsed volcanic crater) about 80 kilometres (50 miles) wide, formed by multiple eruptions

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Olympus Mons is estimated to be less than 200 million years old, meaning it is geologically young and may still be volcanically active

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The thin atmosphere on Mars means less erosion, allowing Olympus Mons to retain its enormous size and shape for millions of years

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